mar_orthodontics

Invisalign treatment options

admin@bbest.co (BBest Admin) — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 22:05:01 GMT

Which invisalign treatment is right for me?

If you’re considering getting braces, you may already be familiar with Invisalign, often referred to as clear braces or invisible braces.

There are three basic choices when it comes to Invisalign:

Invisalign Full
Invisalign Express
Invisalign Teen

Are you wondering which Invisalign treatment option is right for you? The decision is actually going to be much easier than you realize. Your orthodontist will assess your condition and determine which orthodontic treatment option is best.

Invisalign full

Invisalign Full is the main treatment option for adults and involves a series of 20 to 30 custom aligners on average, which are worn by an orthodontic patient for about two weeks per set of aligners. These aligners will, over the course of orthodontic treatment, shift your teeth into the ideal position, as determined by your orthodontist.

Most patients will end up with this treatment option.

Invisalign express

Invisalign Express works in exactly the same way as Invisalign Full treatment, but is designed for orthodontic patients with minor spacing and/or crowding issues.

An Invisalign Express treatment typically uses 10 aligners or less, meaning the whole process could be complete in less than six months.

Your orthodontist will assess your crowding and spacing issues to determine whether you meet the criteria for an Invisalign Express treatment. We understand that you want to have the treatment process completed as quickly as possible, which is the main advantage of Invisalign Express, however, you and your orthodontist will also want to ensure your treatment is comprehensive enough to correct your specific orthodontic issues.

Invisalign teen

As the name suggests, Invisalign Teen is designed specifically for orthodontic issues in adolescents. Invisalign Teen is a great braces option for teens who may be self-conscious about wearing braces and the visibility of traditional braces.

Invisalign Teen works in much the same way as regular Invisalign and Invisalign Express, with a few differences. Invisalign Teen aligners will include a Blue Dot Wear Indicator which helps determine when one should switch to the next aligner. Your orthodontist will work with you to determine the right timeline.

Invisalign Teen also accounts for issues specific to teens, such as the growth of molars. Aligners may have what are known as Eruption Tabs to account for this.

One of the big advantages of Invisalign Teen is that it is much easier for teens to maintain good oral hygiene with removable aligners.

Invisalign treatment options conclusion

Are any of these Invisalign options best for you? Your orthodontist will work with you to determine the best orthodontic treatment option, based on a variety of factors, for you.

Invisalign has grown in popularity in recent years because of the many advantages of this unique orthodontic treatment system. Feel free to contact us to see if Invisalign is the right treatment option for you.

> We invite you to book an Invisalign consultation online now.

> Related Story: Why Are Invisalign Braces So Popular?

Invisalign vs. braces - which is better?

admin@bbest.co (BBest Admin) — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 22:05:03 GMT

If you've been researching "types of braces", one of the questions you're probably wondering is if you should get Invisalign or braces?

An ideal person to answer this question is an orthodontist. They’ll be able to make a recommendation based on a thorough exam of your teeth and the issues you will need to fix.

If your orthodontist feels that either Invisalign or braces are a viable option, you’ll then want to consider the advantages and disadvantages of each before making a decision.

Conventional braces treatment involves metal or ceramic brackets glued to your teeth, connected by wires, and small rubber bands.

Invisalign consists of clear plastic aligners that are switched out every two weeks or so for a new set. They are virtually invisible and are easier to clean than traditional braces because you can take your aligners out.

visibility

Part of the reason Invisalign has become so popular is because the aligners are clear, and virtually invisible. This is why Invisalign is often referred to as “invisible braces”.

Conventional braces are quite visible, and it is obvious you’re wearing them, but options like clear braces are much less visible.

If you do require conventional braces, you may choose to make a fashion and personality statement by going for coloured elastics or brackets!

Another very popular option, that is arguably even more invisible than Invisalign is hidden braces - braces that are attached to the back of your teeth!

complexity of orthodontic issues

This is the most important consideration. Your orthodontist will recommend the type of braces that they feel is best based on the severity of your orthodontic issues.

time

Depending on the nature of your orthodontic issues, metal braces may take up to two years to correct your teeth. With Invisalign, treatment varies from six months to two years.

