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Offline Ingo

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Re: press reports
« Reply #30 on: 16. March 2009, 19:15:08 PM »

Offline yoghurt

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Re: press reports
« Reply #31 on: 17. April 2009, 09:58:12 AM »
The New York Times, 15 April 2009, by Cathrine Saint Louis

Many Cutbacks but Not for Straight Teeth

WITH her husband newly unemployed, Kim Moldofsky isn’t about to drop thousands of dollars guilt-free.

Except to straighten out her firstborn’s teeth.

The way she sees it, dipping into their rainy-day savings to correct her son Isaac’s overbite is a sound investment when few exist. “If you look at what would be happening to our money sitting in banks, we are not getting much return on it,” said Ms. Moldofsky, a new-media consultant who lives in Morton Grove, Ill. “This is something we will get a return on.”

Even in the best of times, paying $4,500 to $7,000 for braces (depending on the severity of alignment issues) is a stretch for many — not to mention the thousands that some spend on preparatory work. Dental insurance pays roughly $750 to $2,000; often, the whole tab is paid out of pocket.

As job losses and salary reductions wreak havoc on family budgets, financing the perfect smile is a big-ticket purchase that many middle-class parents find is worth scrimping for. For Ms. Moldofsky, family dinners at restaurants and tennis lessons are out, and her boys no longer attend private school, partly because of the expense. But 11-year-old Isaac’s orthodontics remain a priority.

“Could we have avoided doing this? Probably,” she said. Still, she added, “I think having well-aligned teeth — this is going to sound shallow — but it sends a message to people.”

Paul Zuelke, whose health care firm gives advice on practice management to 800 orthodontists who together see 25,000 new patients a month, said “a large number” of those families are struggling financially. But they would “rather buy mac and cheese for dinner than not pay their bills,” he said.

Even those who are insolvent place a high priority on their children having straight and healthy teeth. A few times recently, patients have called clients of Mr. Zuelke’s to say they are filing for bankruptcy but don’t plan to list the orthodontist as a creditor. They still intend to pay for straight teeth.

In a society that places extraordinary value on appearance, orthodontics is increasingly seen as a necessity, not a luxury, and even though the number of patients appears to have declined since the start of the recession, many families are going to great lengths to keep tooth-straightening in their budgets. Some orthodontists, with business slowing, are dropping fees or letting families stretch out payments.

The latest figures from the American Association of Orthodontists, compiled before the recession began, counted about 4 million patients younger than 18 in North America in treatment in 2006, up from 2.6 million in 1989. Experts say the number has dropped recently.

Mr. Zuelke estimated that orthodontists saw an 8 percent decline in new patients in 2008 from the previous year, coming on top of a 12 percent falloff in 2007 over 2006. This year, however, there’s been a slight uptick in patients in the first quarter, he said.

Dr. Roger Levin, the founder of Levin Group, which advises 500 orthodontists nationwide on how to manage their practices’ finances, said that since August, revenue for orthodontists has decreased 10 to 12 percent. “Fewer patients are coming in,” Dr. Levin said.

Why are cash-strapped families still considering braces at all? The answer seems to be that giving the next generation a leg up is a priority. “If you go into a job with teeth out of a novelty store, people aren’t supposed to discriminate,” said Dr. Benjamin Burris, an orthodontist with several offices in Arkansas. “But people do.”

To pay for braces, families typically face three choices: either upfront payment in full for a modest discount; third-party financing, often with interest; or in-office financing, which entails a hefty down payment, then interest-free monthly fees over two years or so.

But in this economy, “a lot of practices are more flexible with their payment options,” Dr. Levin said. Since last fall, Dr. Hyue Young C. Park, of Markin & Park Orthodontics in Maryland, has allowed her patients to make the down payment over a few visits, so that a large upfront sum is not a barrier to treatment. Her office also waives a $380 fee for X-rays and dental records for all patients.

Recently Dr. Park and her financial coordinator decided to let one family pay “$300 for the first six months, then $100 for the remaining months,” she said. The understanding was that if they had extra money — say, a tax refund — they would put it toward treatment.

In her 25 years advising orthodontic practices, Jackie Shoemaker, the president of J. M. Shoemaker Consulting, has advocated flexibility, especially if a credit check is run first.

“Some orthodontists are hard and fast,” demanding money before the braces come off, Ms. Shoemaker said. But referrals on soccer fields and in ballet classes are what grow a practice, so it’s invaluable to let the word travel that if a family is having difficulties, this orthodontist is flexible.

Once a mortifying rite of adolescence, braces carry less of a stigma now that many tweens and teenagers have them. Braces are as innocuous as glasses these days, said Steven Kelly, 13, of Newton, Mass., who has worn his braces for two years. “They just blend in,” he said. “You don’t notice them.” In fact, try breaking it to a seventh grader that she’ll have to survive junior high school with a jumbled “social six” — the catchphrase for the half dozen teeth that are front and center. “There are more kids coming in, wanting them, expecting them,” said Dr. David Cordes, an orthodontist with offices in Westfield, Mass., and Enfield, Conn.

“I feel sorry for a lot of parents,” said Dr. Burris, who takes pro bono cases through a foundation he recently created, Smile for a Lifetime. “That’s why we work with them.”

When a parent decides to postpone treatment, their child can be peeved. Dr. Cordes said: “I see the kid glaring at the parent, and the parent is like, ‘No, we are holding off.’ ”

In October, Martin Bowser, a printer from Laurel, Md., lost his job and the dental plan that had helped pay for two of his four children’s pre-braces orthodontics with Dr. Park. The two, Megan and Martin Jr., lost baby teeth prematurely, so they had appliances installed to make space for permanent teeth.

Mr. Bowser was able to renegotiate his monthly fee for Megan to $150, down from $185. “When you have good insurance, you give them the best,” said Mr. Bowser, who recently paid off Martin’s bill. “But when you don’t, you think maybe we need to be economical here.”

Alice Lesch Kelly, a freelance writer in Newton, Mass., got a few opinions when her son Steven needed braces. But she and her husband, who is also self-employed, chose the most expensive orthodontist because he didn’t propose to extract any teeth. “He was $2,000 more than anyone else: that was a hard decision to make,” Ms. Kelly said. “I heard he was a perfectionist. With teeth, that’s kind of what you want.”

