Isaac Lin DDS Santana Park Dental Care
Orthodontics/ InVisalign
Modern orthodontics has really evolved in the past few years. Once thought of as just for kids, dental braces are now widely prescribed for adults, too.
San Jose braces dentist Dr. Lin offers a wide variety of affordable treatment options. He has years of experience with standard and more complex dental care for children, teens, and adults. Find out whether invisible braces or clear braces could be an option for you.
At Santana Park Dental Care we know that straight teeth can really improve your self-esteem. In addition to traditional metal dental braces, we also often recommend less noticeable ceramic braces and other types of braces for adults.
How do I know if I need orthodontics?
What is a "bad bite"?
When you have a malocclusion or "bad bite," you have a dental or facial irregularity that causes your teeth to be improperly aligned. Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that focuses on the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of such irregularities.
How long will orthodontic treatment take?
Everyone is different, so there's really no way to predict how long your orthodontic treatment will take. Depending on the severity of the problem, it may last from just a few months to a few years.
In addition, after the course of active orthodontic treatment, patients will usually wear retainers to maintain the position of the teeth while the bone reforms around them.
When should my child get orthodontic braces?
Every child is different, but, at Santana Park Dental Care we use the simple guideline that children should be examined at the time their permanent teeth are beginning to come in. Orthodontic treatment depends on the type and the severity of the problem. Early intervention is key if your child requires orthodontic treatment as completion of treatment at a later age is much easier. Best results occur before your child's face and jaw have completely developed.
Dr. Lin will evaluate your child's facial growth, tooth spacing, crowding, and look for extra or missing teeth as well as assess habits like tongue-thrusting and thumb-sucking which may hinder normal growth and development. These problems can alter tooth alignment and facial appearance and it is very important to evaluate such problems during this initial examination.
Should your child not require any early orthodontic treatment, Dr. Lin will have you schedule periodic follow-up exams while your child's permanent teeth come in and face and jaws continue to grow.
Orthodontic treatment can bring your child's teeth, lips, and face into harmony. Giving your child-or yourself-a pleasing appearance and beautiful smile is an advantage you cannot afford not to give.
What kinds of habits might lead my child to have problems?
Childhood habits such as thumb or finger sucking, sucking on a pacifier, sucking on a lip, mouth breathing (often caused by enlarged tonsils and adenoids), fingernail biting, and "tongue thrust" can also cause orthodontic problems.
What kinds of problems lead to orthodontic work?
Overbites, underbites, extra or missing teeth, jaw, teeth, and facial irregularities such as tooth or jaw size may lead to crowding or irregular spacing of teeth. Although most of these problems are inherited, other orthodontic problems such as dental disease or the premature loss of either the primary or permanent teeth due to disease or accident are not inherited but need prompt evaluation and treatment.
InVisalign®
Now there is a new way to straighten teeth without braces
Invisalign® is the invisible way to straighten your teeth without braces. Invisalign® uses a series of clear removable aligners (pictured to the left) to straighten your teeth without metal wires or brackets. Invisalign® has been proven effective in clinical research and in orthodontic practices nationwide. In fact, over 70% of all U.S. dentists are certified to treat patients with Invisalign®.
You wear each set of aligners for about 2 weeks, removing them only to eat, drink, brush, and floss. As you replace each aligner with the next in the series, your teeth will move - little by little, week by week - until they have straightened to the final position your dentist has prescribed. You'll visit your dentist about once every 6 weeks to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned.
Total treatment time averages 9-15 months and the average number of aligners worn during treatment is between 18 and 30, but both will vary from case to case.
Diagnosis and treatment plan by an Invisalign
Our office will give you an initial examination to determine if Invisalign ® treatment is right for you. If it appears that Invisalign ® is an option, we will take photographs, x-rays, and an impression of your teeth.
We will then complete further diagnostic analysis to verify that Invisalign ® will work for you and create a treatment plan that will determine exactly how the teeth are straightened. At that time, we will be able to let you know if you qualify for orthodontic insurance benefits and the estimated cost and length of treatment.
When the treatment plan is complete, your records will be sent to Invisalign ® along with the dentist's instructions. Using the latest advances in 3-D computer technology, Invisalign ® will translate the our instructions into a series of precisely customized aligners.How much does Invisalign ® cost?
As with other types of orthodontic treatment, the cost of Invisalign ® is heavily dependent on the complexity of a patient's case. However, the cost is generally more expensive than traditional braces. For more information about specific cost information, call us today.
Does insurance cover Invisalign ®?
Because medical benefits differ significantly from policy to policy, each patient should review their coverage. However, if a patient has orthodontic coverage, Invisalign ® should be covered to the same extent as conventional braces.
How does Invisalign ® effectively move teeth?
Like brackets and archwires, Invisalign ® Aligners move teeth through the appropriate placement of controlled force on the teeth. The principal difference is that Invisalign ® not only controls forces, but also controls the timing of the force application. At each stage, only certain teeth are allowed to move, and these movements are determined by the orthodontic treatment plan for that particular stage. This results in an efficient force delivery system.