INVISALIGN TREATMENT FOR CHILDREN: A CONVENIENT AND EFFECTIVE ORTHODONTIC OPTION Invisalign treatment for children is a popular orthodontic treatment option for the ones who does not want to wear removable appliances.   Invisalign offers a more aesthetically pleasing alternative to traditional braces, making it particularly appealing to teenagers and older kids who may be self-conscious about their appearance during orthodontic treatment. The aligners are virtually invisible, allowing kids to straighten their teeth without drawing unnecessary attention to their mouths. This can significantly boost their confidence and self-esteem during a critical stage of their development. On the other hand, there are kids who come to our clinic and prefer metal braces and colorful elastics specifically. One of the key advantages of Invisalign is its convenience and flexibility. The aligners are removable, makes them convinient to take them out for eating, brushing, and flossing. This eliminates the dietary restrictions associated with traditional braces, allowing kids to enjoy their favorite foods without worry. Additionally, proper oral hygiene is easier to maintain since brushing and flossing can be done without the obstruction of brackets and wires. This does not mean that it is not possible to keep good hygene with braces. It is important to emphasize the importance of wearing the aligners for the recommended 20 to 22 hours a day to ensure treatment progresses effectively. Invisalign trays are custom-made for each child using advanced 3D imaging technology. This ensures a precise and comfortable fit, reducing the likelihood of irritation and discomfort. Since kids’ mouths are still growing and developing, the aligners are designed to accommodate these changes, ensuring a proper fit throughout the treatment process. Regular check-ups with the orthodontist are necessary to monitor progress and make any necessary adjustments to the treatment plan. Even though for most of the dental problems can be solved with Invisalign, it may not be suitable for all kids. The severity of the orthodontic problem and the child’s ability to comply with wearing the aligners as prescribed are important factors to consider. The orthodontist will evaluate the child’s specific needs and determine if Invisalign is the right treatment option. Parents should also be aware that Invisalign treatment for kids requires responsibility and commitment. Kids must be diligent about wearing the aligners as directed and keeping them clean. While the aligners are durable, they can be lost or damaged if not properly cared for. Open communication between parents, kids, and the orthodontist is crucial to ensure the treatment progresses smoothly and achieves the desired results. With proper care and commitment, Invisalign can help kids achieve a straighter smile and improved oral health, setting them up for a lifetime of confidence and well-being.

TEETH WHITENING There are two main reasons for the dark shades of vital teeth: 1.    Smoking, heavy consumption of coffee, tea and lack of proper daily cleaning results in stains on the surface of the teeth . A professional teeth polishing with rotary instruments will remove these stains.  This mechanical cleaning helps bring the teeth to their original shade. 2.    Normal colour of tooth is yellowish white, however sometimes the percentage of yellow in this mix may be more prominent that results in undesired tooth colour.  Of course smoking, heavy consumption of coffee, tea in long term affect the colour of enamel as well. The aim of teeth whitening is to actually lighten the shade of the teeth chemically infiltrating deep in tooth structure.  Two approaches are followed for teeth whitening.   1. In-Chair whitening    2. Home whitening  Advantage of in-chair whitening is, in one or two visits the procedure is completed.  Advantage of home whitening is, you and the dentist control the amount of whitening together. Generally in one kit there is more than enough active whitening gel to reach desired shade. Therefore, since you have your custom made trays, you may repeat the procedure every 3-4 months for a few hours to maintain the shade of the teeth achieved.  Unfortunately, the shade achieved at the end of the treatment will wear off in time. Excessive tea and coffee consumption may quicken this process.  Please do not forget that smoking will cause a rapid change to original colour. In our clinic we offer both type of whitening systems.  Initially we         -polish your teeth.        -determine the present shade of your teeth.        -take photos.        -discuss with you how much whitening we aim for. For homewhitening treatment we           -decide on the duration of the daily use of the whitening gel.           -take impressions            -prepare the trays for your teeth           -provide the kit.            -do a regular check up for the changes. For office bleaching we           -always use highest standard bleaching gels (very important for successful treatment)           -do a minimum 4 application session. However some patients experience major sensitivity. In that case we may need to shorten the                 application ofo whitening gel. It is very important to follow the instructions of your dentist for a successful and long lasting whitening effect.

