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What Technology & Services Do We Offer?
Types of Braces
Invisalign® and Invisalign® Teen
The Invisalign system and the Invisalign Teen system are a series of clear overlay templates—called aligners—that have been generated by computer simulation to gradually move the teeth. The aligners are removable and virtually invisible, which means you can straighten your teeth without anyone knowing; and you can still eat and drink what you want. These systems are available to adults and teenagers with certain orthodontic bite problems. Wearing the aligners will gradually and gently shift your teeth into place, based on the precise movements Dr. Munk plans out for you. Ask us if you are a candidate for the Invisalign system or the Invisalign Teen system.
Metal Braces
Metal braces are the most common type. They are made of high-grade stainless steel. Today's metal braces are smaller, more comfortable and more attractive.
Ceramic Braces
Ceramic braces are made of translucent (clear) material. They are most popular with adult patients, due to their cosmetic appeal. The only drawback to ceramic brackets are that they can be more fragile than metal.
Invisalign®
Invisalign® straightens your teeth without wires and brackets, using a series of clear, customized, removable appliances called aligners. It’s virtually undetectable, which means hardly anyone will know that you’re straightening your teeth.
Clearly Different
The Invisalign System combines advanced 3-D computer graphics technology with 100-year-old science of orthodontics. Invisalign aligners are designed to move your teeth in small steps to the desired final position prescribed by your orthodontist. Each aligner is precisely calibrated and manufactured to fit your mouth at each stage of the treatment plan.
Your first step is to visit our office to determine if Invisalign is right for you. After sending precise treatment instructions, Invisalign uses advanced computer technology to translate these instructions in a sequence of finely calibrated aligners — as few as 5-10 or as many as 50. Each aligner is worn for about a week and only taken out to eat, brush and floss. As you replace each aligner with the next, your teeth will begin to move gradually — week-by-week until the final alignment prescribed is attained. Then you'll be smiling like you never have before!
If you want to learn more about Invisalign and how it works, please visit the Invisalign home page.
To ensure the best possible results, only an orthodontist who has been trained and certified by Align Technology can diagnose and treat using Invisalign. Invisalign is not intended for children and is not appropriate for every adult. Only an orthodontist can determine if this treatment is an effective option for you. To see if Invisalign can help you achieve the smile you've always wanted, contact us to make an appointment.
Invisalign FAQs
Q: How often must I wear my aligners?
A: You must wear your aligners for up to 22 hours daily. You may remove them for eating, drinking and regular oral hygiene.
Q: Are there any restrictions to what I can eat while in treatment?
A: No. Unlike braces, you may eat whatever you like as long as you remove the aligners before eating. Prior to placing the aligners back on, it is important to brush your teeth and the aligners after you eat.
Q: Will wearing the aligners affect my speech?
A: Like any orthodontic treatment, there is a short adjustment period. The more you speak with the aligners on, the quicker you will adjust.
Q: Is there any discomfort with Invisalign® treatment?
A: There will be some pressure and minor discomfort for a day or two after each initial insertion. This is a sign that your teeth are moving sequentially into their final position.
Q: Can I chew gum?
A: It is recommended that you remove your aligners prior to chewing gum as the gum will stick to the aligners.
Q: Can I smoke with the aligners in?
A: We discourage smoking with aligners as the cigarette smoke will tend to discolor them.
Q: How do I keep my aligners clean?
A: Brushing them with toothpaste will keep them fresh and clean.
Q: How often do I see an orthodontist while wearing Invisalign®?
A: Regular office visits are every five to six weeks. This will ensure that your Invisalign treatment is progressing as planned.
Q: What happens after my treatment is complete? Do I need retainers?
A: All orthodontic patients are instructed to wear their retainers at night indefinitely. Sleeping with your retainers in at night will ensure a healthy bite and maintain the new position of your teeth.
Q: How long does Invisalign treatment take?
A: Treatment time varies depending on the severity of the misaligned teeth. Treatment time can be shorter than traditional braces, between six and 18 months.