That said, lately the family income has taken a hit, and their college savings have lost value. If their 11-year-old, Scott, needed braces now, Ms. Kelly said, they couldn’t afford another $6,600. That makes dentist visits stressful. “Every time I go in for a cleaning with my youngest one, I ask whether he needs braces,” she said. So far the answer has been no. “I’m so relieved to hear that,” Ms. Kelly said.


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Offline yoghurt

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Re: press reports
« Reply #32 on: 05. May 2009, 16:32:27 PM »
Tri-Country News, 5. May 2009, by Sally Rummel

Brace yourself...for a beautiful new smile

If you think you’re too old for braces, you might want to think again.
More adults than ever are considering the use of braces to straighten their teeth — whether it’s strictly for cosmetic reasons or to take care of oral health issues that remain from childhood.
“Usually, cosmetic concerns are what spurs an adult to come in for braces,” said Dr. Heather Zielinski of Creative Smiles Dental Group in Holly. “But, there’s often a corrective bite issue or more efficient dental issue that is involved with orthodontic treatment for adult patients.”
Creative Smiles includes the orthodontic practice of Dr. John Marschner, who has been performing orthodontic work for more than 30 years.
No matter what the reason, braces for adults may involve more treatment because their jawbones are fully formed with little room for “give,” and adults often have other dental issues to contend with, such as gum disease.
Most adults are successful candidates for orthodontic treatment — it’s up to the patient and his or her dental professional to decide which treatment will be the most effective for a patient’s particular needs.



What are the types of braces available for adults?

Metal or "traditional" braces
Available in different colors, even gold-plated, these tend to be less expensive than the newer “clear” plastic varieties, such as Invisalign.
Used to treat a variety of dental conditions, they are sometimes the best alternative when the mouth has a lot of crowding, according to Dr. Niman K. Shukairy of Holly Family Dentistry.
“Sometimes when the back teeth need to be moved to correct a patient’s bite, the traditional braces are a more effective treatment,” said Shukairy, a general dentist with specialized training in orthodontics. 

"Speed" braces
These involve a special type of bracket that locks onto the wire, are up to 40 percent faster and are more hygienic than regular versions since elastic bands normally used to attach the wire to the tooth bracket are eliminated.
However, speed braces are more expensive and not as widely available yet.

Ceramic or "tooth-colored" braces
Although they appear to blend into the teeth, these braces can eventually become discolored from wine or coffee. They are more comfortable than metal braces, and are usually attached to teeth that show the uppers or upper fronts. These are available as speed braces as well. 

Invisalign or "clear" braces
This is the most widely used plastic braces product in the market today.
Invisalign is a series of clear aligners that fit over one’s teeth that incrementally move the teeth into the desired straight position. The aligners are replaced every two weeks and are worn about 22 hours during the day, except when a patient is eating, drinking, brushing or flossing.
Invisalign is most effective at treating minor to moderate tooth crowding or spacing issues.
The advantages of Invisalign over traditional braces is that a patient’s teeth and gums can be kept clean and healthy during the period of orthodontic treatment — usually about six to eight months. Adults also prefer the appearance of Invisalign to metal braces in many professional and social situations.
“We use Invisalign about 75 percent of the time when prescribing orthodontic treatment,” said Shukairy.
“When there is overcrowding or we need to move the back teeth, then we use traditional braces, where we find we have more control.”
Bo Shumaker, DDS, in Fenton, uses both Invisalign and traditional braces in his dental practice, but finds more benefits to using Invisalign because of its flexible features.
“You can eat, brush and floss with no restrictions,” said Jennifer Cox, registered dental assistant for Shumaker.
“Patients are advised, however, not to keep the liners out of their mouth for more than an hour to avoid any shifting of their teeth alignment.”
As in any removable dental appliance, there is always the risk of loss. Shumaker offers a series of replacement liners to remedy this situation. His office offers a free consultation for adults and teens interested in learning more about Invisalign.
Invisalign usually takes about as long to work as ceramic or metal braces, except in patients with severe problems. Some dental offices charge more for traditional braces than for Invisalign, while others charge the same for either treatment. 

Lingual braces
These are braces, usually metal, that sit behind the teeth, on the tongue side. Although they are not visible, they may interfere with talking and are more expensive than other kinds of braces.
Most dental offices charge between $2,500 and $6,000 for adult orthodontic treatment, depending upon each individual’s case. Insurance may cover a portion of orthodontic treatment, if medically warranted, but cosmetic orthodontics is not typically covered.


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Offline yoghurt

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Re: press reports
« Reply #33 on: 20. May 2009, 09:42:57 AM »
Toledo News, 13ABC.COM, 19 may 2009

Troubleshooter: Braces flap

HOPE MILLS -- Sara Oswald was stuck with thousands of dollars in dental bills for something she never expected or requested.

It involves braces on her 14-year-old son that she didn't even know about until after they were in his mouth. This happened while her son was in a behavioral treatment center, Old Vineyard Behavioral Health Services, in Winston Salem.

Sara tells Troubleshooter Diane Wilson, "He called me one day and said mom I have braces and I'm like what when did this happen? I expected him to get treatment for mind and behavior. It caught me off guard why would he have braces on him; he's there to do something else."

But the facility, admits taking her 14-year-old son to an orthodontist who put braces on his teeth and then to a dentist who pulled two of his teeth. All without her permission, even though she's the legal guardian. Sara adds, "They can't give him any meds without my permission they can't change meds without permission and through this whole procedure they've always called me with that."

The NC Department of Health and Human Services investigated and cited Old Vineyard Behavioral Health Services for not getting Sara's consent.

But she's got more questions like why did Old Vineyard take her son to an orthodontist in the first place? Why would he need a cosmetic procedure, when he's ordered by the state to be in a behavioral facility? She adds, "He's in a locked facility, doesn't know how long he's going to be there and he has braces on that aren't worth anything."

Sara says she later took her son to her own orthodontist who told her that just to continue and finish the orthodontic and dental treatment it would cost her more than $13,000. Sara says, "I don't have the money to pay for it. So I'm stuck with him having braces on." Braces she never agreed to.

Another question, since her son is a Medicaid recipient, why did Medicaid approve and pay for braces on a teen getting treated in a psychiatric facility? She says, "It's an elective procedure. It's cosmetic; it's not something they need."

