Category: Invisalign®

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

Where does the time go? It’s already been five months since Dr. Elizabeth and Randi started their journeys with Invisalign® clear aligners. Here’s a look at their results so far.

A Look Back to August

Dr. Elizabeth and Randi got fitted for Invisalign® in August 2016. Dr. Elizabeth had noticed that her lower teeth were starting to crowd each other while others were showing some wear from misalignment. She chose Invisalign® because she wanted to better understand the process and how it might work for her patients.

Randi had braces as a teenager and used to wear her retainers diligently. But then she lost her upper retainer, and her teeth stated to move and crowd each other. Last year, Randi noticed her two front teeth were starting to overlap. It was time to try Invisalign® to get them back in line. She liked the idea of realigning her teeth without the look of metal braces.

Dr. Elizabeth Five Months Later

Dr. Elizabeth is very happy with her results so far. She is especially excited about the change in the angle of her midline between her front teeth. She has found the aligners comfortable to wear and is happy to report she only has 9 aligners left!

Randi Five Months Later

Randi is very excited with the changes she’s seeing so far. She feels more confident in her smile, and her family and friends comment on how much things have improved. Her teeth were very crowded to start and she has found it much easier to floss in between all of her teeth, which were very difficult to floss before. She has only 9 aligners left and can’t wait to see the final result!

Find Out if Invisalign® Is Right for You

Invisalign® is a tooth-straightening system that uses a series of clear, custom-made aligners to gently and gradually move your teeth back into place. Patients typically change aligners every two weeks until their teeth are realigned. The aligners are removable, making eating and cleaning your teeth very easy compared to traditional metal braces.

The dentists at Eggert Family Dentistry love helping their patients align their teeth gradually, effortlessly, and invisibly. Dr. Elizabeth and Randi would love to have you along on their journeys!

To help make it happen, we’re offering a special on Invisalign® treatment.  Between now and March 15, the first 15 patients who respond to this link will be eligible for free Invisalign® records.

Wondering if Invisalign® could help improve your smile? Email Eggert Family Dentistry today or call (651) 482-8412 to schedule an appointment.

Eggert Family Dentistry’s Dr. Elizabeth is five weeks into her Invisalign® journey. You can read all about it here. But Randi is on an Invisalign® journey all her own! Here’s her story in her own words.

Why I Started Invisalign®

I had braces as a teen, and upon completing my treatment, I was supposed to wear a retainer every night. I did so for the first several years every few days or so, but eventually lost my upper retainer and my teeth quickly became crowded. It’s a story we see all the time at Eggert Family Dentistry.

I have never been confident with my smile. My front tooth crosses over the other significantly, and I always try to smile without showing my teeth. Working in the dental field, our team is constantly attending continuing education courses to learn about new ways to better serve our patients. I have attended a few different seminars learning about Invisalign®, and I was thrilled to be able to go through Invisalign® treatment in our office. I knew this was an easy way to get my smile back as long as I was willing to commit to wearing my retainers as directed and following a dedicated hygiene ritual to keep my teeth and retainers clean.

The First Two Appointments

After learning so much about Invisalign®, I was ready! I couldn’t be more excited to start. I had records taken and reviewed the results of the personalized treatment plan with Dr. Elizabeth.

The second appointment showing the personalized treatment plan is so informative! It is an interactive, 3D simulation of where your teeth are positioned before beginning Invisalign® and where the teeth are positioned at the end of treatment. The simulation is very eye opening. All I saw in my smile was that my one front tooth was crossed over the other. The presentation showed a lot of crowding on my lower teeth and cross bite in the back, all of which can contribute to premature wear over time. My goal is to keep my teeth for the rest of my life. I will do what I need to do that, so I was very impressed with how many improvements the Invisalign® presentation revealed.

Getting Fitted for Invisalign® & My First Two Weeks

At my next appointment, Dr. Elizabeth and Nicole attached small buttons to many of my teeth to help with the movement. This was the longest process so far, but it was painless. Dr. Elizabeth then sent me home with the retainers and instructions on caring for them.

