Treatments
Invisalign®
Many patients that are considering orthodontic treatment have two concerns: how they look during treatment and how much the orthodontic treatment will impact their daily life.
What is Invisalign® treatment? Invisalign® treatment uses a series of invisible, removable medical-grade aligners that guide your teeth into the proper position. Each aligner moves your teeth a little more until they are in their ideal position. No one can tell you're wearing them. Treatment times can last six to18 months depending on the difficulty of your case. At our office, we use 3D computer-imaging technology to make digital molds of your teeth that can show you a virtual future look of your straightened teeth before you even start treatment.
Why should I consider Invisalign® treatment? Without any metal brackets or wires to adjust, we see you less often, which means you have less time off of school or work. We typically see you every six weeks instead of every four weeks with traditional braces. The aligners are removable, and you can eat and drink whatever you wish during treatment. Most importantly, brushing, and flossing is just as easy as before you started your orthodontic treatment. Lastly, they are quite comfortable, and there is no metal to cause sore spots during your treatment.
How do I get started? Not everyone is a candidate for becoming an Invisalign® patient. We must see you for an initial consultation in order to determine if it is the correct treatment for you. Contact us to schedule your initial consultation.
Invisalign® and the Invisalign® logo, among others, are trademarks of Align Technology, Inc., and are registered in the U.S. and other countries.
Surgical Orthodontics
Traditional orthodontics is designed to reposition and straighten teeth, but in some cases, surgical orthodontics is necessary to correct more severe jaw irregularities where the lower jaw does not match up to the upper jaw. Surgical orthodontics is used to straighten the jaw into alignment, often improving a patient’s ability to chew, speak, and breathe. A significant cosmetic change is often also seen. Braces are typically worn for 12 to 18 months, and an oral surgeon then surgically repositions your jaw to make them fit correctly. You are in the hospital for one to two days. After healing, your braces are usually finished after six to12 months of detailing.
TMJ/TMD Treatment
What is TMJ/TMD and why does it matter to you? Temporomandibular Disorder is a condition in which the joints in your jaw become sore and movement is restricted. Someone with TMJ symptoms often has clicking while opening. Millions of Americans suffer from chronic face and neck pain as well as recurring headaches. These can all be signs of a TMJ/TMD condition that may require treatment.
The temporomandibular joint connects the jaw to the skull. Pain in this area is characterized as Temporomandibular Disorder. This joint is similar to many others in the body, and as such, is susceptible to conditions like ankylosis, arthritis, and dislocations.
TMD symptoms include:
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Biting/chewing difficulty or discomfort
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Neck and shoulder pain
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Dizziness
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Hearing loss
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Headaches/earaches in the morning
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Jaw pain or tenderness
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Reduced ability to open/close the mouth with clicking noise when opening
Dr. Olson can examine your jaw and determine the best course of treatment for you.
iTero® Element™ Intraoral Scanner
We Are a Digital Imaging Practice: Proud Owners of an iTero® Element™ Intraoral Scanner.
In the past, we made plaster models of your teeth using a gooey, putty-like material contained in an impression tray. This tray was placed in your mouth, and the putty-like materials would gel around your teeth. Thankfully, old-school impressions are no longer the only option.
Our iTero® Element™ Intraoral Scanner allows us to take a digital impression—a highly accurate, digital 3D image of your teeth and associated structures. The iTero® Element™ Intraoral Scanner is all about keeping you comfortable while delivering precise imagery -- without the putty-filled impression trays that make you gag!
iTero® Element™ Intraoral Scanner (continued)
Four highlights of the iTero® Element™ Scanner include the following:
1. It’s comfortable.
With no gooey mess or disagreeable taste, you can breathe and swallow naturally during the digital 3D scan.
2. It’s safe.
The iTero® Element™ Scanner avoids exposing you to dangerous radiation as it employs laser technology to develop the images.
3. It’s accurate.
The scanned image allows us to provide customized Invisalign® treatment and Vivera® Retainers to patients without requiring multiple impressions.
4. It’s fast.
Digital impressions taken for orthodontic purposes are complete in approximately five to 10 minutes, allowing Dr. Olson to view the 3D scans on the same day as your appointment.
After the scan is completed, Dr. Olson can show you a simulation of your potential post-treatment smile with the Invisalign® Outcome Simulator.
iTero® and the iTero® Element™, among others, are trademarks of Align Technology, Inc., and are registered in the U.S. and other countries.