A new treatment option: Invisalign® First
Early Orthodontics for Kids (ages 6-10)
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Why Early Treatment?
75% of 12 year-olds need orthodontic treatment. 80% of treatment can be completed before all the adult teeth are present. Invisalign® First is the ONLY intra-oral appliance that can expand/develop the jaw and straighten teeth at the same time in growing children ages 6-10. This powerful combination can create the proper foundation to help eliminate the need for orthognathic jaw surgery, extraction of multiple adult teeth and lengthy orthodontic treatment in adolescence.
What bite problem can be corrected?
Crowding
Crowded teeth are caused by narrow arches. By developing the arches at an early age, we can create the proper space for adult teeth to erupt. This may prevent or eliminate the crowding of permanent teeth and the need to extract adult teeth. The key to resolve crowding is to treat early. Invisalign® First can only be used during rapid growth (ages 6-10yrs).
A deep bite
Deep bites often result in tension headaches, night-time grinding, and permanent lower front teeth damage in children. This can be corrected early by repositioning the existing front permanent teeth to allow for proper eruption of the back permanent teeth.
An Underdeveloped / Overdeveloped Jaw
Invisalign® First can reposition the lower jaw to improve your child’s bite and profile with NO EXTRACTION AND NO SURGERY. The Mandibular Advancement Feature corrects and underdeveloped lower jaw: The mandibular advancement feature is a great way to fix overbites in kids and teens while straightening their teeth.
Crossbite
The front permanent teeth start erupting at age 6. Left uncorrected, a crossbite can cause premature tooth wear, gum recession and bone loss. Invisalign® First can correct a traumatic bite early to prevent .long-term damage to permanent teeth
Treating more than a bite problem
No more snoring
Children with airway obstruction, such as enlarged tonsils and poorly positioned jaws/malocclusions often snore, which can lead to sleep apnea. This frequently causes poor sleep habits, excessive daytime fatigue and inability to concentrate in school.
Healthy jaw joints
Many children with narrow jaws, deep bite, over or under-bites have unhealthy jaw joints, which can cause: headaches, neck pain, dizziness, earaches, tinnitus, and clicking jaw joints. Early bite correction can solve these problems
High self esteem
Children are often conscious about their crooked teeth or under/over-developed lower jaws. Early treatment can improve their self-esteem, which is extremely important when they are actively growing and interacting with other children.
Healthy teeth and gums
Children who have a deep bite often cause wear damage to the biting surfaces of the permanent front teeth. Uneven and excessive force on teeth may cause the gums around the teeth to recede. Early treatment with Invisalign® First can help.
Still thinking wire braces?Technology has advanced!
Invisalign® First VS Traditional Functional Appliances/Braces
| Invisalign ® First | Braces/Function Appliances | |
|---|---|---|
| Can be worn during sports | Can be worn during sports/dance/exercise and playing musical wind instruments. | May result in injury during sports, difficult to play musical wind instruments. |
| Comfortable level | No discomfort from rubbing brackets or poking wires. | Can result in dental emergencies, such as poking wires, broken brackets and trauma from sports-related activities. |
| Requires Compliance | Requires daily wear with removal of appliance during eating and brushing/ flossing. | Fixed appliances, such as braces, often do not rely on patient compliance to be effective. However, the use of elastics and removable functional appliances still require compliance. Some Functional appliances, such as expanders, require manual weekly adjustment by the patient or parent. |
| Requires Increased Hygiene Care | Invisalign® First can be removed during eating and brushing, which improves overall dental hygiene | Fixed functional appliances and braces cannot be removed when brushing, flossing or eating. Extra care is required to clean between brackets to prevent cavities. |
| Movement of the teeth | Digitally designed SmartForce® attachments are small, tooth-coloured shapes that are bonded to teeth. Attachments engage with the clear aligner to place gentle forces over time to move teeth comfortably. | Brackets are placed by hand and wires are bent by hand. Forces from braces are often greater than that of Invisalign® clear aligners and require more frequent monitoring to ensure the desired end result is achieved. |
| Frequency of Office Visits | Patients require less monitoring and less frequent visits (every 6-8 weeks). Invisalign® trays are fabricated at the start of treatment and each tray is ready to be delivered in individually sealed ziplock packages. | Wires don’t move on their own and require frequent adjustment and thus, office visits. |
| Digital Treatment Plan | There’s no room for guesswork with 3D digital scans using the iTero® digital scanner and ClinCheck® Software. All treatment plans are digitally planned and customized. Each tooth movement is digitally calculated to use the right amount of force for the desired movement, in the right order and at the right time. You will digitally see the expected results of your child’s treatment plan prior to starting treatment. | Currently, we are unable to use AI to simulate bracket/wire force and teeth movement for functional appliances and braces. |
| Fully Digital Records | Using our iTero® digital intra-oral scanner, we can expect better aligner fit than with goopy physical impressions. The iTero® takes 6,000 images per second, which are then digitally stitched together, making a fully digital impression that is more precise than a traditional dental mold. Using the iTero® scanner, we digitally track the process of your child’s teeth movements throughout treatment to ensure that teeth are moving as planned. | Taking digital records are not required for functional appliances or braces. |
| Material Allergies | Only Invisalign® First clear aligners are made of SmartTrack® material so they are more comfortable and easier to put on and take off. Medical grade SmartForce® material means no risk for metal allergies. | Traditional Functional appliances use PMMA acrylic, nickel titanium and stainless steel, which can cause an allergic reaction. |
| Guarantee | Invisalign® First: 18 Months Guarantee All treatment plan, 3D digital scans, and unlimited aligners are provided for up to 18 months | N/A |
iTero
Using our iTero® digital intra-oral scanner, we can expect better aligner fit than with goopy physical impressions. The iTero® takes 6,000 images per second, which are then digitally stitched together, making a fully digital impression that is more precise than a traditional dental mold. Using the iTero® scanner, we digitally track the process of your child’s teeth movements throughout treatment to ensure that teeth are moving as planned. Digital scans lead to precise teeth movement and better results for little smiles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How often does my child need to change his/her Invisalign® First Trays?