Sara says she complained loud and long, and in a letter, and Old Vineyard finally agreed to pay for half the future costs --meaning half of the $13,180. They asked the orthodontist to pay the rest but he refused. Fed up after months of fighting over this, Sara e-mailed Troubleshooter Diane Wilson. Sara says, "I just want my son's mouth fixed, because I don't have the money to pay for it."

After Troubleshooter Diane Wilson got in touch with the corporate office of Old Vineyard Behavioral Health Services, they called Sara. She says they offered to pay her all the $13,180 which is what it will costs to complete her son's orthodontic treatments. While she's relieved, she wants to make sure this doesn't happen to any other families. She adds, "A dentist is fine, but why would they ever send him to an orthodontist? I think tax payers would be very interested to know that braces are going on these kids that have no business having them."

It's important to note that Sara's son could have his continued dental and orthodontic treatment paid by tax payers as Medicaid would have paid for everything if she'd stay with a Medicaid excepting dentist/orthodontist. But she says she's not comfortable having taxpayers pay for something she says he doesn't need at this time and she didn't okay. As for Old Vineyard Behavioral Health Services, they released this statement.

"Due to confidentiality and privacy requirements, we are prohibited from discussing certain specifics of this particular situation. Old Vineyard takes the safety and well being of our patients seriously and ensures that all patients receive necessary and appropriate medical and dental care while in our care and custody. Old Vineyard receives no financial benefit from the services performed by any outside physicians, dentists or orthodontists. This was an isolated incident which has never occurred in the past. Old Vineyard has resolved the situation to the satisfaction of all parties."

As for Medicaid, if you're wondering if they pay for procedures like braces for people in a behavioral facility? A Medicaid representative told Troubleshooter Diane Wilson they do pay for dental care and braces when there's a demonstrated dental need. But the orthodontist must get prior approval.

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Offline yoghurt

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Re: press reports
« Reply #34 on: 08. June 2009, 14:09:40 PM »
Daily Mail, 8 June 2009, by Jill Foster

BRACE YOURSELF!

It's painful and pricey, so why are so many women opting for 'train track' braces?

The idea of volunteering for a fixed brace probably horrifies those of us who wore them in our teens and can recall the 'Metal Mickey' jibes - not to mention the delightful amount of food which used to collect between the 'spokes' every day.

But surprising as it might sound, a growing number of British adults are choosing to have metal 'train tracks' fitted to their teeth in a bid to close any gaps and straighten out any kinks.

In spite of the pain - and the not insubstantial cost - it appears that we, like the Americans, have become neurotic in our quest for the perfect smile.

According to the British Orthodontic Society, adults make up half of the patients in some orthodontist practices in the UK - and many are choosing to have fixed braces.

This means there are hundreds of sane women happy to spend up to two years looking like Ugly Betty's mother in the hope they can smile without scaring their children. Are they mad?

'It doesn't bother me,' shrugs hairdresser Nicola Wilson, 39, who had metal braces fixed to her top teeth six months ago. 'My 14-year-old daughter was more horrified than I was. I think she's embarrassed.

'But I've hated my front teeth for so long and I don't care what people think. It's only for a year.'

Harley Street orthodontist Les Joffe says around 15per cent of his clients are adults and around 10 to 12 per cent of those choose fixed braces to straighten their teeth.

'Of course, some patients practically run out of the room when you mention that they need braces. But in America, it's perfectly acceptable to see an adult wearing a fixed brace and it's becoming more so in the UK. It's much cheaper than other orthodontic treatments - which may also explain its popularity.'

Unlike 'retainers' which are wires fixed onto a mouth plate and can be removed for special occasions, fixed braces are small brackets which are glued to the teeth and then held together with wire. Small elastic hoops are then used to keep the wires in place. These exert gentle pressure on the teeth to move them into a new position.

As someone who wore a 'train track' for ten months when I was 14, I can tell you that it feels as if you've been punched in the mouth every time you have the wires tightened.

After a few days, the pressure exerted by the wires on the teeth eases off and the discomfort abates, but continually to move the teeth, wires need to be tightened regularly - around once every five weeks.

The length of time braces take to work varies from a few months to two years. The traditional stainless steel system is also available in white ceramic or gold. Even the hoops can come in bright colours - if you feel that a jaw full of metal is not drawing enough attention to your mouth.

Costs for orthodontic treatment vary and it is rarely available on the NHS for adults. But private treatment with a metal brace starts at around £1,000.

If the thought of having a mouthful of metal mid-life horrifies you, there is a less invasive solution. Aligners - sometimes known by the brand name.

Invisalign - are a popular method, using a series of clear plastic removable splints to move teeth into the desired position in as little as 12 weeks. These cost around £2,000.

'Aligners can be very effective if all that is required is to align mildly irregular teeth,' says a spokesperson for the British Orthodontic Society.

'However, there are several drawbacks. In the more severe cases, notably those where extractions are required, aligners lack the necessary control of the teeth to give consistently good results and often lead to disappointment. They are not well suited to correcting problems such as prominent upper incisor teeth.'

Another alternative - the Lingual Appliance, whose main brand is the Inman Aligner - is a removable mouth plate consisting of two springs which run along the front and back of the teeth that need to be adjusted and 'squeeze' the teeth into place. Prices start at around £1,500 to £2,000.

'The main disadvantages are that it can cause soreness of the tongue and affect speech,' says the BOS spokesperson. 'Plus, treatment with lingual braces is always more expensive than with conventional braces because of the high laboratory cost in manufacture and the extra time and expertise needed for their successful management.'

Costly, uncomfortable, unattractive, but as long as stars such as Angelina Jolie and Tom Cruise keep flashing their mega-watt smiles, Britain will be bracing itself for some painful stretches at the dentist's.

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Offline yoghurt

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Re: press reports
« Reply #35 on: 02. July 2009, 16:34:35 PM »
Student Life - The independent newspaper of Washington university in St. Louis

be Greg Allen
Published: Friday, October 6, 2006
Updated: Tuesday, July 1, 2008

By the time you read this, I've already swallowed my retainer

No, that's not a misprint. I swallowed my retainer, the stupid little wire they attach to the back of your bottom teeth after you're done with braces. It's supposed to last forever. Mine lasted six months. Personally, I blame the orthodontist. How great could he be if a granola bar was enough to nix his glue job? My grandmother's dentures go through granola like a wood chipper; apparently my mouth isn't as resilient as hers.