Q: Does Invisalign work for kids?
A: Yes, if their teeth, including second molars, have grown in completely.
Invisalign Teen®
Now teens don’t have to worry about embarrassing metal braces in their yearbook photos or Facebook profiles – introducing Invisalign® Teen! Invisalign® Teen is the clear way to straighten teeth without metal braces, using aligners. Aligners are removable and virtually invisible, which means you can straighten your teeth without anyone knowing. You can still eat and drink what you want. Also, you can brush and floss normally to maintain healthy gums and teeth, and there are no wires, metal or brackets to cause mouth abrasions.
We went to leading orthodontists, parents and teens themselves to custom-design an Invisalign system just right for the dental needs of teenagers. With blue-to-clear color-changing aligners to show how long each aligner has been worn, six free replacement aligners in case some are lost or broken, and other changes designed to accommodate growing mouths, Invisalign Teen is the perfect teeth-straightening system for today’s teens’ busy lifestyles.
What is Invisalign Teen?
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A clear way to straighten your teeth without braces
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Series of clear, removable, custom-made aligners
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Uses no metal wires or brackets
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Custom-made for comfort
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How does Invisalign Teen work?
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Wear each set of aligners for about a week
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Remove only to eat, drink, brush and floss
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Your teeth will move gradually each week
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Visit us every 8-10 weeks
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Total treatment time averages 6-15 months
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Average number of aligners is between 18 and 30
What conditions does Invisalign Teen treat?
By using its advanced technology, Invisalign Teen can treat a broad range of dental and orthodontic conditions, which, in the past, were usually treated with traditional braces. These conditions include:
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Overly crowded teeth
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Widely spaced teeth
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Crossbite
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Overbite
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Underbite
Damon® System
This braces system is a revolutionary take on traditional braces, fully harnessing their effectiveness while making the process quicker, easier, and more attractive.
Incredible Results in Minimal Time
The Damon System offers speedy treatment without compromising the quality of the end result. While each patient’s experience will be as unique as their smile, you may be able to complete your treatment with Damon months sooner than you would with other systems.
Simple, Yet Effective
Traditional braces have more parts than the Damon System, which means more time in the office, more adjustments to make, and more chances that things will slip out of place from time to time. Damon Braces are simplified in their design, yet they remain precise and effective in their treatment.
While we always enjoy catching up with our patients, the Damon System requires fewer adjustments. Fewer adjustments means fewer visits to our office – and that means more free-time and freedom for you.
Superior Comfort
Fewer pieces means that there is less friction caused by the appliance. It also means that the appliance is easy to keep clean, which will help you feel better about your treatment.
Wilckodontics™
Also known as Accelerated Osteogenic Orthodontics (AOO)™, Wilckodontics™ is a relatively new technique designed to dramatically increase the rate of tooth movement. During the procedure, some of the supporting bone is altered/roughened. As new bone starts to mineralize, braces can move the teeth rapidly. This is because the bone is soft and there is less resistance to the force of braces. Research has shown that treatment results are as stable and long-term as that of conventional braces treatment.
Wilckodontics offers a much shorter treatment time, which generally averages between three to nine months.
Insignia™
Like a fingerprint, your smile is unique—and so is Insignia Custom Smile Design, a computerized system that combines digital treatment planning with custom brackets and wires tailored to your specific dental anatomy.
The process is simple and no impressions are needed. Using the Lythos impressionless scanner, we make a digital model of your teeth for the Insignia smile design lab. Sophisticated imaging software then creates a digital representation of your bite, while braces and wires are custom-fabricated for you.
Insignia braces are customized Damon brackets, so they don’t need elastic ties. The customization is delivered with the help of state-of-the-art computer modeling and robotic technologies.
Fast and Comfortable Treatment
Insignia treatment is tailored to the individual with each aspect precisely calculated to affect tooth movement in the most optimal way. This means fewer office visits and exceptional comfort throughout treatment. And because treatment is personalized, our doctors often see a reduction in the amount of time their Insignia patients would ordinarily be in braces.
