Invisalign v. SureSmile: What Invisible Braces Can’t Do

 

 

SureSmile v. Invisalign

SureSmile® is one of the newest orthodontic treatments on the market.

Invisalign® is one of the mos popular ways to correct crooked teeth.

What is the difference?
SureSmile®
SureSmile® uses traditional brackets and wires, but instead of Dr. Tipton moving teeth by adjusting the wires by hand, he moves the teeth in a 3-D model on the computer and then, he sends the image to Dallas  where  directs the a robot  to form the wires that are more accurate than manually bending the wires.

Greater accuracy means a faster, more precise treatment time. SureSmile® can reduce treatment times by up to 40 percent. It means fewer office visits, less discomfort and a more perfect, precise smile.

Invisalign®
Invisalign® is a series of invisible aligners (or invisible braces) that are removable. These aligners help to gently reconfigure your smile – without the discomfort of traditional braces.

The invisible aligners can be removed to eat, drink, brush and floss and are worn for approximately two- three  weeks each, until they have straightened to a final position.

 

Which one is right for me?
SureSmile® is best for any kind of straightening or alignment of teeth. Because it uses the traditional brackets and wires system, it is suitable for complex cases, very irregular teeth, and bite adjustments. It can be used on children, teens and adults and offers a much shorter treatment time than standard braces. Dr. Tipton has more control of the teeth.

Invisalign® is recommended primarily for patients who have had braces before and want or need only minor adjustments to their teeth. Because the aligners cannot correct complex cases or bite problems, they are recommended primarily for adults who just need slight cosmetic modifications. Aligners do not correct the relationship of how the upper and lower teeth fit together.

 

To schedule a complimentary consultation and find out which solution is right for you, click here to send us an e-mail.

3 Minutes is Longer Than You Think

It is crucial to brush your teeth a minimum of 2 times a day. However, if you have braces you should be brushing after every meal. This is critical because braces tend to trap food particles and bacteria that can cause cavities if you don’t clean your teeth each time you eat.

You should brush your teeth between 3-4 minutes. Patients generally think they are brushing long enough, when, in fact, most people spend less than one minute brushing. It is generally better to brush 3 to 4 minutes twice a day instead of brushing quickly five or more times throughout the day. Here are the five steps to  brushing your teeth properly.

 

Step 1: Place the toothbrush beside your teeth at a 45-degree angle.

Step 2: Gently brush teeth only a small group of teeth at a time (in a circular or elliptical motion) until the entire mouth is covered.

Step 3: Brush the outside of the teeth, inside of the teeth, the chewing surfaces, and in between each tooth.

Step 4: Gently brush the tongue to remove bacteria and freshen breath.

Step 5: Repeat steps 1 through 4 at least twice daily, especially after meals and snacks.

 

Some great ways to time your daily brushings is with a cooking timer, a little hourglass (you can get from your dentist), or singing some fun songs. Listed below are some songs you can sing about teeth while brushing.

 

 

To the tune of “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”

 

Brush, brush, brush your teeth

Gently round your gums.

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,

Brushing can be fun!!

 

 

Brush, brush, brush your teeth

Brush them every day.

The front, the sides, the back, the top

To keep decay (or the bugs or germs) away!

 

Floss, floss, floss your teeth

Floss without delay.

You need to do this every day

To keep decay (or the bugs or germs) away!

 

To the tune of “Jingle Bells”  

 

I brush my teeth, I brush my teeth, morning noon and night.

I brush them, floss them, rinse them clean; I keep them nice and white.

I brush them once, I brush them twice; I brush them till they shine.

I always brush them round and round; those precious teeth of mine.

 

 

 

I eat good foods, I eat good foods, I give my teeth a treat.

I like to eat healthy foods like veggies, fruit, and meat.

If I eat sweets, if I eat sweets, I brush them right away

To keep my teeth shiny bright, and free from tooth decay.

 

 

To the tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know It”

 

If you’re happy and you know it give a smile                                                  

If you’re happy and you know it give a smile

If you’re happy and you know it then your face is going to show it

If you’re happy and you know it give a smile.