LINGUAL ORTHODONTICS You want you straightened your teeth and improve your smile but not wish to have visible braces on your teeth. One option is clear aligners. However, clear aligners are not suitable for a wide range of cases and even though you are not having brackets on your teeth, still you need to carry something on the surface of your teeth. Wearing these aligners for 22 hours during the course of the treatment may not be suitable for everyone. In this situation lingual braces might be right for these patients. In lingual orthodontics, the brackets are placed on the inner surface of your teeth. When you smile, nobody can realise that you are having orthodontic treatment.  For this type of treatment, the brackets, pieces glued to tooth surface, are different than the traditional ones. Outer, labial, surface of the teeth have a fairly straight convex structure however, the inner  surface of teeth may show variation from tooth to tooth, patient to patient. Therefore custom made braces may be needed for this type of treatment. Other option is preparing the inner surface of the teeth for the braces before putting them on. In that way, standard lingual brackets may be used.  It is a superior advantage that it is almost invisible, but at the same time this is a disadvantage for the orthodontist as it is not possible to place the brackets easily on the inner surface of the tooth. A custom transfer tray may be necessary which adds extra cost on the treatment. Patient may experience difficulty talking with lingual orthodontic braces. Depending on the system chosen by the orthodontist, speech may be corrected completely by time. Again depending on the choice of the system patient may experience little to noticeable discomfort with these braces. The key is having the brackets with the lowest profile thickness.

INVISALIGN CLEAR ALIGNER ORTHODONTICS You want to straighten your teeth for health purposes or just for esthetics but do not want to have wires in your mouth, clear trays or as generally known as Invisalign might be your solution. These transparent trays are custom made. You can find the procedures for this treatment below. It has been a while since clear teeth moving trays entered in orthodontic field. Compared to 20 years ago, both the companies manufacturing these trays and doctors utilizing them have evolved considerably. Once, it was used for simple cases, as in 2024, they are almost as capable as fixed appliance therapy, braces. However still, the golden standard in orthodontics is braces and wires. There is considerable difference in mechanics how they move the teeth. In some aspects still clear trays alone are not sufficient. In such cases clear trays are combined with some elements of fixed appliance therapy. This is where the experience of the practitioner becomes important. There are several factors to bear in mind if you are considering Invisalign clear trays. You can find detailed information below.     How does INVISALIGN work?  Intra-oral scanners are used to achieve digital 3d image of your teeth and your bite.  This 3d image is sent to Invisalign laboratories. Your doctor prepares a treatment plan similar to regular braceses. This includes,         extraction decision,         utilization of several accesories to facilitate the treatment        decision on the final occlusion,        smile line,        angulation and position of each tooth,        final midline,        final overbite,        final overjet,        curve of dentition,        amount of interpoximal stripping if needed, (IPR), A special prescription form is used for the communication between your doctor and Invisalign company. Please never forget that it is not Invisalign company, but your your doctor who decides on how your teeth should be moved and how they should be positioned exactly like with regular braces. A good knowlege of occlusion as well as aesthetic vision is critical for a good outcome. Based on your plan the technician of Invisalign company prepares a simulation of tooth movements, utilizing Invisalign’s special software.  Teeth are moved little by little until they are completely aligned as prescribed. Are Clear Aligners suitable for every patient? Unfortunately in some conditions, clear aligners are not as efficient as classical braces, therefore there are some limitations.  After a clinical exam we discuss with you whether your problem can be  solved with aligners. Good news is that compared to 10 years ago, more problems can be fixed with Invisalign. One major difference between aligners and traditional braces, is the mechanics to gain space to align irregular teeth. With regular braces you can pull a tooth, but with invisalign, you can only push them. It is relatively easier to expand a narrow arch, derotate posterior teeth, extrude teeth with regular braces.  With clear aligners some degree of interdental stripping (tooth shaving) may be necessary if you have crowded dental arch. INVISALIGN Process In the first treatment visit your orthodontist scans your teeth with an intra-oral scanner to create 3d digital image of your teeth.  Standart scanner for Invisalign is iTero Scanner. The scan is authomatically sent to Invisalign laboratory.  The other necessary records are radiographs and photos. They are also sent to the laboratory. A prescription form with the instructions on detailed treatment planning is prepared and sent.  Based on this prescription form,  align company creates a step-by-step movement simulation of your teeth using their special software and sends it to your doctor.  Your doctor evaluates and makes necessary changes to make sure that everything is in line with your treatment plan.  This may mean creation of several simulations of your treatment plan.  For every step of movement an aligner is produced. If it would take 32 steps to move your teeth to ideal position, 32 sets of trays are fabricated. It takes several days for the align company to prepare one simulation. Therefore it may take several weeks to develop the final treatment simulation. Once agreed on the planned teeth movements, the align company produces the trays/aligners. The aligners are produced in Mexico and may take around three weeks for your doctor to recieve them after shipment.  How many hours a day am I supposed to wear them? You are expected to wear them all the time. You should take them off only for eating and drinking certain stuff. This means you are expected to wear them on average 22 hours a day.  Can I eat with Invisalign? No you may not eat with Invisalign. What can I drink with Invisalign? You should not consume very hot stuff with aligners. This may cause the thermoplastic aligners to warp.  You shouls also take your aligners off to drink acidic and sugary drinks.  Drinking alcoholic beverages will not harm your aligners but red wine will stain them. Coffee will also cause the aligners to be stained. However you will wear your aligners maximum two weeks. How often wil I change my aligners? Based on the teeth movement you will change your aligners every 1 to 2 weeks. For international patients critical question is:  I live far away, how many times do I need to visit your office? The benefit of Invisalign is that you are not required to see us as frequently as in regular braces. 

