Are Invisalign Straighteners as Good as Traditional Braces?

The cliché image of an awkward teenager in massive metal brackets is dead. Now, anyone looking to straighten their smile has a new option that doesn’t require cement or wires: Invisalign.

Invisalign, available at Center City Emergency Dentists in Philadelphia, uses computer-generated trays that can be removed to correct orthodontic issues over time. Many wearers appreciate the fact that they can still eat their favorite foods by removing their trays, something that is not possible with metal braces.

As the popularity of Invisalign treatments grows, one question has come to the forefront of the minds of both consumers and orthodontists alike: is this new treatment as effective at correcting alignment and bite issues as its metal counterpart?
The common perception by consumers is that metal braces are harsher than clear retainers like Invisalign. This can lead to the perception by both dental professionals and consumers that metal braces are better at correcting orthodontic issues than Invisalign.

However, this is not actually true. According to a consumer report published by the FDA, invisible correction treatments were just as effective at correcting issues of misalignment and spacing as metal braces except in the most severe cases.

The discrepancy in effectiveness when comparing metal braces and Invisalign is due to how they are worn. Statistics indicate that metal braces wearers typically see their issues corrected in less time on average, but this is usually due to Invisalign wearers removing their trays for too many hours a day.
The bottom line? While metal braces may be better for the most severe and complicated of orthodontic cases, Invisalign treatments are just as effective at correcting most cases of dental misalignment as traditional options.

If you’re concerned about the look of metal braces or you want to avoid injuries associated with wires and brackets, Invisalign treatments in Philadelphia can straighten your smile just as well as braces in most cases. Just make sure you’re wearing them every day, ideally 22 hours a day.

If you are interested in learning more about Invisalign, our team here at Center City Emergency Dentists is here to help. Give us a call at 215-315-7691 to learn more!

3 Ways Invisalign Can Give Your Your Best Year Yet

For a long time, the only option that people looking to straighten their smiles had was traditional metal braces. Many avoided getting the orthodontic services that they needed to be the best version possible of themselves or correct dental issues because they did not like the way that traditional braces look.

Finally, there’s a solution that can help you make 2018 the year that you finally get the smile you’ve been dreaming of without metal braces: Invisalign from Center City Emergency Dentist! Three benefits of getting Invisalign include:

  • “Invisible” look. Unlike traditional braces, Invisalign uses clear aligners custom-fitted to your teeth. Using Invisalign, you can avoid the bulky appearance of metal braces and get the straighter teeth you want in 2018!
  • Improved comfort. Though traditional metal bracket braces have made massive improvements in the last few years, everyone who has had them will tell you that the endless tightening and rubber bands can be a recipe for serious discomfort. Invisalign braces don’t use brackets, and you can take them out when you want to eat something sticky.
  • Higher confidence. When you are confident in your radiant smile, you frown less and speak up more. Invisalign can give anyone an injection of confidence by allowing them to slowly work towards the straighter smile they’ve been dreaming of. If you want to make 2018 your most confident year yet, Invisalign can get you started on the right path.

At Center City Emergency Dentist, a leading Philadelphia implant dentistry, we handle a lot more than just emergencies; we also provide you with the orthodontic services that you need to make 2018 (and your smile!) a whole lot brighter.

Call us today at 215-315-7691 to make an appointment at our cosmetic dentistry in Center City Philadelphia today!

3 Foods to Avoid This Holiday Season to Minimize Orthodontic Damage

If you have braces or other another orthodontic mouthpiece, make sure you don’t undo any of your progress you’ve already made by eating the wrong foods! Orthodontic wear, especially traditional bracket braces, can be very sensitive and misaligned by foods that are sticky, gummy or extra chewy.

Here are three foods that you should avoid eating when you’re visiting family members and friends this holiday season!

  • Taffy. This winter, take a pass on the taffy! Taffy is strong and sticky and tends to pull on the brackets of braces and misalign wiring. This means that you’ll have to head back to your orthodontist’s office to have brackets cemented back on. Chewy candies should also be avoided because, even if they do not damage the braces, they’re more likely to cause decay because they leave behind sugar when they get stuck in your teeth.
  • Hard cookies. Everyone loves Christmas cookies, but harder treats like gingerbread and Oreos can causes braces brackets or bars behind the teeth to crack or misalign. Try to opt for softer treats like grapes and cake, but if you’re dying for a cookie, try softening it by dipping in milk first.
  • Popcorn. If you’re getting popcorn for a holiday movie this season, make sure to read the package and opt for the hulless versions. Popcorn that has kernels can get caught in the brackets of your teeth, which can be a pain to remove.

If you do slip up and find yourself in need of orthodontic care, don’t be afraid to give our team at Center City Emergency Dentist a call at 215-315-7691. We help adults and children both learn about orthodontics in Philadelphia.

