Tag: Orthodontics

Comfort: the Unspoken Advantage of Invisalign Aligners

By: Adrian Pierce

Invisalign® aligners represent the latest in dental technology for straightening crooked teeth using flexible, transparent plastic aligners instead of metal bands and wires. Invisalign aligners also correct overbites, underbites, narrow dental arches, and unattractive gaps between teeth. Made from a hypoallergenic, polyurethane compound, Invisalign aligners are nearly invisible mouth trays custom-made from dental impressions taken by a dentist specializing in orthodontics.

Invisalign can reposition severely crooked teeth under the care of an experienced orthodontist. The less experienced orthodontist may need to use braces to straighten extreme underbites and overbites. In most cases of severe underbites and overbites, the jaw may need to be shifted to fully correct abnormally positioned teeth. Invisalign can reposition the jaw with the aid of removable elastics.

Amazingly Comfortable, Amazingly Effective

Several sets of Invisalign aligners are developed from a patient’s dental impression. Each aligner is slightly different in regards to shape and amount of pressure affecting teeth that need to be moved. Every week, Invisalign patients wear a new aligner. Each new aligner provides different applications of forces generated by modified aligner dimensions. Patients experience gradual repositioning of teeth without the discomfort and inconvenience of metal braces.

No Soreness, No Gum Irritation, and No Bleeding

Invisalign aligners promote subtle movement of teeth but without the soreness of your lips and gums associated with braces. Also, the ability to remove Invisalign trays improve the level of oral hygiene practiced by people using these trays as opposed to braces glued to teeth. People wearing metal braces can suffer from embarrassing halitosis as well as staining and pitting of teeth that require further treatment following removal of glued-on brackets due to difficulties with oral hygiene.

Invisalign aligners can be easily inserted and removed. You do not ha

ve to visit your orthodontist every month for adjusting brackets and wires. Metal braces require regular adjustment to make teeth move into straighter positions. Soreness of the mouth following an adjustment is a common complaint of people wearing metal braces.

So Comfortable You Forget You are Wearing Invisalign Aligners

Worn 22 hours a day, Invisalign aligners move teeth into desired positions within six months to two years. Also, you can discreetly remove Invisalign trays to eat or brush their teeth when out in public, so nobody will even know you are wearing them. And best of all, Invisalign is made from flexible materials that do not irritate gums or force teeth to reposition too quickly. Simple but powerfully effective, Invisalign trays slide easily over your teeth to give you a beautiful smile with straight teeth that you’ve always wanted.

Back To School Tips For Orthodontic Patients

School has returned! Summer is coming to an end, fall sports are gearing up, and all the children are headed back to school. At West Paces Ferry Orthodontics, Atlanta’s top provider of Invisalign, our Orthodontists, Dr. Paul Yurfest & Dr. Kristin Huber, want to offer a few helpful tips for going back to school with braces or Invisalign® aligners!

Make sure to follow the 2×2 brushing rule: brush your teeth for TWO minutes, TWO times each day! Proper brushing will help keep your teeth and braces clean, which leads to quicker appointments and healthier teeth. If you want to brush after lunch, keep the travel toothbrush we gave you in your backpack. Brush your braces!

Bring a water bottle to school. Drinking water throughout the day helps to keep your mouth clean, fight cavities and tooth decay. Sugary drinks increase your chance for cavities, so stick with water, and you cannot go wrong!

Keep an extra pack of elastics in your backpack. If you have a locker, it is wise to store some extra rubber bands in there too. Remember that those elastics help move teeth, so not wearing them consistently will result in longer treatment times!

We know you have to eat well to perform well in the classroom. Always eat smart at every meal! Avoid foods that are hard, crunchy, or chewy to prevent bending wires or knocking off brackets. Damage to your braces can cause discomfort and lengthen your treatment time. Good breakfast foods for children with braces include yogurt, fruit smoothies, and eggs.

Check out your lunch menu every week to make sure something is offered each day that you like and can eat with braces. We recommend cooked vegetables, softer foods like spaghetti, macaroni and cheese, and lean cuts of meat. Avoid chips, soft drinks, and sports drinks. Pack your lunch and take it with you if the choices are not right for you.

Bananas make a great snack. They are high in potassium and fiber which promotes heart and bone health. If you like hard fruits such as apples or pears, you must cut them into pieces before you leave for school and chew them with your back teeth. Biting into hard fruits can damage your braces.

