Bill Gates step aside. Silicon Valley just found another use
for computer technology and this time it’s beauty – not
brains – making headlines with an orthodontic breakthrough
designed to bring a smile to adults and teens seeking straight
teeth.
Whether you’re an image-conscious baby boomer, 20- or 30-something
year old starting a new career, or a self-conscious junior in high
school, now you can grin without the “metal mouth.” Thin,
nearly invisible, clear plastic “aligners” straighten
teeth. It’s called Invisalign, and it marries traditional
orthodontics with cutting-edge three-dimensional computer imaging
technology.
Perfect smiles are all
the rage and no wonder: research* shows that people with nice
smiles are perceived to be smarter and are
paid more. Straight teeth and perfect smiles are all the rage.
Robin Green, executive producer of “The Sopranos,” wears
aligners and says, “In a high profile industry like television,
it would have been difficult to wear traditional braces. The
aligners are so invisible; even the make-up artists on “The
Sopranos” set didn’t notice I was wearing something
to straighten my teeth.” Celebrities like Beverly Johnson,
Matt Dillon, Bridget Hall and Donald Trump are spending upwards
of $20,000 for oral
makeovers. But “aligners’ are different. Here’s
how:
Benefits of Invisalign:
• Nearly
invisible: You can straighten your teeth without anyone knowing.
• Removable: You can eat and drink what you want.
• Better oral hygiene: You can brush and floss normally to maintain
healthy gums and teeth.
• Comfortable: There are now wires, metal or brackets to cause mouth
abrasion.
How it Works:
• If
treatment is appropriate, our trained doctors custom-fit a series
of clear, plastic, removable “aligners” that
snap over your teeth.
•
“Aligners” are worn for about two weeks then replaces
with another set with a slighter different calibration that progressively
straightens teeth.
•
Treatment series uses as few as 12 and up to 48 sets of “aligners.”