A: Invisalign® First patients change trays every single week. This allows kids to keep track of their trays easier and keeps the trays fresher.
Q: How many hours a day does my child need to wear his/her Invisalign® First Tray?
A: As with any functional appliance, we recommend 22 hours of wear per day for all Invisalign<sup>®</sup> First patients.
Q: How many months is the Invisalign® First treatment?
A: Invisalign® First Treatments typically range from 6-9 months depending on the treatment needed as well as on patient compliance.
Q: Will my child need Phase II treatment after completion of Invisalign® First?
A: The purpose of Phase I Invisalign® First treatment is to improve your child’s arch development and guide his/her jaw growth for proper alignment of adult teeth. This sets up the foundation for proper eruption of adult teeth. Because Invisalign® First also moves adult teeth, many patients do not need Phase II treatment. However, we cannot fully predict your child’s growth or the position of all adult teeth after they erupt. Minor improvements to the bite or position of adult teeth may be required as part of phase II treatment.
Q: How frequent are visits to the office during treatment?
A: We see our Invisalign® First patients every 4-6 weeks to ensure the teeth are moving as planned and for patients to obtain their next series of trays.
About Dr. Zhang
My Passion
Having struggled with dental anxiety for the majority of my childhood, I am passionate about creating a caring and comfortable environment for my patients. The tools for comfortable dentistry exist and it’s my passion to eliminate discomfort and anxiety during a dental visit.
My Training
During my training at Sunnybrook Hospital, I had the opportunity to learn from leading oral surgeons, pathologists and dental anaesthesiologists. I was exposed to a wide range of challenging clinical cases, as well as treated many medically compromised patients. My collective experiences at Sunnybrook have shaped the dentist I am today.
Most Rewarding Dental Experience
I’ve had the privilege to provide dentistry in remote, underserviced areas in rural Ontario (Moose Factory and Sioux Lookout). Many communities are only accessible by flight and some do not have consistent dental access. Despite the frigid (-40C) winters, I was blown away by the spirit and kindness of these communities. The final leg of my Northern Adventure was in Geraldton, ON where I lived for over a year and have made a lasting impression on the beauty of Northern Ontario.
Education
• Bachelor of Health Sciences, McMaster University, ON
• Dentistry, University of Toronto, ON
Continuing Education
- Dental Residency, Sunnybrook Hospital, ON
- Moderate IV Sedation Certified, Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario
- Pinhole® Surgical Technique, Chao Seminars, Alhambra, California
- Invisalign® First, Align Technology, San Jose, California
- Orthodontics for the GP, Rondeau Seminars, London, ON
- Biohorizons Implant Placement Program, Markham, ON
About our Clinic
Comfortable Dentistry. We do that.
Markham Woodbine Dental – comfortable dentistry meets technology. We are dedicated to bringing advancements in technology to the dental chair. From computer assisted freezing to digital 3D scans, our mission at Markham Woodbine Dental is to use dental technology to reduce pain, discomfort and length of treatment. Less discomfort = more smiles.
Call us: (647)370-2340
Contact
Tel: (647) 370-2340
Email: info@markhamwoodbinedental.com
Working Hours:
Monday – Tuesday: 09:00 am – 07:00 pm
Wednesday: Closed
Thursday – Friday: 09:00 am – 07:00 pm
Saturday: 09:00 am – 06:00 pm
Address:
8787 Woodbine Ave. Suite #130
Markham, ON L3R 9S2