Anyway, the story goes like this. 9:40 a.m., Greg gets out of shower excited about starting his day smart, with a SmartStart brand cereal bar. 9:41 a.m., Greg eagerly devours his first bite of bar and then notices the back of his teeth feel rough. 9:42 a.m., Greg wonders why he can feel the back of his teeth. 9:43 a.m., Greg freaks out.

I charge to the bathroom and shove my fist down my throat. Discovering I am one of the 3 percent of people who don't have a gag reflex, I wig out even more. I rush to the health center only to find that Student Health Services have decided it's prudent to open late… ONLY ON WEDNSDAYS. Since on this particular Wednesday I have a psychology test in less than 20 minutes, this is less than convenient. I call EST. Apparently, their training really only covers CPR and alcohol poisoning - not so helpful. I get my blood pressure taken for about the first of 20 times and am advised to find somebody who can give me advice. By 10:40 a.m., I'm in line at the emergency room. The guy behind me quite obviously has the bubonic plague. I'm thinking: why is there a line at the emergency room? Isn't everyone here in need of urgent care? Isn't that why the first part of the name is "emergency?" I count the plague guy's coughs to pass time.

11:30 a.m., and I still haven't been seen by a doctor. At least five different nurses have taken my blood pressure. I debate strangling myself with the mercury tubing in order to get attention.

Noon and a doctor finally shows up. He recommends an X-ray. What a concept.

At 12:45 p.m. I'm looking at my X-rays with a nurse at what is quite obviously my retainer. She sends it to a radiologist for analysis. I offer my analysis, pointing at the small bent wire inside my stomach. She's less than impressed.

It's 3 p.m. and I'm finally in the gastrointestinal section of the hospital. I'm a bit confused why I wasn't sent here four hours ago, but hey, I'm the guy who doesn't even understand how blood pressure measurements cure just about everything. They've decided they're going to operate to pull the retainer out, since the radiology guy has determined it's still in my stomach. He's a smart one. I wonder if he eats SmartStart.

Here's the gist of the operation. They take a camcorder with a condom over it and jam it down your throat. If you've ever seen The Matrix when Neo first wakes up with all the tubes in him, you know what I mean. Multiply that by 10. Normally, this procedure elicits dangerous convulsions and gags so patients are supposed to be knocked out. I have an econ test at 6 p.m. Knockout gas will adversely affect my performance on said test. I decide to be Billy Badass and do the procedure without sedation. In the future I will refer to this as the worst decision of my life.

There's a nurse behind me reminding me to breathe, and two men in front of me telling me to swallow their camcorder-hose-condom contraption. I do. It feels an awful lot like death. Once it's in there it gets worse. They continuously pump my stomach full of air to get a better look. I'm forced to breath my own acidic burps or suffocate. It's… unpleasant.

They've been poking around for five minutes now and still can't find the retainer.

Finally they give up. Apparently, in the two hours between the procedure and the X-ray, the retainer passed into the small intestine. Go figure.

So here I sit, with a small chunk of sharp metal floating downstream in my insides. The doctor euphemistically talks about me "passing" the retainer by which he means I have to crap it out. I again debate strangling myself with the blood pressure cord.

I ask what I should eat to make "passing" easier.

His reply, "Oh anything high in fiber - wheat, oats… granola."

My blood pressure skyrockets.

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Offline yoghurt

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Re: press reports
« Reply #36 on: 07. July 2009, 10:36:26 AM »
Times Record News - sunday July 5, 2009 - by Ann Work

Brace pace

Dee King’s goal was to get her braces off before her birthday.

She turns 60 this month.

Right on schedule, the braces came off last week after one year of wires, rubber bands and food restrictions.

“It’s the greatest thing in the world,” she said. Already, friends in their 60s have been following her lead. “They come up to me and say, ‘I made my appointment.’”

King is typical of the 1 million adult Americans who take themselves to the orthodontist’s office and put themselves in braces.

She was a dutiful patient, saw good results, and was glad she made the effort.

Local orthodontist Dr. Devek Frech said a typical practice includes 25 percent to 30 percent adult patients. “Treatment can be a little trickier, but tooth movement can accomplish some of the same things as in kids.”

“I felt like I was 12 years old again,” said King of the experience.

She’d been through the tooth extractions and braces when she was a teen. But wisdom teeth issues and no follow-up protection for her earlier orthodontia, such as wearing a retainer, made her self-conscious of her increasingly crooked teeth as she grew older.

“It really bothered me. But I put it off,” she said. Then the grandchildren started flashing their wires.

She confided in grandson Richard, 13, that she would get braces, too. Together they braved a year of tooth pain, flossing, brushing and using so many rubber bands that she felt like a marionette.

Her initial expectation that she would “stay under the radar” while she wore the brackets and wires exploded into a year of more family reunions and celebrations then ever before. She speaks professionally and does commercials for Golden Chick — all of which she continued doing, braces et al.

“I found out there’s life after braces. I didn’t know I was so vain. It helped me get out of that,” King said.

Joey Greenwood, director of recreational programs at Midwestern State University, put himself in braces when he was 37. “Mine was a bite issue,” he said.

A new dentist said his chipped tooth needed a crown because one side of his mouth was doing most of the chewing work. An orthodontist explained the strategy: an even bite would save his teeth. He’s nine months into a two-year term and glad he did it.

But teenager or adult, some things about braces never change, Greenwood said. “They are prone to catching all sorts of foods. There’s that odd moment when you smile and you can tell by the look on the other person’s face that you have something stuck in your braces. You immediately stop smiling.”

Janus Buss, MSU director of public information, got braces in her 50s to straighten an overlapping front tooth. A comment from her 4-year-old grandchild — “Why does your tooth do that?”— prodded her to action.

Friends were supportive, but her son wondered why she would bother with braces now.

“I said, ‘I have a lot more smiling to do, and I want to do it with straight teeth!’”

The braces came off last month. Friends have already told her that she’s smiling more.

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Re: press reports
« Reply #37 on: 14. July 2009, 15:34:55 PM »
Telegraph.co.uk - 13 july 2009

Dentists attack Ugly Betty's braces

Dentists have described the makers of Ugly Betty, the Channel 4 show, as irresponsible because its lead character has worn braces on her teeth for too long.