 

When my teeth are clean I know it ‘cause I SMILE

When my teeth are clean I know it ‘cause I SMILE

When my teeth are clean I know it and I’m not afraid to show it

When my teeth are clean I know it ‘cause I SMILE

 

To the tune of “Old MacDonald had a Farm”

 

All my friends have pretty smiles

Ee – i – ee – i – o. 

They brush their teeth to keep them bright,

Ee – i – ee – i – o.

With a wiggle-jiggle here,

And a wiggle-jiggle there,

Here a wiggle, there a jiggle,

Everywhere a wiggle-jiggle

Oh what fun to brush our teeth, 

Ee – i – ee – i – o.

 

Sing these songs a few times while brushing your teeth and you smile will stay fresh, clean and healthy.

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My Kid Has Braces, Now What?

When your child has braces, it is necessary for you and your child to make time to maintain them. It is very important to brush and clean them whenever you eat, but also to be aware and careful of the food your child eats, because that can significantly affect the process and success of braces.
Below is a list of good foods that your child can eat. And below that, a list bad foods.

Good foods:
• Meatloaf or meatballs
• Tuna, chicken, or egg salad
• Lunch meat (plain, not in a sandwich — sandwiches can be too hard to bite)
• Soup
• Cheese slices
• Cooked eggs
• French toast, pancakes, waffles
• Soft cooked meat (pot roast, roasted chicken, etc)
• Baked or broiled fish
• Non-crusty bread without seeds or chunks
• Saltine crackers (they crumble on the roof of your mouth!)
• Cottage cheese
• Yogurt (custard-type is best; the less chunks the better — or just don’t eat the fruit chunks!)
• Cereal that gets soggy in milk
• Oatmeal or hot cereals
• Ice cream and cake (Why not treat yourself? But remember, no nuts!)
• Frozen cheese blintzes or potato pancakes

Bad foods:
• Ice….Definitely a NO!! It can damage braces
• Nuts
• Peanut brittle
• Soda pop
• Hard pizza crust
• Corn on the cob
• Ribs
• Doritos, corn chips, hard tacos, Cheetos, Fritos and anything similar to those foods.
• Popcorn
• Hard pretzels
• Hard rolls and bagels
• Raw carrots
• Bubble gum
• Carmel candy
• Beef jerky
• Suckers & Hard candy

A rule of thumb for braces is to not eat anything high in sugar, sticky, or hard. Something simple and easy to put together for your kids is a little dental kit. They can carry it to school and after school activities.

Your portable dental kit can contain: a travel or full-size toothbrush, small tube of toothpaste, folding cup, dental floss, little spiral dental brush, dental wax, small mirror, packet of tissues, breath drops or spray and anything else you think could be useful. This little kit is very handy. Do we think a child will really use it every day? No. But at least it will be there for the day he or she eats a handful of Starbursts and can’t pry their mouth back open.

*Remember having braces is a good thing… sometimes it can get frustrating, but in the end it will be worth it!

Dr. Tipton’s patient, Pamela Waterman, a Phoenix-area engineer and author, is the author of The Braces Cookbook: Recipes You (and Your Orthodontist) Will Love. Dr. Tipton has endorsed this book. We recommend you try it out!

Welcome to the Daily Smile

Tipton Orthodontics is an orthodontic practice located in the Phoenix area. We are committed to providing the best orthodontic service for adults, teens and children.

The team at Tipton Orthodontics has been in business for 18 years, and we are committed to providing a level of expertise unrivaled by anyone else.

The office at Tipton orthodontics consists of experienced professionals who genuinely love what they do. We are focused on providing:

• Individual, specialized attention
• State-of-the-art braces and orthodontic technology

Oh, and I bet you weren’t aware of this, but Tipton Orthodontics was highlighted in the 2006 “Top Doctor” issue of Phoenix Magazine for being one of the leading orthodontic practices in the Phoenix area. Yeah!

So welcome, hope you visit us often.