Nickel was voted ‘Allergen of the Year’ in 2008 by the American Contact Dermatitis Society as at least 1 in every 10 women are sensitised to nickel. More seriously, metallic nickel is classified as a probable carcinogen and nickel compounds and nickel dust are known carcinogens. When nickel is placed in the mouth alongside amalgam fillings or gold restorations, it has the potential to produce a battery effect.
Crooked and misaligned teeth can lead to periodontal disease because it is more difficult to remove plaque. Chances of coronary heart disease, stroke, complications of diabetes, adverse pregnancy outcomes and respiratory diseases are all significantly higher if severe periodontitis goes untreated.
What is the good news, you may ask? - Invisalign!
Invisalign is the invisible way to straighten teeth without the use of braces. Invisalign uses a series of clear, removable aligners to gradually straighten teeth – without the need for metal or wires. It combines 21st century technology and revolutionary manufacturing to customize a treatment for each individual patient.
Each Invisalign aligner moves teeth through the appropriate placement of controlled force on the teeth. Each movement is determined by the orthodontic treatment plan, resulting in an efficient force delivery system.
As well as being metal-free, Invisalign has plenty of benefits over traditional braces. Gum infection, gum growth (gingival hyperplasia), decalcification (white spots) and decay are all potential complications of braces treatment. With Invisalign you can remove the aligners, so you can brush and floss normally. And on top of this, early research also tends to indicate that there may be less or none of the more serious braces complications like root resorption (affects 3-4% of braces cases) and loss of tooth vitality (death of tooth nerve).
