Archives for July 2020

SmileDirectClub Problems

Posted on July 29, 2020 by writeradmin.

We sometimes get inquiries about SmileDirectClub from patients and others who do not feel they can afford Invisalign but want to straighten their teeth. In doing some research, we came across a warning given by mynewsmile.com. You can find the original post for that here. They talk about pages of complaints from patients who’ve tried the service and have been dissatisfied.

In an attempt to be careful with our conclusions we decided to verify the claims. Doing our own research, we went back to the dates he originally mentioned on two different websites. One that posts general reviews about SmileDirectClub and the other being the Better Business Bureau. There were more than we could reasonably place in a blog post.

One thing we noticed is the complaints fell into three different categories: First, not receiving their aligners and unable to get a refund. Second, the aligners didn’t work. Third, their teeth ended up in a dangerously worse situation.

Aligners Don’t Arrive as Promised

There were many similar reviews such as this one, including some patients who received some aligners but not others which completely threw off their treatment. Another waited months for their retainer after treatment, by which time her teeth had shifted out of place again.

Treatment Doesn’t Work

It is hard to imagine going through orthodontic treatment, investing all that time and money, and then having no improvement on your teeth. Imagine then trying to get this rectified and being given the run around over and over again.

Teeth End Up Damaged

One of the biggest issues of not having your orthodontic work done with a dentist is things can get overlooked. For instance, before Dr. Cheek would move forward with any orthodontic treatment, she would do a thorough exam. This simple, but imperative step protects the patients. As an example, let’s say a patient had the early signs of gum disease. That would get addressed before moving forward with any type of braces. Otherwise, you risk something like this patient above experienced. Your teeth can come loose.

If that happens, you will no longer be looking to straighten your smile but to replace missing teeth.

Based on these reviews, I would say approach this option with caution. If finances are what are drawing you to a mail order service, talk to your dentist. They may have payment plans for you. Another option is to try Care Credit. They are a medical loan service that offers low-interest plans enabling you to get your treatment and pay it out over a period of time you can choose.

This blog is brought to you by East Cobb Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek. You can read more about SmileDirectClub here.

Did Teeth Whitening Hurt My Baby?

Posted on July 25, 2020 by writeradmin.

I didn’t realize I was pregnant until today and I just finished three weeks of teeth whitening. Did I hurt my baby? I honestly didn’t know. I read this morning they don’t recommend teeth whitening for pregnant women. I’m trying not to panic.

Hannah

Dear Hannah,

First, congratulations. It is an exciting time in your life. Second, take a deep breath. Your baby is likely perfectly fine. The reason they have a notice that teeth whitening isn’t recommended for pregnant women is because we don’t have studies on the effects of teeth whitening on pre-born children. As you can well imagine, there aren’t expectant moms lining up to have their baby be used as the guinea pig.

The teeth whitening gel contains peroxide. The atomic structure of water is H2O. The atomic structure of hydrogen peroxide is H2O2. Essentially, it is water with an extra oxygen molecule. As oxygen is not harmful to you, it is likely the extra molecule isn’t going to do any harm. That doesn’t mean run out and have more whitening done. That would be an unnecessary risk. I just don’t think you’ll have much to be worried about if you are already finished with the whitening.

Start Planning Now for Your Babies Oral Health

Instead of worrying about the whitening, I would redirect your thoughts on something much more proactive. This is a good time to start researching pediatric dentists and to learn about how to help your child have the best experience and training in brushing and flossing their teeth.

The earlier you start the better. For instance, did you know there are apps to help children brush for the full amount of time and in the right locations? When should your child first visit the dentist? Do you know which teeth usually come in first? Notice I said usually. Don’t panic if your child’s make their arrival in at a different order.

These are much more useful and joyful things to spend your time thinking about.

Again, congratulations. Now go to the store and start buying diapers.
This blog is brought to you by East Cobb Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.

Is there a Benefit to Invisalign if Everyone is Wearing a Mask?

Posted on July 15, 2020 by writeradmin.

I’ve been setting aside cash in my HSA for Invisalign treatment. It’s something I set up at the end of last year. Long before coronavirus was a thing, I worked out what my co-payments would be and broke it up across the year so that I could start treatment at the end of this year. I’m 37 and work in an office setting, so for me, the big draw was that I wouldn’t be stuck with a face full of metal braces as an adult. I know some people do, and I certainly don’t think anything less of them for it, but I really wanted to keep things low key for myself.

Now COVID is in full swing and I’m still working from home. If my job gets moved back to the office, I’m told we’ll all be wearing masks all day. That in mind, nobody will ever see my teeth anyway. That’s a bit of a bummer, isn’t it? If this becomes a “new normal,” there may be no reason to do cosmetic dental work like braces because nobody will see your smile anyway. The point being, at least during treatment, chances are nobody will know what type of braces I go with. The traditional metal ones are a bit cheaper and I could probably start with treatment now if that’s what I’m going with. But, if I hold out for the clear ones, I’m going to give it a couple more months. Is there still a benefit to using the clear ones or should I just jump in with the metal?

Thanks,

Debra

Dear Debra,

Great question! Lots of adults prefer the clear aligners simply for aesthetics, but there are quite a few other reasons to choose them over traditional braces as well. First, I’d like to address a separate issue. Braces often get lumped in with cosmetic dental treatment, but that’s a bit misleading. When your teeth are misaligned or crowded, it’s difficult to clean between them no matter how careful or diligent you are. That ultimately leads to cavities and gum disease. Orthodontics can be a vital tool in the long-term health of your teeth and gums. There is also an issue of a misaligned bite leading to TMJ Disorder and migraines.

That said, let’s look at five more ways clear aligners may be the better way to go.

Invisalign may move your teeth faster.

Traditional braces are cemented to the front surface of your teeth. That’s where they apply the pressure required to get teeth to move. Aligners give gentle nudges along a greater surface area, which means they can usually move teeth faster. Some cases with Invisalign are done in half the time as traditional braces.

You’ll have fewer dietary restrictions.

Ever try eating a tough steak, corn on the cob, or caramel with braces? It’s a nightmare! If you manage to do it without breaking anything, you’ll still have your work cut out for you when it’s time to brush after. Conversely, you can remove aligners when you’re ready to eat and brush uninhibited after. Eat whatever you like…even popcorn.

It’ll be easier to clean your teeth and gums during treatment.

Braces can be a great tool, but a lot of people have difficulty cleaning around them in general. To that end, it’s quite common for people to develop stains or decalcified spots on their teeth during treatment. One of the most common questions cosmetic dentists get after teens finish braces is how to get rid of the spots that developed.

Additionally, many also develop gingivitis, where their gums become inflamed and will bleed when brushed. This is more because it is difficult to get floss or floss picks between the braces, so plaque builds up and bacteria flourishes. Again, you can remove clear aligners, so you won’t have this battle on your hands with Invisalign.

Aligners are usually more comfortable and result in fewer dental visits.

True, there will always be a bit of discomfort as you swap out aligners, just as you’d have some discomfort during orthodontic adjustments, but at least with aligners, there’s no metal digging into tender tissues and no wires that can snap and poke you. This also means you’ll have few, if any, emergency dental visits. Considering treatment may go faster overall too, you could spend a whole lot less time in the dental chair.

You Can Simultaneously Whiten Your Teeth.

An underused benefit to aligners is they can double as teeth whitening trays. This enables you to straighten and whiten your teeth at the same time, giving you a mini smile makeover at a fraction of the cost.

Clear aligners are still a great choice, even if you’re the only one who will ever know you’re wearing them. Best of luck to you!

This blog is sponsored by East Cobb Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.