A Wonderful Smile Gets You Noticed – Feel Better With Invisalign®

Straight, aligned teeth are not only healthier, but also better for your confidence. Invisalign braces give you a youthful appearance and a wonderful smile that is more likely to get you noticed. A bright smile evokes both warmth and sincerity, and stimulates the excretion of “feel-good” hormones.

How Does Invisalign Work?

Redesigning the smile you have become accustomed to since birth to better reflect the person you are today is an easy and exciting process with the Invisalign system.

Invisalign refers to a sequence of thin, clear, virtually invisible custom-molded aligners designed to fit over your teeth and gradually straighten them. Invisalign is a non-intrusive orthodontic treatment that requires you to wear each set of aligners for two weeks, straightening your teeth bit by bit. The Invisalign system usually takes 12-18 months with regular but quick (10-15 minutes) checkups.

The aligners are comfortable to wear, and you can take them out for eating, brushing, and flossing. Unlike braces, Invisalign is practically invisible, which means that it does not draw unwarranted attention to your mouth. In fact, no one will notice unless you tell them. The entire Invisalign treatment plan is designed using 3-D computer imaging technology, so you can view your virtual results to see how your teeth will look like once the treatment is complete.

Common applications of Invisalign include:

1.       Tooth crowding

The problem tends to worsen over time, making it more and more difficult to take proper care of your teeth through brushing and flossing. Because you can’t clean areas with crowded teeth well, those spots are filled with bacteria that can easily attack the gums, teeth, and bone if they find a point of entry, like when you injure your gums through hard brushing. If no remedy is sought, the inflammation can advance to more severe gum disease that leads to gum recession, bone loss, and ultimately tooth loss.

2.       Misaligned bite

Excess wear on your front lower teeth may cause your bite to be slightly off. This, in turn, causes some teeth to meet sooner than others. The resulting stress and flexing can cause the enamel to separate from the inner dentine, forming an abfraction – a notch at the gum line. The notches create weak points that cause the tooth to become compromised and more likely to break or chip.

Final Note

Generally, Invisalign is used to correct mild to moderate bite and misalignment issues. It will not only give you a more youthful, attractive, and beautiful smile, but also deliver more balanced forced, thereby, reducing stresses and trauma responsible for fractures, bone loss, and tooth loss.

Braces Las Vegas is a certified Invisalign® provider and other forms of orthodontic braces designed to help you achieve the smile you've always wanted. Call us @ 702.660.2256 for more information on orthodontics/

Did You Know Dr. Saoly Benson is a Board-Certified Orthodontist?

Dr. Saoly Benson of Braces Las Vegas has recently become a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics. This is great news because it showcases the expertise & knowledge our orthodontists offer.

Importance of Board Certification

Board certification is an on-going process dentists, doctors, orthodontists, and other select fields of expertise voluntarily participate in to become a true expert in the trade. 

The process is very comprehensive, challenging & includes multiple components:

• Confirmation of required orthodontic education
• Comprehensive written examination reviewing orthodontic educational curriculum
• Clinical examination demonstrating expertise through an oral exam and case presentation
• Re-certification to assure treatment quality

Are all orthodontists Board Certified?

No. All orthodontists must be licensed to practice, but at this time only 1 in 3 orthodontists have continued on to complete Board Certification. The American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) certification process signifies a unique achievement—a significant step beyond the two to three years of advanced education required for a dentist to become a specialist in orthodontics. The process requires the orthodontist to demonstrate actual accomplishments in patient care with detailed case reports on the treatment provided for a broad range of patient problems. Board certification is a voluntary achievement that all orthodontists do not choose to pursue. In order to become board certified by the ABO, an individual orthodontist is thoroughly interviewed by a highly respected panel of examiners to demonstrate their orthodontic knowledge, clinical skills and judgment.

How many certifying boards are recognized by the American Dental Association in the specialty of orthodontics?

