New York Dentist

Warren Michael

Orthodontic therapy options for adults and teenagers by general dentists and orthodontists is changing.  Increasingly, progressive patients and dentists are choosing sequenced removable plastic appliances, such as Invisalign orthodontics, instead of traditional metal braces and wires.

A dentist in the Union Square Park and Greenwich Village areas of New York City, Dr. Elliot Davis, is witnessing the transition to this sophisticated form of orthodontic care.  The number of Dr. Davis’ wireless and bracket-free orthodontic patients (i.e., Invisalign) is increasing every year in his Manhattan and Bronx NYC dental offices.  During a question and answer session, we learned more about his experiences and insights.

This patient was told by a top NYC orthodontist that she could not have Invisalign treatment.  Her orthodontic treatment was completed exclusively with Invisalign by Dr. Elliot Davis - No metal braces were used to achieve these top natural orthodontic and teeth whitening results.

Q.  How did you get started with Invisalign?

Dr. Davis:  Corrective and minor tooth movement has played a significant role in my New York (Manhattan) dental practice for more than two decades.  Since patients prefer removable appliances over heavy bracket and wire orthodontic therapy, I offer this option whenever feasible.  Once I started providing progressive plastic removable orthodontic therapy with Invisalign (and Ortho Clear, Spring Aligners, among others) the patient response was as you would expect, quite positive.  A number of my patients I’ve successfully treated with exclusively with Invisalign have been told they were not good candidates for Invisalign treatment by other orthodontists and dentists.

Q.  Why is keeping the Invisalign (or Clear Correct, Ortho Snap, Smart Moves, Simpli 5 or Red, White and Blue) orthodontic aligners clean so important?

Dr. Davis:   That’s a good question.  Aligners need to be kept clean so teeth will move teeth in the manner they were programmed to move.  Dirty aligners fit less precisely.  That could lead to treatment delays, unsuccessful treatment, and/or bad breath; none of which are desirable.   With each aligner dependent on the complete repositioning of the prior aligner, minor errors can compound into major problems.

Q.  How long do you wear an aligner?

Dr. Davis:  For the best results with the most popular system, Invisalign, aligners are worn for 20-22 hours daily for two weeks prior to changing to the next aligner or retainer.  On occasion, or for some other systems (i.e., Clear Correct or Smart Moves), plastic aligners are worn for three to four weeks.

Q.  What oral hygiene regimen do you recommend when undergoing invisible orthodontic aligner therapy?

Dr. Davis:  Proper flossing of your teeth and brushing your teeth and aligners prior to inserting the aligners will keep your teeth, gums and aligners clean.  Patients in orthodontic therapy should consider having their teeth cleaned by their dentist or hygienist more often, possibly every three months.

Q. What is the best method to clean plastic aligners?

Dr. Davis:  There is no one “ideal” cleaning method.  Let me repeat, it’s best to keep your teeth and gums clean.  You also need to be careful not to damage the plastic aligner by using a chemical that’s too strong or water that’s too hot, which will distort the shape of the aligner and render it unusable.   Be careful avoid harsh cleansers and those with dyes that can stain, making the aligners less invisible.  Let me pass on popular methods that patients in my Manhattan (New York) dental office have found successful.

 

Suggested Method #1:

Dip the head of the toothbrush into a bottle of hydrogen peroxide for 1-2 seconds.  Remove the brush and shake off the excess liquid.  Place toothpaste on the toothbrush (more toothpaste than you would use for your teeth) and brush the inside and outside of the aligners for 30 (or more) seconds per side per aligner.  Rinse thoroughly and leave slightly wet prior to putting the aligners back on your teeth.

Suggested Method #2: If it does not come clean to your satisfaction, repeat method #1 and add a pinch of Kosher salt or sea salt (as a mild abrasive) to the toothpaste prior to brushing the aligner or retainer.  Rinse very well prior  to reinserting the aligners.

 

Suggested Method #3:

Soak both aligners in warm water (110^o F, 43^o C) with a half (hand break a whole) of a dissolvable tablet intended to clean dentures or retainers.  Make sure each aligner is covered by the solution.  Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for how long to keep soaking, usually 3 – 5 minutes is sufficient.

Q.  Some aligners get nasty prior to it being changed.  Do you have any recommendations for those situations?

Dr. Davis:  The only time I recommend that someone use a strong solution to clean their aligner is when they have been worn for more than a month, have had a cold, or the flu, etc.  Only then would I recommend the following aligner cleaning process.

Suggested Method #4:

WARNING:  You MUST follow ALL off the steps listed below.  Do NOT modify the ratio of water to bleach.  Serious and irreversible damage to the aligner are occur.

Fill a one liter bottle with 32 ounces (965ml) of water and one ounce (35ml) of bleach.  Close the cap securely.  Shake the bottle vigorously for 5 seconds.  You are making a 3% bleach solution.

Soak the aligners in the solution for 4-5 minutes.  Properly dispose of the 3% bleach solution.   Brush the aligners with toothpaste.  Rinse and soak the aligners with cold water for 2-3 minutes prior to wearing.   If the aligners have a slight bleach taste, remove and rinse with mouthwash and water.  If necessary, repeat the rinsing step.

WARNING:  DO NOT INCREASE THE STRENGTH OF THE BLEACH SOLUTION.

For additional information, review the Union Square Park (Greenwich Village) New York Dentist office’s website: www.TheManhattanDentist.com, or email TheManhattanDentist@gmail.com, or call (212) 645.9255.  The office is located at 80 Fifth Avenue, suite #1607, New York, NY  10011.