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Many people think Invisalign only works for slight corrections such as minor spacing or slight crowding. Invisalign can actually correct major problems. It is the newest technology and is always improving. Aligners can fix most problems, big or small. Some think Invisalign won't work for them because their dentist may say Aligners won't work. For this reason it is best to see an orthodontist for treatment.

What Invisalign can correct:

• spacing
• crowding
• overbite
• underbite
• crossbite
• rotation

Invisalign does not have age limitations. Here, at Azizi Orthodontics, we have patients as young as age 8 who have seen great results during their first phase of treatment. Invisalign is also perfect for teens who do not want braces. Most teens would rather not be in high school with braces or go to prom or have school pictures taken wearing braces. Invisalign clear aligners can't be seen in photos.  The aligners can even be removed for prom or other social events. Invisalign is also great for adults who are busy with work and social activities. Some adults feel awkward wearing metal braces so Invisalign is a perfect option.

Many people will come into our office concerned Invisalign won't work for them. They think it will be difficult to remember to wear them. It really isn't as hard as they think- the trays are worn every day for 22 hours. The only time the aligners are removed is to eat and brush. Patients can drink while wearing Invisalign but should always use a straw as to not discolor them. You won't even notice the trays after the first hour of wearing. If parents are nervous their kids will not wear the aligners, there is a way to track their cooperation. Childrens Invisalign trays have a marker which changes color depending how often they are worn. There is also an Invisalign app which tracks the time a patient wears their trays. The app logs how long the trays are out of the patient's mouth. The app also reminds the patient when to switch to the next set of trays.

Lastly, many people think Invisalign will cost much more than regular braces.  This may not be the case. In some situations, Invisalign costs will be right around the same price as regular braces! Especially if there is orthodontic insurance coverage, Invisalign may cost the same amount as braces!

If you are interested in Invisalign, give our office a call at 215-646-9514. We look forward to hearing from y

Have you seen commercials talking about how great their companies orthodontic aligners are and how they can just mail them to you? It may sound like a great idea, but let me tell you why it's not.

Why you shouldn't get orthodontic aligners in the mail.

The orthodontic mail-in aligners are coming from molds you have made on yourself and possibly even photos you have sent to the company of your teeth. But what if the molds and pictures aren’t accurate--remember you aren't an expert in this area. Your bite may be off in the pictures and this could damage your teeth because of the treatment plan the mail order company formulates could be incorrect.  An orthodontist is a dentist who has gone through years of extra schooling as well as training to make teeth straightening their specialty. You should be seen by an orthodontist in person to have your records taken and molds or scans done properly and a treatment plan formulated by an expert in orthodontia.  With mail-in aligners you are not getting the personal time you deserve or the full experience. Moving your teeth is very serious and should not be done by anyone other than a doctor who is specializes in this area. 

There could be underlying issues that could only be seen in an x-ray, so if you are only sending molds and photos to a mail-order company they will not be able to properly assess your treatment plan.

Do mail-in aligners really save you time and money?

The mail-in aligners may seem like they are saving you time from having to fit another appointment into your already busy schedule but your orthodontic appointment will not take more than 15 minutes max if you are getting aligners in the orthodontic office. You will receive enough aligners to fit with your busy schedule so it's not like you are at the orthodontists every week.

The mail-in aligners also claim to make your treatment faster than in house orthodontia which is why there seems to be a need but it's not good to move your teeth too quickly and can cause damage to the roots. There is a significant difference in each orthodontic case and how treatment should proceed also how the end goal is reached.

The mail-in aligner companies attact  people by advertising the low price point but again, you are not paying for a professional, you are technically paying a company to send you aligners.  You are the one who still has to do all the work, (taking the molds, taking photos, figuring out how long to wear each set). 

