We know that the key to quality treatment for minor and advanced cases of misalignment, or even issues like TMJ disorder and bruxism, involves creating orthodontics that fit comfortably and offer care with precision. To accomplish this, your Fort Worth, TX, orthodontist uses digital scanning technology, such as iTero®, to offer digital impressions.
The Old Way
In the old way, we would need to fill a metal mold with a sticky material. The material would often taste poorly. You would bite down on the mold and hold this bite, with some people having to redo the process if the impression wasn’t a good quality. While effective, this wasn’t the most precise approach to creating molds and designing orthodontic devices to improve oral health.
Digital Impressions
Now, we have the iTero® system, which means going fully digital. With a thin wand with a small camera at the end, we take a series of images of the smile quickly and comfortably. The images will be combined to create a detailed 3D model. Using the model, the orthodontist can design oral appliances and aligners with greater precision and accuracy. We also use these images to plan treatment as well.
Creating Aligners and Appliances
For those with braces, we use the digital scans to design and create brackets from ceramic instead of metal. The ceramic option is tooth-colored and blends with your smile, limiting the visibility of your braces. If you’re receiving treatment with Invisalign®, these scans allow our team to design and craft a series of aligners, each set gently repositioning the teeth and helping you obtain optimal results in as little as a year in some cases. If you have TMJ disorder, we can create an appliance to reposition the jaw and ease pressure, prevent painful symptoms like headaches, jaw pain, and more. The device also prevents further damage by bruxism, as a barrier between the upper and lower teeth limits the impact of teeth grinding and clenching. We also use scans to help children, designing retainers and other phased orthodontic options.
If you have any questions about the process of designing orthodontic systems, or if you or a member of your family has uneven smiles, then contact our team today. We want to help you obtain a new smile in 2021, one that not only improves your oral health, but the beauty of your smile as well.
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT ORTHODONTIC TECHNOLOGY?
Our team employs advanced technology to improve the alignment of your smile. To learn more about improving the alignment of your smile, then please call Lake Country Orthodontics in Fort Worth, TX at (817) 236-7846. Our office proudly serves patients who live in White Settlement, North Fort Worth, and all surrounding communities.