Specialists at the British Orthodontic Society said the US comedy gave a "detrimental" portrayal of wire braces.

The series follows the exploits of Betty Suarez, as she battles to make a career in the beauty-obsessed fashion magazine industry.

Now in its third season on Channel 4, Betty - played by actress America Ferrera - is still wearing heavy "train track" braces.

But according to dentists train track braces are very seldom prescribed to adults and even then are not worn for more than two years.

British orthodontists said they were worried the programme could discourage young viewers from seeking corrective dental treatment.

Tracey Posner, of the British Orthodontic society, said: "It is irresponsible of the programme makers to portray Betty as 'ugly' because she wears prominent braces.

"Ugly Betty is in its third year on our TV screens and Betty remains in over-exaggerated, heavy 'train-track' braces.

"This is not a true reflection of orthodontic practice. It is highly unlikely an adult would wear braces beyond two years.

"Betty's braces are certainly intended to be seen by viewers as damaging to her appearance.

"People who wear braces are not ugly. People considering treatment should not be put off by such a stereotype.

"Many young people and adults see wearing braces as a right of passage, and enjoy the transformation."

Dr Colin Wallis, a specialist orthodontist, said: "Braces for adults and children are considerably more discreet than what is being depicted in Ugly Betty.

"There are many adults in the UK now wearing braces that are either completely clear, or are placed behind the teeth, so you may not even know that your best friend is wearing them.

"It is completely inappropriate to associate braces with being 'ugly', just as glasses have previously been an object of ridicule."

Tim Newton, professor of psychology at King's College London's Dental Institute, said: "A student of mine, Huw Jeremiah, has done some work looking at public perceptions of adults wearing orthodontic devices.

"Essentially he found that adults wearing stainless steel brackets were considered less intelligent than adults with no visible brace, so there are social impacts of wearing braces.

"There is a long body of psychological research that has found that we tend to think that 'beautiful is good' - that is that attractive people are more popular, socially skilled and intelligent than less attractive people."

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Re: press reports
« Reply #38 on: 28. July 2009, 13:33:29 PM »
Daily Mail - tuesday Jul 28, 2009 - by Roger Dobson

Brace yourself for the vibrating gumshield that straightens wonky teeth

A high-tech tooth 'tickler' could halve the time corrective braces need to be worn.
The vibrating device, which is slipped into the mouth for a few minutes each day works by speeding up bone growth around the base of the tooth.
This helps anchor the tooth in its new position.

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Around 8 per cent of 12-year-olds and 14 per cent of 15-year-olds wear braces to correct misaligned teeth or tooth overcrowding. An increasing number of adults wear braces, too.
The teeth are held in place in the jawbone by the periodontal ligament, a series of connective tissues around the root of each tooth.
Braces work by pushing and compressing this periodontal ligament - this loosens the teeth and, over time, stimulates new bone to grow, supporting the teeth in their new position.
Although braces are effective, this process can take a long time - on average around two years. Treatment costs can also run into thousands.
The new device, known as Celerect, dramatically speeds this all up by vibrating the teeth very gently. It is based on the principle that bone responds more quickly to a vibrating force than to a constant one.
This accelerates the natural absorption of old bone and the depositing of new bone cells (a process known as bone remodelling).

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Researchers at the University of Illinois found that mild vibration accelerates bone re-modelling, and similar vibrating technology is already being used to treat osteoporosis and heal some types of bone fracture.
The Celerect is a plastic device similar to a gumshield.
It is worn for up to 20 minutes a day clamped between the teeth - the device is attached to a small lightweight tube that hangs from the mouth and contains a battery and small motor that are used to create the vibrations.
The developers say the vibration is barely noticeable and not uncomfortable, although some users report it tickles.
Patients can carry out most routine daily tasks during the short treatment time.
Previous research suggests the overall treatment time required to realign teeth could be reduced by 40 to 60 per cent.
'Traditional orthodontic treatment requires an average of 24 months, so the possibility of shortening this will be welcomed by both patients and clinicians,' says Dr Jeryl English, who is involved in the trials at the University of Texas.
The device will be launched in the UK this September.
Professor Damien Walmsley, scientific adviser to the British Dental Association, says this is an interesting development: 'The BDA looks forward to seeing further research and the development of this technique.'

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Re: press reports
« Reply #39 on: 05. September 2009, 12:34:29 PM »
KENS 5 - Friday, September 4, 2009 - by Wendy Rigby

New device designed to put braces on the fast track

Vibrating plate stimulate bone remodeling

What if there were a way for braces to straighten teeth faster? That’s the idea behind a new product, a device to rev up orthodontic treatment.

14-year-old Alyssa Uecker of San Antonio is six months into her braces. She’s excited to be on her way to a better smile. “My teeth were overcrowded and I didn’t like my smile,” Uecker said. “I want them to be straight.”

As part of her treatment at the University of Texas Health Science Center Dental School, Alyssa is part of a study of a product called Acceledent, a handheld device she places in her mouth for a few minutes each night. It delivers a subtle, pulsing vibration. It’s a therapy first conceived to help orthopedic patients with osteoporosis.

“Bone becomes better if it is exposed, for a short period of time, maybe ten or 20 minutes per day, to vibration,” explained UTHSC orthodontist and device co-inventor Dr. Dubravko Pavlin.

The average time spent in braces is about two years (24-26 months). The inventors of Acceledent predict daily use of the vibrating plate may decrease treatment time by 30% to 50%. That would be a major saving in time, discomfort, and possible side effects like decay around the braces themselves.

Uecker says it’s easy to use and not uncomfortable. “It’s not like moving to the point where it’s annoying,” she explained, “or like it hurts. You can just tell it’s there.”

34 San Antonio patients are helping test the device, which may ultimately make the effects of orthodontic treatment more permanent, by stimulating bone remodeling.

“It would be a great thing,” said Pavlin. “Anything that can provide the same results, same quality of results, with the treatment in shorter time would always be welcomed, by the orthodontic community and by patients.”

The Acceledent device will be on the market in Europe this fall. It could be available here in the United States by the fall of 2010.