We provide more than just emergency services! If you don’t currently have braces or Invisalign but are interested in learning more about orthodontics in Center City, browse our website to view our current services.

Why You Need to be Wearing Your Retainers Every Single Night

If you’ve recently had your braces taken off, you’re probably relieved to get the metal out of your mouth. You’re ready to show off your brand new, shiny and healthy smile! Your orthodontist has likely also prescribed you a set of retainers to wear. Some people may have to wear them during the day and night, and others will only have to wear them at night.

After months or years of braces, you might be frustrated at the prospect of wearing retainers. After all, your teeth look much straighter already! Though you might feel tempted to ditch the retainers, this is possibly one of the worst things that you can do to your brand new smile, and your beautiful straight teeth may not last for long if you choose not to follow your orthodontist’s recommendation and wear your retainers.

From braces to dentist veneers in Center City, your orthodontist is an expert in making teeth straight, healthy, and white but this is not an overnight process. When you have braces or Invisalign veneers on your teeth, they shift thanks to a constant pressure being applied to them.

Even fully-formed adult teeth are surprisingly malleable. With relatively little pressure, the teeth cave and shift into place directed by the taut metal of the braces. When your braces are removed, the pressure that held the teeth in their straight shape is gone, and to solidify their new position, retainers are introduced to “retain” the shape of the teeth that your braces created. Without the retainers, teeth can easily apply force onto one another and recreate the misalignment that was initially corrected with braces.

If your teeth have shifted due to not wearing your retainers, don’t panic; make an appointment with your orthodontist and discuss options for adjusting your teeth back into place. If you are in need of a new orthodontist or you are considering visiting our Center City Philadelphia office for dental implants, feel free to call our friendly team at Center City Emergency Dentist a call today at 215-315-7691.

How Do Braces Straighten Your Smile?

If you’ve been thinking about how much a straighter smile can improve your confidence, you’ve probably considered getting braces to align your teeth better. Braces help mold the shape of your teeth’s alignment, and can be used in conjunction with dentist veneers in Center City to leave you with a smile that’s white, bright, and will make you want to flash a grin as often as possible. But how do braces actually work to straighten your teeth and what can you do to help the process?

Most people think that once they lose their baby teeth, the adult teeth that grow in their place are permanently set. This is actually untrue as the location and position of your teeth are actually quite malleable compared to other bones in the body and can be shifted with consistent pressure.

Braces work by providing constant yet subtle pressure on teeth for a number of months and years through the use of wires, tensions and brackets that are attached to the enamel of your teeth. Over time, the position of the teeth will succumb to the pressure, and move along with the direction that the brackets are directing them.

While braces can help straighten nearly any smile, you may need a bit of pre and post work to help leave you with the best result possible. If you have teeth missing, our dentists in Center City Philadelphia can provide dental implants that serve as a natural alternative that will work in conjunction with the braces. After your braces are removed, you may also be given a retainer to wear at night to help keep the teeth from shifting back to their original placement.

If you’re ready to get on the path to a healthier and straighter smile, we here at Center City Emergency Dentist are here to help! Give us a call today at 215-315-7691 to schedule an appointment and learn more.

Importance Orthodontics Play When it Comes to Oral Hygiene

Though many may consider orthodontics and braces to be confined to high schools and teen dramas, a number of older residents are getting adult braces in Philadelphia because they realize that the benefits of a healthy and straight smile don’t just stop at one’s looks.

A straighter smile can actually contribute to healthier teeth and gums, which can save money and pain in the long run by helping residents avoid the need for preventable oral surgeries.

Everyone knows that if you want to have great oral health, you need to be brushing and flossing your teeth once in the morning and night, with additional brushing after drinking dark beverages like coffee and soda to prevent staining. This is because brushing and flossing help to kill the bacteria that settle on and in-between teeth and can cause damage to the roots of the teeth and gums over time.

These types of bacteria feed on sugar and protein from food that gets stuck in between your teeth. Flossing is so important because it removes the bacteria’s food source before they are able to colonize.

When an adult has oral issues that require orthodontic treatment to correct, the root issue usually comes from the orientation of the teeth. When teeth come in, they may be overcrowded, causing the teeth to grow in awkward directions. This creates more and larger crevices, which make flossing more difficult. These crevices also provide more places for bacteria to flourish and colonize, which can eventually lead to gum disease and tooth decay if left untreated.

Our adult orthodontics specialists in Philadelphia can help create a plan to change the orientation of the teeth, making them easier to brush and floss. With straighter teeth, bacteria will have no place left to hide, and you’ll be left with a healthier smile!

If you are interested in receiving orthodontic services, contact our friendly team at Center City Emergency Dentist today!