INFORMATIONAL SUPPLEMENT
A smile
can do wonders. It can instantly brighten up a
person’s appearance by exuding self-confidence and happiness. Since many people are not born with a
picture-perfect smile, braces can help people of all ages improve the appearance of their
teeth.
Traditional braces can be far from comfortable: Sharp metal wires attached to ceramic or
metal brackets (each bracket individually glued to each tooth) can be cumbersome and cause a great deal of
discomfort, making people feel even more self-conscious about their smile.
Times have changed. Invisalign has quickly become the leading advanced form of teeth
correction, providing a viable alternative to archaic metal braces. Since its launch in 1999, Invisalign has
treated more than one million patients worldwide.
How it works: Invisalign is an innovative dental system that uses a series of clear,
removable aligners — each custom-made and moulded to the patient’s teeth. The aligners are replaced an
average of 18 to 30 times, and work to gradually align the teeth to help patients achieve a straighter and
brighter smile.
Dr. Howard Black of Pine Ridge Dental Centre has offered Invisalign in his Scarborough
clinic for over 10 years.
“I tremendously enjoy treating Invisalign patients…
It makes my day and my practice so rewarding to hear a patient tell me it is the best thing they have ever
done for themselves,” he says.
Black, who has treated more than 330 cases with the
system, says it is the No. 1 dental treatment he recommends to his patients who have crowded or spaced teeth,
uneven smiles and an uneven bite (underbite, overbite or
crossbite).
“Invisalign is the standard of care in
orthodontics. Other than the obvious aesthetic benefits over all braces systems, they are more comfortable;
they don’t promote gum problems and decay because of plaque and food retention. The system is comparable and,
in many cases, faster in treatment times to [traditional] braces,” he explains. “Patients tell me, ‘I can’t
believe that those plastic aligners can make such a change.’ The process is so comfortable and because they
are removable, they don’t affect diet, eating or oral hygiene. Straight teeth also improve gum conditions and
lessens the chance of gum disease.”
In addition to the physical advantages Invisalign has over traditional metal braces, a
large part of the responsibility of the system is in the patient’s hands. Black says that he recommends
patients wear Invisalign at all times with the exception of when the patient is brushing their teeth or
eating — approximately 22 hours a day.
Another added benefit of Invisalign is less pain experienced by the patient, says Black.
“Minor discomfort when a new set of aligners is placed is common, due to the small movements programmed into
each aligner. Once the patient is used to the first few days, they rarely think of the aligners in their
mouth.”
In addition to the vast improvement a patient can notice in their physical appearance,
Black says that the true reward is in the emotional benefits.
“The confidence and joy that a patient receives with an improvement to a smile is
incredible,” he says. “Patients can’t believe their before and after pictures. Often they can’t recall how
their teeth used to look and how radical the change is, until they see their initial and final photos
side-by-side.”
Black’s knowledge and experience with Invisalign has garnered Pine Ridge the distinction
of Invisalign Premier Provider, a status issued by Invisalign to recognize a dentist who has treated a
certain number of cases using the system, throughout their career as well as in a six-month
period.
“Patients searching for a practitioner can be assured of a certain level of experience
and the benefits to the clinic are with increased Internet referrals,” he
says.
At Pine Ridge, Black has created a spa-like retreat for his patients with a water
feature, fireplace, saltwater aquarium, outdoor patio, cappuccino coffee bar and warm hand treatments. With
his background in patient management, Black says he made it a priority to make his patients feel relaxed and
at-home at the clinic.
“As soon as they walk in the door, there is a
special feeling that the surroundings invoke,” he says. “Oral health needs to be treated in a holistic
approach. This means that all aspects of true oral health are interrelated. Periodontal (gum) disease has
been linked to heart disease and lower-birth-weight babies. A correct occlusion results in healthier gums,
less tooth wear and comfortable chewing. Maintenance of teeth requires good oral hygiene at home but that is
not a replacement for regular dental checkups, scaling of tartar buildup and screening for oral cancer and
decay. Having a comfortable and friendly environment relaxes our
patients.”
For patients who may also be seeking other dental treatments such as teeth whitening,
Invisalign can be the fundamental starting point to achieving a better
smile.
“Once the bite is corrected, the patient becomes very aware of other things they didn’t
focus on before, such as misshaped teeth or worn edges and discolourations. That is when we address those
other issues. I try to bring these issues to light at the consultation appointment so my patients have
realistic expectations about the final results.”
Black says Invisalign can treat numerous dental issues with patients of all ages, and it
is best to book a consultation with an experienced dentist to determine if the system is right for
them.
“I have had patients [who have been] told that
Invisalign isn’t right for them or won’t work for their situation and they are very happy when I tell them
that I can help them. The patient needs to see someone who does enough cases to be comfortable to treat them.
With any treatment, an informed and educated patient should then feel confident with their choice to
proceed,” he explains. “We don’t charge patients for consultations as I want them to be well informed and to
be able to feel confident with myself and our office. The best way is to see similar cases in photos and see
how the Invisalign ClinCheck software allows the dentist to prescribe and view a simulation of different
treatment choices that will result in the best treatment outcome for the patient’s
condition.”
» For more information on Pine Ridge Dental Centre,
visit pineridgedental.ca
Patient
Testimonial: Dyra Coronado
As a teenager, Dyra Coronado was experiencing some common dental issues, including
severe overcrowding and crossbite.
“I hated the way my teeth and smile looked. I was
looking for change and I always wanted to be able to smile without having to think twice,” she says. “I was
tired of hiding my smile all the time and I wanted to have the confidence to talk to other people without
feeling self-conscious about myself.”
Despite the discomfort she was experiencing, she was adamant about not seeking treatment
with metal braces. It was Coronado’s research about Invisalign that eventually led her to Pine Ridge Dental
Centre.
“I remembered watching an infomercial from a long
time ago about Invisalign. I was always interested but I didn’t know where or who was offering the
treatment,” says Coronado. “The Invisalign site directed me to many offices. I chose to go to Dr. Black’s
office because he was the No. 1 provider of Invisalign and the location was so
convenient.”
After beginning treatment in January 2009, she
received the Invisalign aligners the following month. She found the innovative dental system to be easy to
work with and her experience at Pine Ridge Dental Centre made the process even more
enjoyable.
“I wasn’t nervous about the process; it was more a
feeling of excitement… I knew that I was one step closer to getting the smile that I always wanted,” she
says. “Dr. Black’s clinic was great. They are extremely professional, friendly, and I always felt welcomed.
The atmosphere of the physical space is very calming and relaxed… The one thing that stood out the most for
me was how they treated their patients. They make their patients feel important and above that, I felt that
they really cared about the relationships they had with them, including
myself.”
After two years of treatment, she says her new smile is better than ever, and Black
agrees.
“Patient co-operation and compliance was
excellent. The goal of treatment in creating more arch space was achieved with expanding Dyra’s narrow dental
arches and some small adjustments for size to her front teeth. The end result is excellent,” says
Black.
The system not only helped Coronado physically, but
emotionally as well. The now 20-year-old is leading a busy life, attending college, working part-time in
retail sales and maintaining an active social life.
“The outcome of straight teeth changed the way my
face looked,” she says. “Emotionally, it definitely gave me the confidence I never had. As cliché as that
sounds, my self-esteem has changed for the better. Before Invisalign, I never smiled with my teeth because I
was always so embarrassed about how they looked. I was always very self-conscious about myself and I grew up
with many insecurities. As the look of my teeth changed, so did my self-esteem. I am definitely much happier
now than I was before. Who knew a smile could change my life?” •