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Re: press reports
« Reply #40 on: 13. September 2009, 15:45:04 PM »
Seattle Pi - Friday Septemrer 11, 2009 - by Gretchen Voss

I want a confident smile

Dude, you need to fix your teeth." That's what Booth, one of my closest college friends — a no-nonsense fashion critic whose job it is to note the aesthetically nasty, whose nature it is to name it aloud — slurred at me late one night last year. Hideous, right?

Actually, I was thrilled. Seriously. (And not just because I was punch-drunk.) I was sick of dithering — worried that I was frivolously buying into some aging prom-queen vanity — over whether or not to get braces. This was objective confirmation, in all its gimlet-eyed harshness, that I was justified in plunking down more than two grand (insurance would cover the other $2000) on myself, when there was a voracious family in a starving economy to cater to.

Truth was, my smile had melted into the moue of a crazed jack-o'-lantern. Maybe it was all that smoking in my younger years; maybe it was all that breeding in my recent years; maybe it was simply crap genes. But in the year since I had last seen Booth, my teeth — the ramrod-straight soldiers that four years of adolescent orthodontia buys — had rebelled. The top row of chompers splayed mutinously, while the front two parted ways, leaving an empty chasm — more snaggletooth Shih Tzu than chic Lauren Hutton — in which my tongue once got stuck. Still, until that night, I mucked around in indecision. Was I being silly and superficial? This was new terrain: Beauty, for me, had never been some angsty, hard-won battle. I wore my looks easily, comfortably, mainly because I liked them. But suddenly I didn't feel pretty. I cringed at photos — then stopped taking them altogether. Silly or not, I was sick of rendering myself invisible.

Although the latest survey from the American Association of Orthodontists reports more than 1.1 million adults treated annually (a 33.5 percent increase from a decade ago), I was definitely the only latte drinker in the packed waiting room of the orthodontist my 13-year-old, neon-pink-rubber-banded babysitter recommended. Undeterred, I marched into his office and plunked down pre-splay photos: blissfully manic smiles at my wedding and openmouthed guffaws with my friends. The doc was incredulous. That was me just last year, I insisted. That is me.

The physical pain that April morning was nothing. (Then again, unlike most drama tweens, I had childbirth as a comparison.) After the good doc glued clear (though not invisible) ceramic brackets on my top teeth (old-school silver shiners covered the bottom), my husband grabbed me that night and playfully leered, "Wanna make out, braceface?" I mean, really, it was hilarious: 37 years old and slicing corn off the cob and avoiding egg salad and balling up bits of wax to cover the stabby intruders. Of course, it wasn't always funny. Take the day I played tennis with some fancy acquaintances at a local country club. One lame flub of the ball — which then careened into my face — and my whites bled red. Pride, shredded cheeks — it all hurt.

Six months in and with two months to go, I'm cool with it. Sure, I wear more eye makeup and less lipstick, and I absolutely miss red wine and curry and coffee-without-consequence (those clear rubber bands stain!). Flossing is a nightmare, as is hauling a toothbrush out and about (though not as bad as forgetting it, especially after a meal involving spinach).

Mostly, though, I just feel fortunate to be able to buy my way back to the pretty. As my orthodontist says, I have a big smile. I've missed it. You can't tell a proper dirty joke without one.

GRIN AND BARE IT: D.I.Y. DENTISTRY

"There's a backlash to that blinding Hollywood smile," says cosmetic dentist Dr. Marc Lowenberg. "People now want perfectly imperfect teeth: more translucent color, slight asymmetry, even a few minor chips." Here, the latest smile upgrades:

BRIGHTEN UP
PROBLEM: Stains and discoloration
FAST FIX: Pola+ (about $1200), an hour-long in-office treatment that doesn't require a light or laser (which can heighten sensitivity) to activate the peroxide in the gel.

STRAIGHT TALK
PROBLEM: Crooked teeth
FAST FIX: Veneers (about $1500 to $2200 a tooth) in custom-blended shades: "If your skin has cool undertones, it needs a cooler white shade; warm tones work best with warmer white," says NYC dentist Dr. Jennifer Jablow.

HIGH STREET
PROBLEM: Sagging cheeks
FAST FIX: Expanding the back segments of the upper teeth a few millimeters (with veneers or Invisalign tray braces) results in a mini face-lift, explains Jablow. "The wider bite creates a tighter scaffold for the lower third of the face, so skin drapes tighter."

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Re: press reports
« Reply #41 on: 18. September 2009, 19:51:49 PM »
The Nation - September 18, 2009 - by Duangkamon Sajirawattanakul

Ministry targets 'harmful' trendy coloured teeth braces

In a crackdown on illegal coloured teeth braces, the Public Health Ministry yesterday raided a shop providing the trendy but unauthorised orthodontic procedures in the J Venue Nawanakhon Shopping Mall in Pathum Thani.

At the same time it has asked Education Ministry teachers nationwide to check for schoolchildren wearing the braces to find out if they had been fitted illegally. If so, they should be removed within 30 days.

Deputy Public Health Minister Manit Nopamornbodee yesterday led police and officials  to the Oi Fashion Orthodonic shop to seize 10 orthodontic items and arrest unauthorised practitioner Weerasak Thiengtae, 24, and shop cashier Namoi Thongpron, 34.

Manit said providing unauthorised orthodontic procedures like the trendy braces violated acts that prohibit - giving treatment  without a proper degree, which can carry a threeyear jail term or Bt30,000 fine; opening unauthorised medical facilities, a threeyear jail term or Bt60,000 fine; and the unauthorised sale of dental braces, a possible sixmonth jail term and/or Bt50,000 fine.

Weerasak said he had not opened the shop after news broke of the crackdown on trendy orthodontic procedures until yesterday, when a customer made an appointment to have the braces removed. He said he had prepared to pack up and change the premises into a flower shop. He said that he bought the dental supplies from a shop in the Yaowarat area.

Manit said the trend for coloured braces, popular among teenagers due to their cheap price and easy access to unauthorised shops, was useless and harmful to health.

He said he would ask the Education Ministry to notify teachers nationwide to check on students. If found wearing coloured braces, they must provide a certificate issued by their orthodontists, he said.

Manit said he would also ask the Dental Council to have dentists issue certificates to student patients. If students wearing braces could not provide a certificate, parents would be asked to have the braces removed within 30 days for the students' safety.

Provincial public health offices were instructed to check for practitioners providing unauthorised trendy orthodontic procedures in their jurisdiction and file charges against the shops and their suppliers - if they also operated illegally, Manit said.