Retention

When you are completely finished with your treatment, you will receive a retainer that is molded to exactly like your new smile  -(hence the name retainer).  The orthodontist will continue to see you every couple months to make sure no changes happen and take x-rays to see how the bone has settled around the tooth to make sure there won't be a relapse and need treatment again. When you receive mail-in aligners there will not be any follow up to make sure the retainers fit and see how your teeth settle. 

You only have ONE smile. Shouldn’t you trust it to an orthodontic specialist to create that perfect smile and not yourself?

There is a variety of foods you may encounter during the holidays, but some are not good for your braces and appliances.

FOODS TO AVOID

• Gingerbread - Making gingerbread houses during the holidays is a fun activity to do with family and friends but gingerbread is not safe to eat while having braces and appliances. Biting into gingerbread could cause your braces to come off, wires bend and break your appliance. Stick to just decorating the gingerbread.
• Candy Canes- Candy canes are fun to use for decorations and may be received with a holiday card. Stay away from them as they are a hard peppermint candy that will break your braces!
• Nuts- Holiday nuts are very common snack at parties. Stay away as they are hard and can break your braces off or dislodge between the bracket and wire causing the wires to break and cause discomfort.

FOODS TO ENJOY

• Hot chocolate- Hot chocolate is a warm winter drink that will not harm your braces. You can even add yummy flavors you can't actually eat with braces such as marshmallow, caramel, and peppermint.
• Baked goods- Fresh baked cookies, cakes and brownies are delicious treats that are safe to eat with your braces.  Just make sure there are no nuts in the baked goods.
• Holiday dinner- You can still enjoy your favorite holiday dishes with your braces such as casseroles, mashed potatoes, soft veggies, tender meats, etc.

INVISALIGN DURING THE HOLIDAYS

Invisalign patients may be able to eat whatever they would like, but it is important to remember to wear your Invisalign trays full time! With all the holiday events you may be taking your Invisalign out more to socialize and snack. If you feel like your trays are too tight when you put them in, try wearing your last set of trays a little longer. Make sure to brush and floss before putting back in your trays.

Azizi Orthodontics wish you and your family a lovely holiday! 

Halloween is fast approaching, and Dr. Benjamin Azizi wanted to be sure to wish our patients a happy day, no matter how you might celebrate this holiday. The Halloween that is familiar to most people today bears little resemblance to the original Halloween; back in the "old days" it wasn't even called Halloween!

Festival of the Dead

Halloween started out as a Celtic festival of the dead that honored departed loved ones and signified a change in the cycle of the seasons. The Celtic people viewed Halloween, then called "Samhain," as a very special day – almost like our New Years day in fact, as their new calendar year began on November 1st. Samhain was the last day of autumn, so it was the time to harvest the last of the season's crops, store food away for winter, and situate livestock comfortably for the upcoming cold weather. The Celts believed that during this day, the last day of winter, the veil between this world and the spirit world is the thinnest, and that the living could communicate with departed loved ones most effectively on Samhain due to this.

Modern Halloween

Halloween as we know it today started because Christian missionaries were working to convert the Celtic people to Christianity. The Celts believed in religious concepts that were not supported by the Christian church, and these practices, which stemmed from Druidism, were perceived by the Christian church as being "devil worship" and dangerous.

When Pope Gregory the First instructed his missionaries to work at converting the Pagan people, he told them to try to incorporate some of the Pagan practices into Christian practices in a limited way. This meant that November 1st became "All Saints Day," which allowed Pagan people to still celebrate a beloved holiday without violating Christian beliefs.

Today, Halloween has evolved into a day devoted purely to fun, candy, and kids. What a change from its origins! We encourage all of our patients to have fun during the holiday, but be safe with the treats. Consider giving apples or fruit roll-ups to the kids instead of candy that is potentially damaging to the teeth and gums.

Remind kids to limit their candy and brush after eating it! Sweets can cause major tooth decay and aggrivate gum disease, so to avoid extra visits to our Ambler or Glenside office, make your Halloween a safe one!