I have been wearing my retainers for two weeks. I was so excited to tell my family that I started the treatment and was a little bummed no one noticed. Then I thought, “Great! Why would I want anyone to notice?” People I talk to say they can’t tell at all when I’m wearing them. You can only see the aligners if you look really closely.

A Surprising Benefit

One other benefit so far has been that I am not able to snack throughout the day. I never realized before how often I was snacking. Optimal wear time for the aligners is 22 hours each day, which allows for time to eat, but you do have to be diligent about flossing and brushing after eating or drinking anything aside from water while wearing the aligners. This prevents tooth decay.

Today is the start of my third week wearing the aligners. Aligners are changed every two weeks, so tonight is the night I switch to my second set. I’m excited to see what changes occur over the next couple of weeks!

Find Out if Invisalign® Is Right for You

The dentists at Eggert Family Dentistry love helping their patients align their teeth gradually, effortlessly, and invisibly. I’d love to have you along on my journey! To help make it happen, we’re offering specials on Invisalign® express treatments between now and December 31 for patients who have completed an Invisalign® records appointment:

• $130 off Express 10 Dual-Arch Treatment
• $180 off Express 5 Dual-Arch Treatment

Wondering if Invisalign® could help improve your smile? Email Eggert Family Dentistry today or call (651) 482-8412 to schedule an appointment.

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

Eggert Family Dentistry has been thinking of offering Invisalign® to our patients for years. But with all the other continuing education courses Dr. Elizabeth has been taking to enhance our patient’s smiles and their bites, it has been difficult to coordinate the training. Dr. Furey has been a certified Invisalign® provider for more than eight years, so as we transition his practice to Eggert Family Dentistry, the timing was perfect for Dr. Elizabeth to become Invisalign certified too.

Dr. Elizabeth wanted to experience Invisalign® for herself to help her better understand how it will work for our patients. So recently, Dr. Elizabeth began treatment.  This is the first blog in a series about our practice owner and her experience with Invisalign®. We also have two other staff members undergoing treatment – Randi and Kara. We’ll publish Randi’s story tomorrow.

Why Dr. Elizabeth Started Invisalign®

When Dr. Elizabeth noticed crowding on her lower anterior teeth and wear on some of her teeth due to malalignment, she knew Invisalign® would be a good option for her. The system of clear, comfortable, plastic aligners would gradually bring her teeth into alignment without visible braces. And since the aligners are removable, there wouldn’t be any food restrictions or big changes to her daily oral hygiene routine. All she would need to do is clean the aligners regularly and change them every two weeks as her teeth adjusted.

Dr. Elizabeth’s Experience Five Weeks into Treatment

Today, Dr. Elizabeth is five weeks into her treatment. Though she knows she’s still at the start of her experience, she’s already noticing Invisalign® working. Her teeth have moved to the point that food no longer gets stuck in her mouth’s trouble spots. She’s looking forward to seeing the results of her full treatment!

Find Out if Invisalign® Is Right for You

The dentists at Eggert Family Dentistry love helping our patients align their teeth gradually, effortlessly, and invisibly. Dr. Elizabeth would love to have you along on her journey! To help make it happen, we’re offering specials on Invisalign® express treatments between now and December 31 for patients who have completed an Invisalign® records appointment:

• $130 off Express 10 Dual-Arch Treatment
• $180 off Express 5 Dual-Arch Treatment

Schedule your records appointment today to learn if Invisalign® is right for you. Clincheck approval must occur before December 31, 2016, for offer to apply. Email Eggert Family Dentistry or call (651) 482-8412.

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

At Eggert Family Dentistry, we see many teenage and adult patients who wish their teeth were straighter or their bites were more comfortable, but who don’t want the hassle, cost, and look of braces. We’re proud to be able to offer these patients Invisalign®, a solution that straightens teeth and corrects malocclusion without metal brackets and the nuisance that accompanies them.

What Is Invisalign®?