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Re: press reports
« Reply #42 on: 21. October 2009, 11:54:36 AM »
Oregon Live - October 19, 2009 - by AP

Getting braces young is good for some kids, but not all

Nadia Czekajewski got braces on her teeth when she was 8. Now she’s in third grade, turning 9, and “she’ll be done before she begins fourth grade,” said her father, Tomasz Czekajewski.
   
“It was a wise decision to start young,” said Czekajewski, whose family lives in Chicago. “Kids are not as self-conscious at this age.”
   
Braces used to be another miserable part of being a teenager, but now some kids, like Nadia, start and finish orthodontic treatment long before adolescence.
   
But despite the allure of getting it over with young, starting early is not right for every child. Experts say it strongly depends on the treatment required.
   
Some children who start early end up in a second phase of treatment, with braces into the early teenage years despite having started young, according to Dr. Flavio Uribe from the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine in Farmington, Conn.
   
“That’s one of the criticisms of early treatment: Kids in braces for a long time,” Uribe said. “It’s controversial.”
   
For children with Class II malocclusion, commonly referred to as an overbite or buck teeth, “there is no advantage to starting early,” according to Dr. William Proffit, a professor at the University of North Carolina’s School of Dentistry in Chapel Hill.
   
Proffit said that was the conclusion of “three major, randomized clinical trials comparing the outcomes of treatment” for younger versus older children.
   
“Early treatment is more costly both in terms of the amount of money you have to pay and the number of visits you make, and there is a greater burden of treatment with no benefit for most children,” he said.
   
Proffit was the author of one of the three studies that looked at early treatment for Class II malocclusion, with the other two done by researchers at the University of Florida and in the United Kingdom.
   
But Proffit emphasized that early treatment is beneficial for other conditions, such as a Class III malocclusion, commonly referred to as an underbite, where the lower jaw is too big or the upper jaw is too small. “You’re trying to change growth and your window of opportunity has run out by age 10. The ideal time to start would be as early as age 7,” Proffit said.
   
The largest group of children getting orthodontic treatment in the U.S. are those with Class I malocclusion, with crowded teeth that are either crooked or protrude. For this group, Proffit said, “early treatment works, but you have to do two phases of treatment. So they’re going to be in treatment for four years — a first phase, then a vacation, and a second phase.”
   
Proffit said there is one overarching reason to start early no matter what type of treatment the child will need, and that’s when teeth are so crooked or unattractive that “the child is really being teased and harassed and has psychosocial problems,” he said. “Most preadolescent kids shrug it off, but some kids are really bothered by it.”
   
The American Association of Orthodontists says most treatment begins between ages 9 and 14, but there are no detailed statistics on preadolescents versus teenagers. The association also said most orthodontic treatment lasts from one to three years, with two years being the average, but it had no statistics correlating length of treatment with age at which treatment began.
   
Some family dentists offer orthodontic treatment. But parents should be aware that “an orthodontist has an additional two to three years training after dental school, just to learn how to move teeth properly,” said Dr. Robert Bray, president of the American Association of Orthodontists, and an orthodontist in private practice in Atlantic City, N.J.
   
The AAO recommends having children screened no later than age 7 to assess what the best age for treatment is. Bray said prices for treatment in his practice range between $4,000 and $7,000, but many orthodontists will do an initial screening for free. Often the price quoted for treatment will not change regardless of how long the child’s treatment takes.
   
Meanwhile, Nadia, who had top and bottom expanders in her jaws to make room for her permanent teeth to grow in straight, is looking forward to a perfect smile before she even hits middle school.
   
“Sometimes I even forget that I have braces,” she said. “And I’m almost done. I’m really happy that they’re going to be taking them off.”

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Re: press reports
« Reply #43 on: 25. November 2009, 13:19:58 PM »
The Advocate, 20 november 2009, by Jerry Zezima

This old mouth undergoes major reconstruction

When I think of history's classic constructions -- the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Green Monster at Fenway Park -- I naturally think of the Seven Wonders of the World. But there is another one that is so impressive, so outstanding, so absolutely fantastic that it should be added to the list.

I refer to the braces on my teeth, which ought to be called the Great Project of Geezer.

This architectural marvel has been engineered and constructed by Dr. Ben Murray, an orthodontic resident at the Stony Brook University Dental Care Center on Long Island, N.Y.

I have braces because a couple of my teeth have shifted, which is pretty remarkable considering I can't shift for myself. According to Murray, this isn't uncommon among baby boomers, especially those who, like me, didn't have braces as a kid.

I got mine about a year ago in the right upper side of my mouth. Every month since then, Murray has worked on this construction project. He hasn't worn a hard hat or used a jackhammer. And he hasn't, thank God, needed dynamite. But he has employed tools such as a screwdriver and, during one memorable appointment, a blowtorch, which fortunately wasn't applied directly to my mouth. None of it has hurt a bit.

In a recent office visit, Murray drew up a blueprint of his work and explained it in layman's terms so even I could understand it.

"We're working on the right buccal segment of the maxillary arch to distalize that area and correct the Class 2 malocclusion," he said.

"Ong, ong, ong," I replied, because Murray was still working on my teeth. When he was done, he explained further.

"The lateral incisor is severely rotated," he said. It sounded like one of the tires on my car. At least he didn't call it a snaggletooth. Then I would have been like Snaggletooth, also known as Snagglepuss, the cartoon mountain lion ("Heavens to Murgatroyd!") on the old Yogi Bear TV show.

"The whole right side has moved forward," Murray continued. "This mesial shift is common in adults." To straighten out this mess, Murray has embarked on an engineering job involving screws, springs, wires, brackets and anchor pins. It's like a suspension bridge. The only thing missing is an E-ZPass lane.

When Murray showed me his drawing, which resembled either a football play or plans for a housing development, he said, "I have put braces on the upper right teeth from the second molar to the canine. Then I put a TAD, also called a temporary anchorage device, between the premolars and I distalized the second molar. The pin stabilizes the second molar and the first premolar. I retracted the first molar off the second molar and pushed the second molar back off the first premolar." It all made perfect sense. The only glitch came when the pin, which was inserted in the outside of my gums, loosened due to hard brushing and wasn't strong enough to anchor the wire pulling my teeth backward. So Murray ingeniously put another TAD in my palatal mucosa on the inside. It has worked like a charm.