If you are wearing Invisalign aligners, it is critical to have them on for at least 22 hours a day. The good news is you can do almost all of your normal activities while wearing your trays! Drinking sugar-free beverages and eating light snacks does not require you to remove your aligners! Whenever you brush your teeth, you should also clean your aligners.

Good luck in the upcoming school year and remember to care for your teeth and braces every day properly! Contact West Paces Ferry Orthodontics in Atlanta, Georgia with any questions or to schedule an initial complimentary consultation!

Can Straightening Your Teeth Improve Your Posture?

khprofilepic — Kenny Hackett, Communications Director – West Paces Ferry Orthodontics

By: Kenny Hackett, Communications Director

There are many obvious benefits of straight teeth. Better chewing, a more esthetic smile, and better oral hygiene are well-known benefits of properly aligned teeth. A new study from both the University Barcelona in Spain and the University of Innsbruck in Austria show that our posture and balance are also affected by the relationship of our upper and lower jaws while biting. The alignment of our jaws when we bite is called our occlusion. When there is a misalignment of the occlusion, it is known as a malocclusion.

Sonia Julia, a researcher from the University of Barcelona, states ” Postural control is the result of a complex system that includes different sensory and motor elements arising from visual, somatosensory — denoting a sensation such as pressure, pain, or warmth — and vestibular information — regarding motion, equilibrium, and spatial orientation. Malocclusion has also been associated with different motor and physiological alterations, especially when people were fatigued. But postural control was shown to improve — both in static and dynamic equilibrium — when different malocclusions are corrected by positioning the jaw in a neutral position.”

She continued “This relationship can play a crucial role in athletes in how well they ultimately perform as well as in the prevention of injuries such as sprains, strains, and fractures caused by unexpected instability as fatigue increases and motor control capacity decreases.”

“Therefore, it would be helpful for both the general population and athletes to consider correcting dental occlusions to improve postural control and thus prevent possible falls and instability due to a lack of motor system response,” she concluded.

Orthodontists specialize in the occlusion and correcting malocclusions. If you feel like your bite may be misaligned you should schedule a complimentary consultation with experts such as Dr. Paul Yurfest and Dr. Kristin Huber of West Paces Ferry Orthodontics.

Did You Know You Can Get Scars On Your Teeth?

decalcification marks

By: Renee Hartz, Treatment Director

Decalcification marks are a common occurrence when venturing into the orthodontic world.

Here at West Paces Ferry Orthodontics, we provide a prescription strength fluoride toothpaste. This toothpaste helps fight against these decalcification marks. Many people will blame the braces and say that the braces have caused these marks. This idea is not true!

Once the braces go on, the teeth are at higher risk for these decalcification marks. Braces DO NOT cause these white scars. Lack of proper brushing and not getting the toothbrush on the teeth is what causes the scars to occur.

Plaque built up on a patients teeth and braces. picture courtesy of Askaorthodontist.com.

Once these marks set into the teeth, they are there; that is why they are scars. The prescription strength fluoride toothpaste helps prevent these decalcification marks from occurring.

At West Paces Ferry Orthodontics, we take the extra step to teach proper brushing techniques. These educational tips ensure that our patients leave with only a beautiful smile- without scars caused by decalcification. Schedule your complimentary consultation with West Paces Ferry Orthodontics. Ensure you receive the best care from the experts!

Teeth after braces with good oral hygiene. Picture courtesy of Maximum Living.

The iTero Element Laser Scanner

New technology at West Paces Ferry Orthodontics

By: Kenny Hackett

The iTero Element is the newest piece of technology at West Paces Ferry Orthodontics. It is a digital laser scanner used to provide Invisalign with an accurate model of the mouth. The machine uses laser light to read the surface of the teeth and then recreates a virtual model of these teeth.

Orthodontic Technician Michele scanning a patient for Invisalign with the iTero Element.

“As of March 2016, iTero scans have been used in more than 2.7 million iTero orthodontic scans, including more than 1 million Invisalign® scans.”According to the iTero website. The scanner is more accurate than the older model and the scans also take half the time.

For a patient, this means getting in and out faster and having a lower chance of needing a second scan. West Paces Ferry Orthodontics was so impressed with how much the machines improved the patient experience that we bought two of them! Visit Westpacesferrryortho.com to request an appointment today and experience the latest technology available to orthodontic patients!

Why I love to volunteer

By: Paul Yurfest, DDS
I have been in Orthodontic practice over the last 41 years and have had a lot of time to help people while doing what I like to do.

