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Going to the orthodontist is not just for kids. Many adults are also looking to smile more confidently and with recent advances in orthodontic technology, getting the smile you deserve has never been faster or more convenient.
Orthodontics has changed in three big ways for adults:
- No braces are required. One of the biggest concerns many adults have about orthodontic treatment is that they will be stuck wearing metal braces. Thankfully, there are now clear, convenient alternatives to braces like Invisalign®, that have made metal mouths a thing of the past. Invisalign® is a specialized orthodontic appliance that allows your teeth to be straightened without braces by using a series of clear aligners that are custom designed by your orthodontist and worn over your teeth. Since Invisalign® is more challenging to use than traditional braces, many orthodontists may not be comfortable recommending it and the skill of your doctor becomes extremely important. Invisalign® has made it easy to find the most experienced provider in your area by offering a useful doctor locator on their website.
- Impressions, the goop they put in your mouth to get a mold of your teeth, are no longer a necessary part of treatment because of intra-oral digital scanners like the iTero. With these state-of-the-art laser scans of your teeth, products like Invisalign®, custom braces and many other orthodontic appliances can now be fabricated more quickly and accurately than ever before without those gaggy impressions.
- Accelerated orthodontic options now allow for treatment to be completed in half the time. Devices like Acceledent® enhance the biology of tooth movement and allow for treatment to proceed with greater comfort and speed. Acceledent® accomplishes this through subtle vibrations that are pulsed around your teeth simply by biting onto a mouthpiece for 20 minutes each day. For most patients, treatment is complete in well under 12 months!
Dr. Scott Frey is a Board Certified Orthodontist practicing in the Lehigh Valley. He is the region’s only Invisalign faculty member, teaching orthodontists across the country the latest techniques. Dr. Frey is also the state’s #1 provider of Invisalign and Accelerated Invisalign.