Conventional braces are glued to your teeth, and must be worn 24 hours per day. Invisalign aligners are removable, though it is recommended you wear them all the time. Removing Invisalign aligners for extended periods of time may delay treatment progress.

Cost

Again, this really depends on the complexity of your orthodontic issues. With Invisalign , the cost of treatment can range from $3,500 to $8,500. Conventional braces range in cost from $3,500 to $9,500 (again, varying with each patient's particular case).

It really is impossible to nail down the exact cost without a proper orthodontic examination.

maintenance

This is one area where Invisalign has a definite advantage; Invisalign aligners are much easier to keep clean. The Invisalign retainers are removable, allowing you to floss and brush your teeth normally.

Braces are more difficult to work around because of the brackets, wires and rubber bands. While it may be more difficult, with a little practice (and patience) you’ll be brushing and flossing like a pro in no time.

> Watch our How To Brush With Braces video!

> Watch our How To Floss With Braces video!

eating and drinking

Again, the advantage goes to Invisalign. With removable retainers, Invisalign allows you to eat almost anything you like, just remember to brush and floss before you put your aligner back in.

You need to be more careful when eating and drinking with braces. Food needs to be cut up into small pieces. Hard or crunchy foods could potentially damage your braces, and sticky and sugar foods can be difficult to remove from nooks and crannies.

> Watch our How To Eat With Braces video!

discomfort

You will experience some discomfort with Invisalign or braces. It comes with the territory when you’re moving your teeth over time, but it is very manageable.

> Watch our How To Deal With Braces Discomfort video!

conclusion

We hope this information has helped you to understand the differences between Invisalign and braces. Please feel free to call our Sherwood Park orthodontists or St. Albert orthodontists if you have any initial questions.

We invite you to book a consultation if you would like to find out which treatment would work best for you.

> Types Of Braces - An Overview

> Why Are Invisalign Braces So Popular?

> Invisalign Treatment Options

> Living With Braces

Why are invisalign braces so popular?

admin@bbest.co (BBest Admin) — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 22:04:54 GMT

If you’ve considered getting braces, no doubt you’re familiar with Invisalign braces (sometimes referred to as clear braces or invisible braces). Today, they are one of the most popular options for dental braces.

As orthodontists serving the Edmonton area, Mar Orthodontics can attest that Invisalign is indeed a very popular option among our Edmonton, Sherwood Park and St. Albert patients. Everyone seems to be asking about Invisalign braces!

Why is Invisalign so popular?

Invisalign Braces Advantages

You only need to read a few reviews about Invisalign to understand why they’re so popular. Most commonly, these reviews often refer to the fact that people did not notice the person wearing Invisalign braces had them on. The idea of correcting crooked teeth and other issues without others knowing about it is very appealing.

If someone looks closely, they might notice your Invisalign braces, but casual glances typically won’t reveal them. This cosmetic aspect is one of their primary advantages.

Another major advantage of Invisalign braces involves cleaning. Without brackets and wires attached to your teeth, your oral hygiene routine is much simpler. All you need to do is take the aligner out, then brush and floss your teeth, clean the aligner, and put the aligner back in your mouth.

Eating and drinking is also much easier with Invisalign braces than it is with conventional braces or lingual braces. That said it does require some extra work in that you need to remove your aligner before eating and then remember to put it back in after eating.

Invisalign braces also tend to be less irritating to the tissues of your mouth. Invisalign’s aligners are smooth, and don’t have wires and brackets that can cause irritation in parts of your mouth. If a sharp edge is discovered on one of your aligners, it’s pretty easy to have it trimmed down by your orthodontist.

Typically Invisalign will cost roughly the same as other braces options.

How do Invisalign braces work?

Invisalign braces are a series of plastic aligners that fit over your teeth. Depending on the severity of your orthodontic needs, you will have between 20 to 30 aligners (or more), each typically worn for two weeks.

The aligners will not fit your teeth perfectly, and this is because they’re progressively moving your teeth towards what your orthodontist has determined as your ideal smile. Over time, your teeth will move to where they’re supposed to be.

Conclusion

This article has hopefully answered many of your questions about the advantages and disadvantages of Invisalign braces, but potentially it has also raised more questions...

Are you now wondering if Invisalign braces are right for you? They might be!

