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Harris Dental
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Harris Dental

Archive for May, 2010

Braces? Inconspicuous? You bet!

Thursday, May 27th, 2010

Who is getting Invisalign? Just about anyone and everyone who wants straighter, healthier teeth! So why don’t you hear about it more often? Good question. Scottsdale residents are undoubtedly familiar with how traditional metal braces work…as well as how conspicuous they are. When someone has braces, you know about it. But you don’t often know about it when your friends in Scottsdale are using Invisalign invisible braces. And that’s the genius of Invisalign: your teeth get straighter and nobody ever has to know. The transparent plastic aligners which are used to shift your teeth into place are designed to be as discreet as possible, while still maintaining their effectiveness. This is probably why you don’t often know who in Scottsdale is using Invisalign. But your friends, your coworkers, even your boss could be wearing an Invisalign aligner without you suspecting a thing.

The two systems—traditional metal braces and Invisalign invisible braces—work in approximately the same way. Pressure is applied at strategic points on your teeth, forcing them to shift into alignment. The difference is in how that pressure is applied. Metal braces resort to brackets and connecting wires which have to be tightened and adjusted frequently by an orthodontist. With Invisalign, a series of clear plastic aligners is created specifically for your mouth, with each successive aligner being designed to apply the correct amount of pressure in the right places to ensure that the next aligner will fit and can do its job. The aligners are customized, so all Dr. Harris has to do to “adjust” your braces is give you the next aligner in the series. It’s simple, it’s effective, and best of all, your smile will become straighter without anyone knowing how it happened! Call us at Harris Dental to learn more about Invisalign. It will be our little secret!

The Straight Truth

Monday, May 17th, 2010

There’s a good reason Invisalign tends to be an orthodontic procedure for adults and older teenagers in Paradise Valley, while traditional braces are still used for younger children: Invisalign requires a high level of responsibility and commitment. Aligners can get lost or broken if you’re not careful. You need to follow Dr. Harris’ instructions regarding wearing and caring for them as closely as possible. If you don’t wear the aligners all the time, your teeth could shift out of alignment, setting your treatment back and possible costing you extra for a new adjusted set of aligners; if you do wear the aligners when you shouldn’t, such as while eating or drinking, you could damage them and render them ineffective. However, by paying attention to the directions Dr. Harris gives you and by keeping track of your aligners when you aren’t wearing them, patients in Paradise Valley can receive some pretty amazing benefits.

The most obvious advantage to using Invisalign is that you end up with straighter teeth, which helps your smile look its best. But straighter teeth do more for you than just look great. Having well-aligned teeth makes brushing and flossing easier and more effective, which in turn reduces your risk of getting cavities. Each new Invisalign aligner tends to apply less pressure than having your metal wires adjusted would, which means less discomfort all around for you. But the biggest reason people in Paradise Valley choose Invisalign is that it’s discreet. The system allows you to straighten your teeth while maintaining the clean, mature, professional appearance that traditional braces might undermine. So ask yourself: Am I committed to getting straighter teeth? If you are, give us a call at Harris Dental and find out what Invisalign can do for you.

Implants vs. Dentures

Friday, May 7th, 2010

Phoenix patients who have lost their teeth may believe that dentures are the only option available to them. This is incorrect. Dental Implants are not only an alternative to dentures, but they are in most cases a better option for people in Phoenix.

Dentures are removable, and that poses a couple potential problems. They can easily get lost, which can be frustrating and costly if they need to be replaces. They can come loose and slip around (or out!) at inopportune moments, which can be embarrassing. Dental implants, on the other hand, are permanent oral fixtures. They won’t come out, so the chance of misplacing them or accidentally spitting them out mid-sentence is extremely small.

Because dentures have the capacity to shift around if they are not perfectly fitted and effectively adhered to the gums, chewing ability is diminished. Biting down on your favorite foods can force dentures to slide around, making chewing difficult if not downright impossible. Dental implants, on the other hand, do not have this problem. They are attached firmly to your jaw bone, just like natural teeth are. With strongly anchored restorations that can chew just as well as your original teeth, you are not limited to eating only liquids and soft foods.

One problem with dentures that people in Phoenix aren’t always aware of is that they can contribute to bone loss in the jaw. The roots of your natural teeth require a stable foundation. Once these are gone, your body senses that there is no longer a need for that foundation, and your jaw may begin to atrophy. Having dental implants secured to the bone like the roots of natural teeth signals to your body that the bone mass is still necessary.

So why deal with the hassle of dentures? Contact Harris Dental in Phoenix to schedule an appointment to begin the dental implant process.

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