This treatment option is ideal for most cases and patients, whether it’s an adult with a hectic schedule, or a teen who wants to be in and out of braces as quickly as possible.
Precise, Predictable Results
Utilizing Insignia’s proprietary 3-D software, we can show you your end result before you even start treatment! You’re able to view, with precision accuracy, the curvature and width of the best smile specifically proportioned to your facial features. Unlike off-the-shelf braces and wires, a treatment plan developed with Insignia creates a layer of meticulous detail that provides fast, accurate, and predictable results.
Bite Turbos
Bite Turbos: Speeding Treatment
When upper and lower braces are placed, in many instances, the top teeth bite down and contact the lower braces. This may cause the upper teeth to ‘bite off’ the lower braces, and as a result, will cause many extra visits to the office. To prevent this and allow placement of upper and lower braces at the same time, we use small temporary build-ups called “Bite Turbos” on the back side of the front teeth, or “Bite Props” on the biting surface of the rear teeth.
Bite Turbos
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Usually placed behind the upper front teeth.
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Two Bite Turbos are placed initially. One turbo is sufficient to keep the upper and lower teeth apart. If one Turbo is lost, there is no need for concern. If both Turbos come off, please call to schedule a repair.
What to Expect:
Because your bite is being propped open, your back teeth may not fully touch. This is normal and expected. Start with softer foods that are easier to chew and work your way up to more solid foods.
Remember that using these “props” to separate your teeth ‘unlocks’ your bite from the pressure of opposing teeth allowing them to move easier, faster, and more comfortably.
THIS ALLOWS TREATMENT TO PROCEED UP TO 6 MONTHS FASTER!
Although “Bite Props” may be slightly annoying at first, the treatment time saved is well worth it in the end.
Orthodontic Appliances
Space Maintainers (Lower or Upper Lingual Holding Arches)
A lingual holding arch (Phase I treatment) is recommended for children who have lost specific primary teeth or “baby teeth” too soon. Primary teeth are considered Mother Nature’s way of keeping space where it is needed. In the instance that a baby tooth is extracted, damaged or falls out too soon, a space maintainer may be recommended.
The lower lingual holding arch appliance will hold the permanent molars in place while baby teeth are falling out and permanent teeth are erupting. Two bands (braces) are cemented to two lower molars. Attached to the bands is a U-shaped bar. The appliance will remain in the mouth until all permanent teeth have erupted and the patient is ready to begin Phase II or Comprehensive orthodontic treatment.
Rapid Palatal Expander (RPE)
A palate expander is an appliance that widens the upper jaw. This widening or “expansion” is usually indicated to correct an upper jaw that is too narrow with a malocclusion called a “crossbite.” The upper jaw can also be widened to create additional space for crowded or blocked out teeth.
The appliance has a screw-type mechanism that is turned with a special key that we provide. It can be turned by either the patient or parent. You may notice that a space develops between the front teeth during the expansion. This will close after the widening is complete. Once the necessary expansion is achieved, the expander is left in place to stabilize the correction for an additional 3 months.
Surgery
Corrective jaw surgery (orthognathic surgery) treats and corrects abnormalities of the facial bones, specifically the jaws and the teeth. Often, these abnormalities cause difficulty associated with chewing, talking, sleeping and other routine activities. Orthognathic surgery corrects these problems and, in conjunction with orthodontic treatment, will improve the overall appearance of the facial profile.
Using the latest in digital imaging technology, we will demonstrate the overall functional and aesthetic benefits of orthognathic surgery. Computerized treatment planning minimizes treatment times, recovery periods and the overall efficacy of your surgery. State-of-the-art materials such as titanium plates and miniature screws provide stability, strength and predictability to your treatment. These advances in technology, procedures and equipment reduce post-surgical recovery time, thus allowing patients to return to their normal routines soon after the surgery.
Orthognathic surgery may be unnecessary if orthodontic treatment can correct the problem. With the latest advances in orthodontics, this is sometimes the case. We will determine if orthognathic surgery is the correct treatment option for you.