Contact our Sherwood Park orthodontists or St. Albert orthodontists for an Invisalign braces consultation. We also have many orthodontics patients from Edmonton. If you prefer, feel free to book a consultation online .

The Exam Process

Wed, 25 Jan 2023 21:39:35 GMT

IT IS SO EASY TO SEE DR. MAR

Hoping this short blog answers all your questions about the exam process at Mar Orthodontics.

You can book a consultation or an information session with Dr. Mar on Zoom, FaceTime or telephone. Believe it or not, Dr. Mar was doing this long before the pandemic made it popular. Dr Mar has a great respect for how hectic our lives can be and tries to accommodate your time schedule.
EXAMS AND CONSULTATIONS ARE FREE. Mar Orthodontics has separate exam days. Why? Dr. Mar believes this is a special time for patients/parents/guardians to gather information to make an informed decision. First you will have a detailed oral exam followed by a preliminary diagnosis and a treatment plan. You will also be told the preliminary price. The price you are given is all-inclusive for the complete orthodontic process which means no hidden surprises. The exam appointments are not rushed and you will be encouraged to ask questions and to give feedback. Following a pan x-ray and 3-D scan, you will receive a final diagnosis and treatment plan as well as a final all-inclusive price.
It is so important that the exam process is a positive experience as it is the foundation for the complete orthodontic journey. Make sure you have all the information you need and that you feel good about your decision.
Because COVID 19 has created a unique set of new norms for all of us, you will be given step-by-step directions about keeping all of us safe when you book the appointment. We take this pandemic and our responsibility to keep our patients, out staff and our community safe very seriously
We look forward to meeting you

Choosing The Type Of Braces

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 17:43:48 GMT

Usually your Orthodontist will make a strong recommendation after doing an oral exam and reviewing your x-rays and 3-D scans. Dr. Mar always explains the choice he made and welcomes discussion.

For a new patient there are so many things to think about. Patients come in asking about various styles of orthodontic wear like:

Clear Correct
Invisalign

In addition to your diagnosis, Dr. Mar considers many pieces of information to make the best choice for you. Dr. Mar feels strongly that the Orthodontic process should be exciting, stress free and easily manageable with your busy lifestyle. He believes empowering the orthodontic partnership with an honest and transparent patient relationship increases trust, excitement and commitment.

Dr. Mar certainly prefers the use of CLEAR ALIGNER THERAPY thus providing every patient with a level of freedom throughout the treatment. The positives are less time to floss and brush, no foods you cannot eat, socially easier to carry out your lifestyle and less visits to the office. Dr. Mar explains carefully and in great detail why compliance when wearing aligners is a must. He is pleasantly surprised to see the strong commitment patients exhibit, even teenagers.

Make your appointment for a FREE EXAM and discuss your options with Dr. Mar. Orthodontics is a big choice and it is so important you make an informed decision. Ask all the questions you may have about Invisalign, Clear Correct, Clear Aligner Therapy, Metal braces and Lingual braces (Hidden braces). Dr. Mar will welcome your questions and explain his choice.

our st. albert office has moved!

admin@bbest.co (BBest Admin) — Sun, 15 Sep 2019 22:13:00 GMT

We’re excited to announce that Mar Orthodontics, St. Albert orthodontist office, has moved to a brand new location in St. Albert.

Mar Orthodontics is now conveniently located in the Gateway Village Shopping Centre at Suite 128, 2 Hebert Road, just southeast of the St. Albert Trail and Gervais Road/Hebert Road in intersection (the first major intersection when you enter St. Albert from Edmonton).

We’re less than a minute from Anthony Henday Drive, which makes our office very accessible for our Edmonton orthodontics patients. Take the St. Albert Trail exit into St. Albert.

Landmarks around us include Superstore (located in the complex just south of us), TD Bank (located southwest of us), A&W (located in the same complex just west of us), Tim Hortons (located in the same complex just north of us), KFC (in the same complex west of us).

Feel free to drop by and check out our new office!

Go wireless with invisalign!

admin@bbest.co (BBest Admin) — Fri, 30 Aug 2019 21:14:23 GMT

One of the most popular teeth-straightening options these days is Invisalign (also commonly referred to as “invisible braces” and “clear braces”).

