Closing Gaps Between The Teeth With Invisalign And Bonding
By Anna Marie Mazoch, D.D.S.
Invisalign and MTM are two options that we offer for minor tooth movement for our patients. They are clear aligners, as opposed to the brackets and wires of conventional braces. A series of clear, nearly invisible trays is provided. The trays are worn all day and all night, except when eating and brushing the teeth, and changed every few weeks as the teeth change positions. Here is a recent case of ours:
Ms. H. hated her teeth and wanted to fill the gap between her front teeth but didn’t know whether she should have braces or veneers. After checking out our website, she decided to schedule a consultation.
We performed a thorough cleaning and a comprehensive evaluation, impressions for diagnostic models, and took photographs in order to plan her treatment. Models of the teeth allow Dr. Mazoch to study a patient’s case, to measure the teeth, to examine the bite of the lower to upper teeth, to determine the shapes of the teeth, to make decisions about treatment.
For Ms. H., we found that her two front teeth were more rounded on the edges and narrower than average. The bite on her back teeth was very stable so that we would not have to change the bite on her back teeth. Her lateral incisors were slightly pointed and abnormal in shape and shorter than average.
Our plan was to close all the gaps between the lower front teeth and most of the gap between the upper front teeth. We could have closed all of the spaces with Invisalign. However, since her upper teeth were narrower than normal, we decided to stop the Invisalign treatment before the space was completely closed. We left a gap between the front two teeth of
0.9 mm (originally, the space was 2.8 mm).
Ms. H. was then given the option of closing the small remaining space between the front teeth, as well as changing the shapes of the lateral teeth, using either porcelain veneers or chairside veneers (bonding).
She opted for the bonding since it was less expensive, quicker and totally reversible. So, four months from the start of Invisalign, her treatment was complete.
Ms. H. has this to say about her new smile: “I recently moved to Delaware and I needed a dentist. I searched online and read reviews about various practices. I decided to make an appointment at Dr. Mazoch’s office because of the great reviews. When I came in I was greeted promptly and warmly and I was seen immediately. My first visit was routine (cleaning). At that visit I inquired about braces to fix my upper gap and the spacing between my teeth on the bottom. Dr. Mazoch was very knowledgeable about Invisallign vs. metal braces. She, as well as Dawn, told me about care credit as a means to help pay for my treatment. Everyone that has seen me has been wonderful! I started the Invisalign June 25, 2014 and I finished on November 12th (including the bonding procedure). I am extremely happy with the results! I definitely recommend this place to friends and family and co-workers.”
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Dr. Anna Marie Mazoch received her B.S. degree in Biology, summa cum laude, from Ohio University and her D.D.S. from Northwestern University. She is a member of the American Dental Association, the Delaware State Dental Society and several local dental study clubs. She has been practicing general dentistry for 32 years, first in Cincinnati, then Montpelier, Vermont, and the past 14 years in Delaware. Her keen interest in continuing education for herself and her staff stems from a quote by G. V. Black, the first dean of Northwestern University Dental School and the father of modern dentistry: “The professional (wo)man has no right to be other than a continuous student”.
2601 Annand Dr., Suite 18, Wilmington, DE 19808
We are conveniently located near the corner of Kirkwood Hwy and Milltown Rd, near Pike Creek and Milltown shopping center.
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Phone: 302-998-9594
Fax: 302-998-8207