One. The American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) is the only certifying board in the specialty that is recognized by the American Dental Association. The ABO was founded in 1929 and is the oldest specialty board in dentistry. The board’s purpose is to elevate the quality of orthodontic care for the public by promoting excellence through certification, education and professional collaboration.

Why would an orthodontist choose to complete this voluntary certification process?

Successful completion of the examination process demonstrates the orthodontist’s highest commitment to excellence in orthodontics – to both the orthodontic profession and the general public. It represents a commitment by a licensed specialist that he/she has the necessary knowledge base and skills to treat patients to the highest of standards. It exemplifies a practitioner’s commitment to continue to keep abreast of the latest advances in patient care, and to continue to deliver these latest advances to patients. Many orthodontists see it as a demonstration of their dedication to the specialty and the highest level of personal achievement.

What steps are required to complete the ABO certification process?

Since the establishment of the ABO in 1929, the certification process requirements have continued to adjust to the demands of the specialty. Today, the process involves a thorough Written Examination (240 questions) covering all areas of information which an orthodontist should be knowledgeable. Successful completion of this “board exam” allows the orthodontist to proceed to the Clinical Examination where they present detailed case reports from their practice/residency, demonstrating a history of excellence in patient care. These cases are evaluated by a panel of examiners and later discussed during an oral examination where the applicant is tested on a wide variety of academic and clinical topics. After successful completion of these examinations, the orthodontist has officially achieved Board Certification, for a time-limited period. The orthodontist must go through Certification Renewal every 10 years to maintain their certification status by demonstrating this continued level of patient care.                  

What Board-Certification Means For Patients?

By now you may be asking exactly what having a board-certified orthodontist means to you as a patient? Great question.

Simply put, it means better care. Board certified orthodontists possess more skills, techniques, & knowledge of their trade and as a result may offer better strategies when presented with unique cases from every patient.

Choosing a board certified orthodontists ensures that you are in good hands and will receive the highest possible treatment standards.

Dr. Saoly Benson is a board-certified orthodontist in Las Vegas.

*All information was sourced from the American Board of Orthodontics.

Grinding Teeth at Night? Consider a Night Guard.

People grind their teeth when anxious, tense, or under stress. However, it can also happen at night due to an abnormal bite, sleep disorders, or when you have crooked or missing teeth, causing your teeth to wear or incur serious damage. Continuous grinding causes damage to your tooth enamel in the form of cracks, chips, and fissures that are not only painful, but also lead to additional damage if no corrective measures are taken.

If you grind your teeth at night, your dentist can recommend that you wear night guards. These dental devices are usually the first and easiest solution to control grinding and tooth injury that may affect your smile.

When to Visit Your Orthodontist

When you notice these symptoms, you should consult with your dentist immediately: 

• grinding
• fractured teeth, loose or painful teeth
• dull headaches
• gum irritation
• jaw soreness 

Your Las Vegas orthodontist will examine your teeth and collect the facts, like your symptoms, times when your grind your teeth most, and recent changes in your personal life that may cause severe anxiety, before providing a suitable solution depending on the severity of the condition and whether you have suffered from any dental trauma.

Using Night Guards

A night guard is a dental device, similar to a mouth guard worn by athletes, which is typically made from acrylic or hard plastic and designed to fit snugly in either your upper or lower jaw. It covers all your teeth, in either jaw, providing a barrier between your top and bottom teeth while sleeping. This protects your teeth from unnecessary pressure and wear, and also rests your jaw. All night guards are personalized to ensure a perfect fit and comfort.

Custom-made night guards are helpful for bruxism – the habit of grinding or clenching teeth – caused by sleep disorders, missing teeth, or crooked teeth. While it is possible to get over-the-counter night guards, their materials and fit may not be as comfortable, or last as long as a custom device from your dentist.

Using the proper night guard will not only preserve your smile for years to come, but also protect you from costly dental restorations.