Invisalign is not your conventional braces , it’s actually a set of wire-free plastic aligners. With Invisalign, there are no metal brackets attached to your teeth or wires to tighten.

Orthodontic patients love Invisalign for two main reasons: 1) they are virtually invisible (a lot less noticeable than conventional braces) and 2) there are no restrictions on eating & drinking because the aligners are removable.

how does invisalign work?

Invisalign is a series of plastic aligners that fit over your teeth. They are custom-made for you and designed to correct your specific orthodontic issues. Depending on the severity of your orthodontic needs, you will have between 20 to 30 aligners (or more), each typically worn for two weeks.

The aligners are shaped to progressively move your teeth to what our orthodontists determine to be your ideal smile. Over time, your teeth will gradually straighten.

invisalign advantages:

Virtually invisible teeth-straightening/braces option.
You can eat and drink whatever you want.
Brushing and flossing your teeth is done normally.
You can remove Invisalign aligners whenever you need to.
The smooth plastic aligners are comfortable.

invisalign cost

Ultimately, cost will be determined by the complexity of your orthodontic issues. With Invisalign, the cost of treatment can range from $3,500 to $9,500.

> Learn more about Invisalign cost and financing.

accelerate your invisalign treatment time with propel

Mar Orthodontics is pleased to offer Propel® for our adult & adolescent patients. It's an innovative and advanced orthodontic technology that works with your Invisalign aligners to fast track your orthodontic treatment.

> Learn more about Propel.

Book an invisalign lite consultation!

Find out if you're an Invisalign candidate! Book an Invisalign consultation with Dr. Mar via our online form.

Fast-forward your treatment!

admin@bbest.co (BBest Admin) — Fri, 30 Aug 2019 21:05:05 GMT

Propel is a new orthodontic technology and Mar Orthodontics is proud to be one of the orthodontic offices in the Edmonton area that offers it.

One hesitation many people have about getting braces is the amount of time orthodontic treatment can take. Depending on how severe your orthodontic issues are, treatment can take up to two years, or even a little more. In many cases however, treatment does not take that long.

You may be wondering if it’s possible to shorten the amount of time you need to wear braces ( conventional or lingual ) or Invisalign . Well, now it is!

propel® technology shortens treatment time

Propel is a FDA-registered, patented technology used in conjunction with a variety of orthodontic treatments to shorten treatment time by accelerating tooth movement. Propel works with conventional braces, lingual (hidden) braces & Invisalign.

> Learn More About How Propel Works + Watch Video

who is a propel candidate?

If you’re interested in shortening your overall orthodontic treatment time, than Propel may be an option you want to consider. Both adult patients and adolescent patients can benefit from Propel. Propel is great for patients who need a lot of tooth movement to happen in a shorter period of time. It is also useful for patients whose orthodontic issues aren’t as severe.

In order to be a Propel candidate, you must already have Invisalign aligners or braces.

book a propel consultation

Are you interested in learning more about shortening your orthodontic treatment time with Propel? With a combination of Propel and any of our other orthodontic treatments, you’ll be on your way to a new smile in even less time than ever before!

> Book a consultation to talk to our St. Albert orthodontists or our Sherwood Park orthodontists about Propel.

Living with invisalign

admin@bbest.co (BBest Admin) — Fri, 30 Aug 2019 21:04:55 GMT

You’ve decided to get braces. Congratulations! You’re on your way to straighter teeth, a healthier bite and a confident smile. You may be wondering how wearing braces will affect your life while undergoing your orthodontic treatment, and what you’ll need to do to get the best results possible.

Living with braces will definitely require making some adjustments to your normal eating and drinking routine, and committing a little extra time to your oral hygiene. Your braces may also cause you some discomfort (it’s not a lot, but it’s part of the process). All of which will be worthwhile when you get the smile you’ve always wanted.

In this post, we’ll mostly be referring to braces with brackets and wires, whether they’re lingual braces that go behind your teeth or conventional braces that are placed on the front of your teeth.

Invisalign braces are a bit of a special case, and are generally easier to care for. Read more about why Invisalign braces are so popular.

