Orthodontic appliances and traditional metal braces consist of stainless steel (which contains 60% nickel). Some superelastic arch wires can contain up to 50% nickel. Brackets themselves are typically made from stainless steel, although titanium brackets are available for those with known allergies.
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).
Orthodontic treatment methods and treatment times are forever evolving due to new and innovative technologies. For decades, two of the major objections patients had to orthodontic treatment were aesthetics and duration of treatment.
With Invisalign clear aligners now providing adults and teens a choice of “invisible” orthodontic treatment, innovators are taking on the next biggest patient issue: treatment duration.
At Duncan Orthodontics we are now able to offer an effective and safe solution to help address the treatment times and return patients back to better dental health, oral hygiene and comfort quicker.
Dr Duncan loves the new innovation:
“Acceledent is based on sound biological and clinical research, shortening your treatment time does not compromise your treatment, it accelerates cellular activity that remodels bone so the teeth move faster, but gain the same result.”
“We have found that this is especially popular with our brides who would like a great smile on their special day however don’t have time to wait!”
AcceleDent, is an appliance used by patients at home to accelerate orthodontic tooth movement and thereby reduce treatment time of Invisalign. Instead of changing your aligners every 2 weeks, you can do it weekly therefore cutting your treatment time in half! The AcceleDent appliance—consisting of a mouthpiece and activator, - is used by patients for 20 minutes once a day from start to finish of treatment. The activator works by applying low-frequency oscillations via the mouthpiece that work in conjunction with the aligners to move teeth more quickly through accelerated bone remodelling hence reducing treatment times by 50%. The oscillations induce increased cellular signalling and activity within the alveolar bone to speed up tooth movement without increasing root resorption or discomfort. While they are using the AcceleDent appliance, patients can go about their other daily activities—doing homework, watching TV, using the computer, reading, or doing housework.
The AcceleDent appliance does not change the premise of how Invisalign works; it just speeds up the process!
So by using Acceledent in conjunction with Invisalign you can now get that gorgeous smile you have always wanted in half the time!
Whether you are already in treatment or are thinking of straightening your teeth, start Acceledent today and pay it off over time. At Duncan Orthodontics we offer flexible payment plans interest free over 24 months. Payments for Invisalign can be as low as $75 a week. If you would like to know more phone Caroline on 8364 4311 for a free consultation or register on our website www.straightsmilecentre.com.au