Even though they are mostly hidden by my cheek, these aren't your ordinary braces. Murray must keep adjusting them to move my teeth backward so there will be room to rotate the incisor to its original position. This should take a few more months, at which point I will be fitted with "invisible braces," which will cover all my teeth and straighten not only the incisor but the other crooked tooth, which is on the bottom in front. Or Row A, Seat 2 in your theater program.

In the meantime, I am going to start a campaign to nominate Murray for an International Architecture Award. The best way, of course, is by word of mouth.

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Re: press reports
« Reply #44 on: 11. May 2010, 22:38:10 PM »
AsiaOne - May 10, 2010 - by Sumiko Tan

In dental prison

Barely 10 hours after I had them fitted, I wanted to rip them out of my mouth and throw them away.

The inside of my cheek was sore. The tip of my tongue was scratched, and my mouth felt dry, heavy and tired, as if I had spent the whole afternoon talking and talking, which I hadn't.

Oh, vanity, thy name is discomfort.

Last Wednesday, I had dental braces fitted for the first time in my life. I don't even really know why I did it.

I woke up one morning in March, looked at myself in the mirror and concluded that I didn't like what I saw. My lower two front teeth have always been crooked, but the misalignment has become more obvious over the years.

My upper teeth used to be nice and straight, but I have recently noticed that some teeth on the right side were starting to jut out a bit.

I made up my mind there and then that I had to correct the flaws ? a decision I now regret. My teeth are certainly imperfect but I don't think anyone would notice it unless they look at me really closely.

But who does that anyway? And in any case, why do I care what others think of me or my teeth, especially at my age?

I brush and floss diligently, which means my teeth, while crooked, are clean and healthy, so why am I creating a situation where I'll be spending so much time - and money - in the dentist's chair?

My smile would, of course, look better if my teeth were picket-fence straight but it's not like I'm a TV host who depends on my smile for a living.

Besides, physical defects can make a person more "real", don't you think? Even endearing?

But for goodness knows what reason (okay, it was vanity), I was convinced that I had to get my teeth cosmetically corrected.

I read up about dental braces on the Internet and decided to try Invisalign, which are plastic retainer-like mouthpieces that give similar results to traditional wire braces but are "invisible".

I made an appointment with my dentist, who referred me to an orthodontist who specialises in braces.

He did several tests and found that the misalignment on my upper teeth was minor and could be corrected by Invisalign. Treatment would take eight months.

But the overcrowding in my lower teeth was too complex for Invisalign, he said. Traditional wire braces would do a better job. I would need to wear these for 18 months.

Okay, I said, go ahead. He had moulds taken of my teeth and I had to pay for the Invisalign upfront. It is not cheap.

It takes about six weeks for the aligners to be manufactured and sent to you. Meanwhile, I went to Britain for a holiday. I had a great time and came home rested and happy - only to remember that the braces were waiting for me.

There was no turning back. I had already paid for them. Dental prison loomed.

I decided to proceed with the Invisalign for my upper teeth but to postpone the traditional braces for my bottom.
Last Wednesday, I set off for the dentist with a heavy heart.

The Invisalign system comprises sets of clear aligners which are snapped on very tightly over your teeth. They are like a plastic coating for your teeth.

The number of sets depends on how severe your problem is. You wear a set for two weeks before changing to the next. I was prescribed 16 sets, which means 32 weeks or eight months.

The aligners are custom-made for each patient by the company in the United States. They work by applying force and moving your teeth into correct positions.

Tiny, clear "buttons" are sometimes glued onto certain teeth so that the aligners will be better able to rotate the teeth. Thankfully, I required only one button, on my upper right canine.

The best thing about Invisalign is that you can barely see it. Family and friends whom I bared my teeth to could not detect anything. In fact, the plastic material gives my teeth a nice, white gleam.

The aligners can be taken out for two to four hours a day. Or, to look at this in a negative light, you must wear them for 20 to 22 hours every day.

You can drink only plain water while wearing them (not even coffee or tea, which would discolour them, and certainly not sugary drinks unless you want your teeth to decay quickly), the water can't be hot (you don't want the aligners to warp), and you definitely can't eat with them.

This means you've got to ensure that the amount of time you take to eat in a day does not exceed the maximum four hours you are allowed to take the aligners out.

It also means that every time you need to eat, you have to go to the bathroom, prise the aligners off - it isn't easy given they are a tight fit - and store them.

Once you finish eating, you have to brush and floss before snapping them back on - and, again, this takes practice.
It is especially inconvenient for someone like me who needs to snack throughout the day in addition to my three meals.

Some people have lost weight while on Invisalign because they have had to cut down on snacking, but I think it'll be the opposite for me.

Because I don't want to be caught hungry and go through the hassle of changing in and out of my aligners, I've been eating a lot more than usual at mealtimes, just to store up.

Putting and taking off the aligners has not been as difficult as I'd feared, although I sometimes feel that I am pulling out all my teeth along with them.

What I didn't expect was how the edges would be so sharp. The first day I wore the aligners, the plastic near my upper right canine kept biting into my cheek, causing a small blister to form.

My tongue kept playing with the back of the aligners till they were scratched and sore. Worse, the aligners made me very thirsty.

At the end of the day, my jaw was aching and my head throbbing. The feeling of something heavy clasping your teeth is not pleasant.

I'd read on the Internet that you can use a nail file to smoothen the rough edges. I did that and the relief was instant. The sharp edges no longer poked my cheek.

It's been three days and while it's not been unbearable, I'm not sure I can stay the course for eight months.

It is, of course, unreasonable to expect to have better-looking teeth without suffering a bit. No pain, no gain.

Friends who have had traditional braces tell me that they are worse than Invisalign. The pain every time your braces are tightened is awful. Plaque forms easily around the brackets. Bits of food get stuck. You can get mouth sores from the metal. Teeth can even be loose for a prolonged period of time.

Which is scant consolation to me given that I am scheduled to get traditional braces for my lower teeth.

And even when your teeth are straightened, either by Invisalign or the old method, you are supposed to wear retainers forever to keep them from moving.

Maybe I'll stop at my front teeth and just learn to love my lower crooked ones. There's only so much I will do in the name of vanity.

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