The main areas to consider when it comes to living with braces include: oral hygiene/cleaning (brushing and flossing), eating and drinking (what should be avoided) and dealing with discomfort.

Brushing

Your first line of defense, outside of avoiding problematic foods and drinks, is your toothbrush. You should get used to carrying a toothbrush and toothpaste with you as often as you can.

Ideally you’ll brush your teeth after every time you eat, but if that’s not possible, rinsing your mouth out with water is the next best thing (until you can get to a toothbrush and toothpaste). Make sure to try to work the water into all the nooks and crannies, then spit it out. A couple rinses should work well.

At minimum, you should be brushing twice a day, ideally preceded by flossing (flossing at night is most important).

It is recommended you use a soft bristle brush. Powered toothbrushes are a great option too. Make sure to brush both sides of your top and bottom teeth, and rinse well with water after you’re done.

You might find that braces are a little tougher on your toothbrush and therefore it may need to be replaced more often (every couple of months is a good rule of thumb).

Watch Our How-To Brush With Braces Video...

Flossing

Flossing can be tricky with braces. In fact, it’s probably the trickiest part about having them.

Without braces, flossing is relatively easy. Just slide the dental floss or flosser between your teeth, floss away, and in a few minutes you’re done.

With metal braces and lingual braces, the wires make the process more difficult, but it can still be done. If it’s your child that has braces, you will want to give them a hand.

First, you may want to use waxed floss, as non-waxed floss can catch on your braces and leave bits behind in your braces. Waxed floss also slides more easily between your teeth.

A WaterPik can help make the process easier, but it is not a substitute for a toothbrush and floss.

Second, you’ll may want to try a floss threader. Some people find that they really help with threading the floss around the wires and in between your teeth.

When flossing, make sure to do each of your teeth. Gently pull the floss up and down (all the way to your gumline) as well as back and forth to dislodge stuck food, but also to scrub the surface of your teeth to help remove plaque buildup in between the teeth.

One should floss at least once per day (we recommend flossing at night), and more often if necessary.

Watch Our How-To Floss With Braces Video...

Eating

With Invisalign braces , you have more freedom, but you still need to be careful. There are fewer restrictions about what you can eat (since you can take your Invisalign aligners out when you eat), but you will still want to try to avoid eating anything that could get stuck between your teeth.

Some foods that we recommend avoiding if possible:

Hard candy
Popcorn
Nuts (especially if candied or sugar-coated)
Gum
Caramels/Toffee
Any gooey, chewy or gummy candy
Beef jerky
Ice

Drinking

The biggest tip here is to avoid sugary drinks like pop and juice.

The main reason for this is that tooth decay can be a major problem with sugary drinks, and with metal braces and lingual braces, you have more places for that tooth decay to hide due to the brackets on your teeth.

If you’re using Invisalign braces, you should definitely remove the aligners when drinking so you can ensure the liquid does not get trapped between your teeth and the aligner. Also, you should not drink hot drinks with your aligners in place, as it is possible you could warp them.

Watch Our Eating & Drinking With Braces Video...

Dealing with discomfort

Discomfort is an individualized experience among people who have braces. It’s not something to get too worried about, as it means your braces are working!

Because your teeth are being adjusted and moved to new positions, you may experience pressure. With lingual or conventional braces, wires are tightened on brackets to nudge those teeth towards that ideal smile. Invisalign uses a series of aligners to adjust your teeth.

Brackets, wires and aligners can also rub against the soft tissue in your mouth and cause discomfort until you become more used to them. You can use orthodontic wax to cover the part of your braces that’s causing the irritation.

The end of one of your wires may start poking you as your teeth shift. You can use orthodontic wax to cover this as well. Then contact your orthodontic office to set-up a time to have this fixed.

If pain medication is required, use the over the counter pain relief medication of your choice.

A good way to help avoid discomfort is to avoid those foods that could cause problems with your braces (see above). Stick to softer foods, especially after adjustments.

Watch Our Dealing With Braces Discomfort Video.

With proper care, cleaning habits and by avoiding the food and drink we recommend, your experience with braces should go smoothly and in a relatively short period of time, you’ll have the brand new smile you have always wanted!

If you have any question about caring for your braces, please contact us . We’re happy to answer your questions.