ADULT ORHODONTICS Today, more and more adults consider improving their smile. It is an eminent question for adults who are not happy with their smile, wether they can achieve this in a natural way without any invasive dental application, like crown or laminate. The answer to this question is yes, if you have a good dental health.  In the past, there was a belief that braces are for children and you may not benefit from orthodontics if you are an adult. Depending on the problem, the treatment may be different for an adult compared to a growing patient, but still your there may be a way to fix your teeth with orthodontics. 20 years ago among orthodontic patients, adults would consist rather a small group. Today, this is totally different. In our clinic more than 50 per cent of the patients are adults. What are the differences between adult and child orthodontics? The main difference is taking the advantage of skeletal growth. In a growing patient it is easier to expand the jaws or correct a discrepancy caused by differential top (maxilla) and bottom jaw (mandible) growth.For example, if an adult patient is concerned about top front teeth forward position. This may be due to lack of mandibular growth. We may not grow the mandible to catch with the maxilla, however we may apply a camouflage treatment and bring the top teeth backwards in aesthetical limits to give our patent a pleasing smile. As we age we may start to have gum recession, therefore the orthodontist would pay extra attention to your gum-bone levels during the course of treatment. If you have healthy teeth and gums and did not have skeletal problems,  whether you are growing or adult, the treatment is more or less similar. Types of Braces Metal Brackets First option is classical metal braces. If you are not concerned about the appearance of the braces, this is the right choice for you. It is the cheapest and may be quickest way to straighten your teeth.  One important fact is that: If you have crooked teeth, you need them to be straightened. Socially, psychologically, and biologically you need this treatment. As this is a ‘treatment’ and you should do whatever is needed for this treatment. Appearance should not be your concern. Tooth Colored Aesthetic Brackets If you are concerned about the appearance of metal braces, one option is aesthetic brackets. They may be tooth colored, ceramic or completely transparent, crystalline. They are definitely less visible compared to metal brackets. Even though the brackets are not metal, the wire passing through them may be metal.  They are not as strong as metal ones. In some treatments, where especially torque movement is needed, total treatment duration may be slightly longer. Crowns or laminates could be a quick solution but pleas keep in mind that orhodontic treatment is the only option to improve your smile naturally.

Orthodontic treatment options for children In orthodontics, achieving the best result depends on several factors. Timing is a crucial one among these factors. We aim to start the treatment not too early so that we do not to loose the motivation of the young patient and more importantly limit the duration of braces in the mouth. Especially oral hygiene could be an issue with children.  Prolonged treatment with bad oral hygiene may result in enamel defects. Our aim is straightening teeth with no harm at all. Of course delaying a treatment may result in a more complex treatment.  The best is checking the dentition and skeletal growth potential of patient and making a decision based on that. There are some discrepancies that needs to be addressed at an age as early as 7. Therefore if you suspect a problem you should visit an orthodontist starting from age 7.  Your child may not need an active treatment at that age, but some preventive measures may help with potentially developing problem. For problems that concerns the bite, it is very important to take care of them while children are still in their growth spurt.  It is crucial to keep in mind that, child’s motivation and acceptance of braces decrease with age. As well as dental health, having straight teeth is an important factor on self-esteem of growing person.   Trainers They are made of soft silicone or similar material and help to guide eruption of teeth and corrects the bite of the young patients who do not have abnormal bite pattern. Normally worn a few hours of day time and throughout the night. Removable Braces These are custom made colourful plastic-acrylic appliances with wire components to hold on to teeth. They can be taken out to eat. They are used for: ​ Fixed Braces These are the braces we spot in a lot of kids’ mouth. Although they may not be as efficient as removable braces to address the problems concerning jaw itself, they are the braces that give us the chance to align the teeth in perfect position, and create beautiful smiles. They may be metal, which is the general choice for young patients or ceramic. Metal ones are more durable and easy to handle for orthodontist. Tooth coloured, ceramic, ones posses superior aesthetic advantage. There is also completely transparent sapphire monocrystalline, or polycrystalline brackets. We call them in general aesthetic brackets.  Even thogh quite a big group of patients need combined treatment of removable and fixed braces, today tendency is finding solution with only fixed braces. Several fixed appliance attachments are used to eliminate removable braces if possible.    Clear Trays (Inivisalign) Clear trays orthodontic treatment, commonly referred to as clear aligners, is a modern approach to straightening teeth. These transparent, removable trays are custom-made to fit snugly over the teeth, gradually shifting them into the desired position. Clear trays offer several advantages, such as improved aesthetics and comfort compared to traditional braces. They are virtually invisible, making them an appealing option for those who are self-conscious about wearing braces. Additionally, the trays can be easily removed for eating and oral hygiene, allowing for greater flexibility and convenience. Clear trays orthodontic treatment provides an effective and discreet solution for achieving a confident, well-aligned smile.