Many
people struggling with crooked teeth may feel that the road to straight teeth is a difficult one. Some feel
that patients must endure large, unattractive metal braces for a year or more, which may make them feel even
more self-conscious about their smile.
Seventeen-year-old Kiana Alexander was no different. She knew she had to change her
smile, but she was reluctant to get braces. After hearing rave reviews about her friend’s orthodontist, Dr.
Sam Daher, she decided to pay him a visit. Daher not only fixed her smile, but Alexander says many didn’t
even notice thanks to Invisalign.
“It changes a lot of things and it really boosts your self-confidence. I don’t have low
self-esteem, but when it came to my smile I was very self-conscious. Invisalign made a huge difference for me,” Alexander
says.
Based in Vancouver, Daher from Fresh
Smile Orthodontics promises not only that he will correct any teeth
issues, but that his patients will still look professional throughout the process. With the use of
Invisalign, a method of teeth correction growing in
popularity, Daher can correct teeth using a less invasive procedure than traditional
braces.
As a form of malocclusion (crooked teeth) correction, Invisalign involves virtual modelling software that
practitioners use to create clear aligners unique to each patient. These aligners gently push the teeth
together, in order to straighten them. The aligners are removable, and patients leave the aligners on all day
with the exception of when they are brushing their teeth or eating.
For Daher, maintaining a patient’s appearance during orthodontic treatment is important,
which is why he calls his form of practice esthetic orthodontics.
“Esthetic orthodontics is really important to adults. For example, a lawyer isn’t going
to go to court wearing braces, so Invisalign would be a good choice because it is really
discrete,” says Daher, who has been a practicing orthodontist for eight years. “Twenty years ago,
orthodontists used to straighten teeth [to] give a good bite and that was the end of story. Nowadays, it goes
beyond that and you actually ‘sculpture’ the teeth according to the patient’s
smile.”
Daher took an Invisalign certification course eight years ago when it was
still new. He says that when he first looked at it, the concept made perfect sense and he wanted to master
it.
In 2011, Align Technology named Daher a Super Elite Provider of Invisalign, meaning that he has done at least 800
Invisalign treatments. He usually delivers 500 cases a year,
and says he has performed 2,000 cases to date. Daher the top provider of Invisalign in North America and often lectures on behalf of
Align Technology, the company responsible for creating Invisalign.
“I’m on the road almost every other weekend in the United States and Canada. I lecture
and teach other orthodontists how to use the technology and I’m also a part of the research and development
of the company.”
Daher knows that traditionally, orthodontics has been for children and says that 20
years ago, anyone getting braces over the age of 18 was rare. Since times are changing and more adults are
now seeking treatment for malocclusion, Daher tries to make his patients as comfortable as
possible.
“One of the things you do to make them feel comfortable is that you want to talk to them
like adults. I know it sounds like a silly point but if you’re talking to a 40-year-old, you can’t speak with
them with the same tone of voice as you would with a child,” he explains.
Another point Daher emphasizes is allowing his patients to have enough time and
opportunity to ask all of the questions they need. Rather than rushing his patients and leaving them with
doubts, Daher says one of the worst things he can do is let patients leave with questions
unanswered.
Nearing the end of her treatment, Alexander says she will miss her appointments with
Daher.
“I’ve never had a relationship with any doctor or dentist, but Daher is fantastic. He
really makes you feel comfortable and he’s always making jokes. He makes [appointments] more personalized
instead of just like seeing a doctor,” she says.
She compares the aligners she had in the beginning of her treatment to the aligners she
uses now, and can’t believe the difference in her smile.
“You can hide a lot of things about your body, but you can’t hide your smile, so I think
it’s very important to have a smile you’re proud of,” she says.
Due to each patient’s unique situation, Invisalign may not be an option for some people, but Daher
says he tries to ensure that every patient who is interested in Invisalign is a candidate.“We use products like mini screws,
elastics and springs to complement Invisalign so everybody can be and is a
candidate.”
However, Daher says the most vital factor in determining whether someone is appropriate
for Invisalign is in the patient’s
control.
“The most important aspect is their willingness to co-operate because since
Invisalign is removable, we rely on the patient to wear them
all day long except when they are eating,” he says. Daher says some orthodontists are not as comfortable with
Invisalign, since traditional braces have been used for many
years. But he believes that Invisalign will replace metal braces in the next 20 to 25
years. Until then, Daher reigns as one of the top orthodontists providing Invisalign in the world. Unlike many orthodontists who are
still learning to grasp the new technology, he never second-guesses any patient who wants to try
Invisalign.
“Seeing the results at the end, and that hug or handshake you get really makes it worth
it. It happens quite frequently in orthodontics and that feeling is the most rewarding part of the job.”
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Photo Courtesy: Fresh Smile Orthodontics