I provide free orthodontics to families who have no means to pay for the service. It’s a lot of fun! I have been doing
ing that since 1975 at the Ben Massell Free Dental Clinic in downtown Atlanta. As part of the JFC&S and United Way organizations, the clinic helps many varied members of the Atlanta community. Helping people is rewarding!

Photo Courtesy of The Ben Masell Dental Clinic.

Getting into an activity other than Orthodontics has great appeal to me as well. I love gardening, and I love helping people! When I decided to become a Georgia Master Gardener, I did not know I would be combining both gardening and volunteering together!

The Georgia Cooperative Extension Service of the University of Georgia has an office in many of Georgia’s counties. This office is where homeowners or businesses can contact an agent to have questions related to gardening answered.

Photo courtesy of The Georgia Master Gardener Extension Volunteer Program.

As a Master Gardener, I volunteer there to answer the questions of many homeowners related to their lawns and gardens. Also, I help teach gardening at Farm Chastain, a small farm in the center of the North Fulton Course at Chastain Park!

The doctors and staff of West Paces Ferry Orthodontics are involved in many types of volunteer activities- all to help make Atlanta a better place!

If you are thinking of volunteering or are currently volunteering, share your thoughts in the comments!

Make Your Teeth Whitening Gel Work Better!

Make any brand of whitening gel work better with this easy method

kennyblogprofile By: Kenny Hackett

Whitening our teeth has become the norm in America. According to NBC News, “Teeth whitening is the No. 1 requested cosmetic service today and its popularity continues to soar“. The popularity of this service has lead to the dental product industry developing stronger and safer gels over time. Even though these materials are improving, there is still a simple trick you can use to make any bleach more effective.

baking-soda-for-teeth-whitening — Picture courtesy of Beyonddiseas.com

For this easy to do trick, you need baking soda, a q-tip, and just a little bit of effort. Take the baking soda and add just enough water to create a paste. Then use your q-tip to buff the front of your teeth. You have to use a q-tip because a brush’s bristles are too flexible. What you have done is buffed off the bio-film that lives on the surface of your teeth. This film comes back in approximately 30 minutes, so it is very important to place your tray with the gel on immediately.

Have you been given any helpful tips by the staff of West Paces Ferry Orthodontics? If so, share them in the comments below.

BEING BILINGUAL AT WORK

By: Jamie Perez

There are many benefits to being a bi-lingual speaker. It especially helps when you are at your workplace. The United States of America consist of people from many countries. Spanish is the second most common language after English. Sometimes we come across situations in which a person only speaks Spanish. What do you do? Having someone in the office that speaks Spanish is great. Our patient can communicate in their native language. This natural communication ensures no details will be missed with the mindset of “I just did not understand!” West Paces Ferry Orthodontics’s Spanish-speaking patients will be more comfortable. It is also nice to have a variety in our office. Working with people of different cultures and diversities is wonderful. How do you feel when you go into an office and see a range of staff from different countries and parts of the U.S? If you are a Spanish speaker, how do you feel when you know that there is someone in an office that speaks Spanish? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

The Hottest Event of the Summer!

By: Dr. Kristin L. Huber

As summer is winding down, Atlanta’s party scene is heating up! One of the best parties of the summer is the Summer Sizzle that benefits Children’s Healthcare Of Atlanta. West Paces Ferry Orthodontics is proud to be sponsoring this amazing event. Dr. Huber and Dr. Yurfest have been affiliated with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta for many years. Dr. Yurfest has been a part of the staff for over 20 years. Dr. Huber is a member of the craniofacial and cleft palate team. She is also active in her local FRIENDS group. FRIENDS is the community volunteer organization of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. They raise millions of dollars each year on behalf of Children’s Healthcare.

This year’s summer send-off party will take place on Friday, August 26th, 2016. The event starts at 8 p.m. and will last until 12 a.m. at the chic Summerour Studios in midtown. Planners expect more than 400 Atlantans will attend and show their support for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Guests will enjoy catering by Epting Events, summer cocktails, and music by Anita, a Motown band. There will also be an exciting silent auction, featuring rare art and travel deals. So, put on your summer whites and we will see you there!

10 Things Parents Should Know About Invisalign Teen

As the nation’s leading Invisalign provider, West Paces Ferry Orthodontics understands making the best choice for your teen’s dental health can be daunting with all the choices at your disposal. Invisalign Teen is a great option for straightening your teen’s teeth and correcting an unhealthy bite. West Paces Ferry Orthodontics, in Buckhead Georgia, qualifies 99% of teens as Invisalign Teen patients… even if they have been told they don’t qualify at other orthodontic practices. There are many misconceptions about Invisalign Teen so we are sharing 10 facts every parent should know, before deciding whether braces or Invisalign Teen is the best choice for their teen!