Invisalign® is a teeth straightening system that’s been around for nearly 20 years. It’s a series of computer-customized, clear aligner trays you wear in succession over a period of time to move your teeth. They are an alternative to traditional braces. Invisalign® aligner trays are made of clear, thin, BPA-free plastic. Unlike metal braces, it’s nearly impossible for people to spot Invisalign® trays while you’re wearing them. Every tray gently moves your teeth into proper alignment. We then fit your Invisalign® aligner trays and monitor your progress.

Can Invisalign® Fix My Dental Issue?

Good candidates for Invisalign® include people who suffer from crooked, gapped, or crowded teeth or those who suffer from poor bite, including:
-open bite
-crossbite
-underbite
-overbite

If you suffer from one or more of these issues, Invisalign® may be a great solution for you.

I’m Interested! How Do I Get Started?

The first step is to speak to us at Eggert Family Dentistry. Dr. Furey has been treating patients with Invisalign® for many years, and Dr. Elizabeth will be undergoing the course work in the near future. We will help you determine if Invisalign® is a good choice for your particular dental needs. If so, we will take pictures, x-rays, and impressions of your teeth to create 3D images that will be used to make your aligner trays.

Once your first trays are fitted, you’ll want to try to wear them 20 to 22 hours a day, taking out the trays only to eat and brush and floss your teeth. You’ll switch the trays out every two weeks as your teeth gradually move into their new and improved position. Adults usually wear Invisalign® for a year, while the time range for teens is comparable to that for braces.

If you’ve always wished your teeth were straighter, your bite was better, or if your teeth have migrated since you had braces as a kid, ask your Eggert Family dentist about Invisalign®. We can help you investigate your options and discover if you’re a good candidate. Contact Eggert Family Dentistry today.

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

Straighter teeth is something many people desire, but when it comes to wearing braces for two, three or even four years, many patients shy away and live with their misaligned teeth. Luckily though, there is another option that is completely invisible and removable!  Invisalign was introduced in 1999 by Align Technologies. The removable orthodontic appliance incorporates a series of invisible (clear) plastic aligners that fit comfortably over your teeth and are designed to move them gradually into the desired orthodontic position.

Invisalign is currently approved for adults and teenagers with completely erupted permanent teeth who are able to faithfully follow the directions for treatment. Invisalign can be used to correct the following types of mild dental problems:

• Overly crowded teeth.
• Widely spaced teeth
• Overbite/overjet
• Crossbite
• Malocclusions (bite irregularities)

How it Works

The Invisalign method requires only one set of impressions and photographs of the teeth, taken during your initial consultation, to craft the aligners. These impressions are used to create a 3D computer projection of how your teeth will be incrementally moved until they are perfectly aligned. The impressions are sent to a dental laboratory where the aligners are created using a computer-aided design/manufacturing processes.

Once the aligners are completed, your dentist will dispense them in groups of one or two at a time during regular check-up appointments. These appointments typically occur every 4-6 weeks. Each aligner must be worn in its specific order for about two weeks, during which time it moves the teeth in small increments of about .25 millimeters to .33 millimeters. Although the aligners are removable for eating, drinking and check-ups, they should be worn at least 20 hours a day in order to reposition the teeth successfully.

A typical Invisalign treatment requires 20 to 30 aligners for both upper and lower teeth. Most adults complete their treatment in less than a year, but that time depends on the specific alignment problem.

Benefits of Invisalign

The benefits of Invisalign are numerous. First, they are nearly invisible so most people will not be able to tell that you are undergoing treatment. They are also way more comfortable than braces as you don’t have wires and brackets digging into your gums, lips and cheeks. Patients who use Invisalign often avoid damage to the gums and supporting tissues. Patients will also avoid bacteria build up that would result through traditional braces.

Finally, Invisalign aligners are removable, so you can eat whatever you want and brush and floss your teeth normally. Patients are also able to get regular dental checkups while using Invisalign. Traditional braces also prevent X-rays and regular cleanings while Invisalign can be removed, allowing for dentist access.