Friday, February 13, 2009— SARASOTA, FLORIDA — Straight teeth can do more than create a beautiful smile; they can improve gum health and make it easier to practice good oral hygiene.

For years, the Sarasota, FL cosmetic dentistry practice of Dr. Charles Crane has turned to porcelain veneers to correct a number of tooth maladies, with teeth alignment often being on the less serious end of the spectrum.

However, since becoming a trained Invisalign provider in December, Crane has a new tool on his list of treatment options for patients whose teeth are out of alignment, but otherwise healthy.

Invisalign is an ideal treatment option for people who want straight teeth, but simply don’t need porcelain veneers, which require proportionally reducing tooth structure, Crane said.

“I’m happy to have another in-house option to address the growing number of requests from patients who want straight teeth,” he said. “Traditionally, clients who visit a cosmetic dentist in search of straight teeth want porcelain veneers, but not everyone needs them.”

There are many cases in which Invisalign can accomplish what clients are seeking when they inquire about porcelain veneers. And since Invisalign straightens teeth more quickly than traditional braces, clients will get their desired results relatively fast, provided they wear the aligners as instructed.

Health Benefits

Although Invisalign’s primary job is to straighten teeth, achieving proper alignment also presents long-term benefits of improved gum health. Many signs of periodontal disease appear in the gums when teeth aren’t properly aligned. Gums can get red and swollen when it is difficult to get floss or get a toothbrush between crowded and rotated teeth.  In other cases, gaps in teeth can pack food and irritate gums until a patient can clean the area.

“When teeth are in proper alignment and the contact between teeth is appropriate for floss to get through yet tight enough not to pack debris, that alone can help discourage periodontal disease,” Crane said.

During Invisalign treatment, oral hygiene is easier than with traditional braces because the Invisalign aligners can be removed to brush and floss daily. Professional cleanings also are easier because there are no metal brackets or bands covering the teeth and preventing a dental hygienist from doing a proper cleaning.

Once treatment is completed, having straight teeth also makes oral hygiene easier, and there are no wide gaps or tight crevices that harbor plaque and tartar buildup.

“Straight teeth are much easier to brush and floss effectively than crooked teeth,” Crane said.

That is why Crane is seeing an older population that once might not have considered alignment in adulthood inquiring about Invisalign.

“Even though crooked teeth might never have bothered them cosmetically, straight teeth have become an integral part of keeping dental health and periodontal disease under control for a lot of adults,” he said.

Invisalign History

To many, Invisalign seems like a new, cutting edge concept that has gained momentum since Align Technology, the makers of the Invisalign system, began in 1997. In reality, the concept of moving teeth with a series of aligners and positioners was started in 1945, said Jeff brand, a territory manager for Invisalign. However, it was a labor-intensive process.

In 1945, Dr. H.D. Kesling believed that technology eventually would enable a series of tooth aligners to gradually move teeth in a way similar to how traditional orthodontic brackets and wires worked. Technology made this vision a reality, and with the assistance of advanced computer technology, today Align Technology produces the Invisalign System, a series of custom-made clear aligners. Each aligner is worn by the patient for about two weeks at a time. The patient makes routine visits to their Invisalign provider about every six weeks to ensure the alignment process is progressing as it should.

Invisalign has become such a popular teeth alignment option that it has been integrated into more than 40 universities or dental programs in the past couple of years, Brand said. It is taught in orthodontic residency and general dentistry programs so that many dentists and orthodontists become trained Invisalign providers upon graduation.

Offered By Dentists And Orthodontists

Once available only through orthodontists, Invisalign is offered in many general and cosmetic dentistry practices today, Brand said.

There are professionals out there who feel as though orthodontics is the cornerstone of any cosmetic practice.

“Just gettting the teeth into proper position allows cosmetic dentists to further improve their appearance,” Crane said. “A lot of people with crooked teeth think they can just get veneers, but their occlusion could be off.”

Now Crane has the ability to use Invislaign to put the teeth into their proper position, which then allows him to achieve “a much more beautiful aesthetic result” with any further dental restorations the client wants, he said.

Learn More

If you would like to learn more about how Sarasota, FL porcelain veneers expert Dr. Charles Crane is using Invisalign to address cosmetic dentistry cases, or you would like to schedule a consultation with him, please visit his Web site: www.drcharlescrane.com or call his office: (941) 923-3802.

About Dr. Charles Crane

Charles E. Crane, D.D.S. graduated from Indiana University School of Dentistry in 1981. He went on to complete a residency at UAB Medical School in Birmingham, Ala. in IV Sedation. In 2003, Dr. Crane acquired the practice of Steven J. Krouse, D.D.S. and focused on cosmetic and reconstructive dentistry.

Dr. Crane has completed numerous post-graduate courses in cosmetic and reconstructive dentistry. He has studied intensely at the acclaimed Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies including courses in: Comprehensive Aesthetic Reconstruction, Advanced Functional Aesthetics and Mastering Neuromuscular Occlusion.

Dr. Crane is one of only a few Sarasota dentists to offer IV Sedation to his patients. He attends the prestigious American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry Annual Scientific Session and the Florida Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry education symposiums.

© 2009 Sinai Marketing and Dr. Charles Crane. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Sinai Marketing is credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this article is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.
-end-