1. WHAT IS INVISALIGN TEEN?

Invisalign Teen is the virtually invisible way to straighten your teen’s teeth without the restrictions that come with metal braces. Rather than wires and brackets, Invisalign® uses a series of clear, removable aligners that have been custom-made for your teen’s teeth. Your teen simply wears them over their teeth and changes them out for a new set of aligners every week. Your teen’s teeth gradually shift into place, achieving that confident smile.

2. IS INVISALIGN AS EFFECTIVE AS TRADITIONAL BRACES?

Yes. When worn according to the recommendations of Dr. Yurfest and Dr. Huber, Invisalign Teen is as effective as traditional braces. Invisalign can effectively treat mild to severe cases, including underbite, overbite, overcrowding and gaps between teeth. Your teen will be a great candidate for Invisalign, as 99% of Teens qualify at West Paces Ferry Orthodontics. West Paces Ferry Orthodontics offers complimentary consultations, and is conveniently located in Buckhead Georgia.

3. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PRACTICAL ADVANTAGES OF INVISALIGN TEEN OVER TRADITIONAL BRACES?

If you’ve had braces yourself, you already know the issues associated with metal wires and brackets – aggravated lips, food restrictions, and difficulty brushing. With Invisalign, the aligners are removable, so your teen can play sports without the worry of being hit in the mouth by a ball, which can cause real damage in braces. They can also continue playing musical instruments properly, without braces getting in the way. With braces, there is a long list of foods your teen shouldn’t eat, from popcorn to apples and raw carrots. With Invisalign, there are no such restrictions. The removable aligners make it easy to brush and floss normally to maintain proper oral hygiene.

4. ARE THERE ANY EMOTIONAL CONCERNS TO CONSIDER?

Research shows that moms underestimate the extent to which teens feel self-conscious about crooked teeth, and using braces as a solution can often make this lack of confidence even worse. But with Invisalign Teen, no one needs to know your teen is straightening their teeth, removing a potential source of real anxiety for them and giving them the confidence to be themselves in front of everyone.

5. WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR INVISALIGN TEEN?

As the nation’s leading Invisalign provider West Paces Ferry Orthodontics is able to qualify 99% of teens for Invisalign Teen treatment. Invisalign can be used for teens who have erupting teeth — this includes most teenagers. Dr. Yurfest and Dr. Huber will evaluate your teen’s specific dental issues to plan the best treatment for your teen. To see a comparison of experience, log on to Invisalign – Find A Doctor . West Paces Ferry Orthodontics is the Top provider based on experience. Your teen will thank you for making that extra effort!

6. HOW LONG DOES INVISALIGN TEEN TREATMENT TAKE?

The average treatment time is about the same as with traditional braces, but the actual length of your teen’s treatment depends on the severity of their condition and can only be determined by Dr. Yurfest or Dr. Huber. West Paces Ferry Orthodontics offers multiple Accelerated Orthodontic treatments that work in conjunction with Invisalign Teen that can cut most treatment times in half!

7. HOW MUCH DOES INVISALIGN COST?

Invisalign Teen costs about the same as traditional braces. Check your dental insurance plan—orthodontic treatment with Invisalign Teen is covered by many dental insurance policies. West Paces Ferry Orthodontics offers flexible and affordable monthly payment plans as well as complimentary consultations.

8. DOES MY TEEN HAVE TO WEAR INVISALIGN ALL THE TIME?

Invisalign Teen is most effective when worn 20 to 22 hours per day. West Paces Ferry Orthodontic’s data show that teens wear their aligners on average for just under 21 hours per day, exactly as recommended and better than adults. Plus, Invisalign Teen has a built-in assurance check; each aligner has blue indicators that fade over time when used as directed, so Dr. Yurfest & Dr. Huber can track compliance.

9. WHAT HAPPENS IF AN ALIGNER GETS LOST?

Not to worry—Invisalign Teen offers six replacement aligners for free! In the event that an aligner is lost, you should inform a West Paces Ferry Orthodontics representative right away.

10. HOW MUCH TIME WILL BE SPENT VISITING THE ORTHODONTIST?

Invisalign Teen often requires less time with your orthodontist than traditional braces do. There are no adjustments to make, no broken wires to fix. After the initial appointment, follow-up appointments are usually scheduled periodically.

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