Invisalign: Non-Invasive Cosmetic Dentistry

Anthony Davis’ eyebrows (or single unibrow) brought him notoriety in the NCAA tournament. Bert from Sesame Street, Helga from Hey Arnold, Fran from Dodgeball…Anthony Davis joins the list of people famous for their unibrow. Davis and the Wildcats cruised to a national title, he then was selected by the New Orleans Hornets as the first pick in the draft. And now his “trademark” north-of–the-nose facial hair is officially trademarked. Davis filed paperwork with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for exclusive rights to the phrases, “Fear the brow,” and “Raise the brow.”

While Davis has received heavy press coverage for his brow, one issue that has been overlooked are his teeth. Davis has some crooked chompers. He has probably had dental work to straighten his top teeth but his bottom teeth are crooked and need some help, desperately.

Why do teeth come in crooked?

Our baby teeth hold space for when the permanent teeth come in. Baby teeth also help to guide the permanent tooth underneath it into place. If a baby tooth is lost to early, nearby teeth may shift into the empty space or the permanent tooth may come in crooked. This can even set off a chain reaction, causing other teeth to become misaligned.

Another reason for crooked teeth is related to age. As we grow older our teeth wear down. Clenching and grinding wear the chewing surfaces down. Stiff toothbrush bristles and abrasive toothpastes contribute to the attrition of our teeth. Micro-movements between our teeth (where you floss) causes them to rub on one another and over time the teeth become more narrow. This all causes the teeth to slowly drift out of alignment.

Why do I need straight teeth?

There is more to straight teeth than looking good when you flash that million dollar smile. The bumps and groove of top teeth line up with the bumps and grooves of the bottom teeth. If the teeth get out of alignment that can result in TMJ problems. Straight teeth are also easier to clean. When teeth are crooked food and plaque easily become lodged between the teeth and gums. This can result in gingivitis and other periodontal diseases as well as making the teeth more prone to cavities. Straight teeth allow you (and the hygienist) to easily clean and maintain your teeth.

How do you fix crooked teeth?

Crooked teeth can be fixed many ways. The first thing people think about is veneers. Veneers are a great way to improve aesthetics when minor discrepancies exist. Crowns are another way to change the shape and color of teeth but involves removing slightly more tooth structure.

Can you make teeth look better without drilling on them?

I thought you would never ask. Orthodontics (braces) will move teeth into the correct position without altering any of the natural tooth structure. Conventional metal braces are necessary for extreme cases or for non-compliant children. However, if you want to improve your smile by straightening front teeth then Invisalign can be a great option.

Que our promo video…

Maybe you’ve seen the commercials

• Invisalign is clear. You can straighten your teeth without anyone knowing.
• Invisalign is removable. Unlike braces, you can eat and drink what you want during treatment. You can also brush and floss normally to maintain good oral hygiene.
• Invisalign is comfortable. There are no metal brackets or wires as with braces to cause mouth irritation, and no metal or wires means you spend less time in the doctor’s chair getting adjustments.
• Invisalign allows you to view your own virtual treatment plan before you start?so you can see how your straight teeth will look when your treatment is complete.
• Invisalign is much less expensive than crowns or veneers and does not require your teeth to be drilled on.

Anthony Davis needs metal braces…he is way past a simple Invisalign treatment. To find out where you are on the tooth-crookedness-scale just call for a complimentary consultation. And if you’ve got a unibrow we’ll talk about that too…if your spouse hasn’t already.