At Caudill Orthodontics in Merritt Island and Melbourne, Florida, we pride ourselves as being the new-school orthodontics provider, by bringing our patients a blend of the absolute latest and most efficient orthodontic technology with the highest level of personalized service. In today’s blog, Dr. Ryan Caudill and Dr. Angela McNeight share some of their favorite orthodontic technology with you and illustrate how much the field has improved.
Invisalign
In the big scheme of things, Invisalign invisible braces are a relative newcomer to orthodontics. Braces have some documented history going back to ancient Egypt. For more perspective on our timeline, Pierre Fauchard, born in 1728, invented an early form of metal braces called the bandeau. Invisalign was first made available to the public in May of 2000…272 years later! Since then, technological advances to the Invisalign product itself, including the addition of Invisalign Teen, have made it an even more popular choice for esthetic treatment. The Invisalign system is now offered in more than 90 countries worldwide by Invisalign-trained doctors to their adult, teenage, and child patients.
Invisalign® straightens your teeth without wires and brackets, using a series of clear, customized, removable appliances called aligners. It’s virtually undetectable, which means hardly anyone will know that you’re straightening your teeth. These aligners are made with exact calculations to shift your teeth into their ideal position, giving you a straighter, more beautiful smile.
Braces
Given this fancy list of high-tech devices, you probably were not expecting to see braces in the mix, but modern braces are more advanced than ever before. Traditional metal braces are slimmer, more comfortable, and more efficient than they have ever been. An advancement in technology called self-ligating braces allows you to straighten your teeth without the inconvenience of elastics. There are also more efficient, aesthetically pleasing options than ever before. Clear ceramic braces allow you to get the smile you’ve always wanted, without a mouth full of metal. There is also a version of braces called Incognito or lingual braces that are placed on the back of your teeth and cannot be seen.
Other Technological Advancements
iTero Digital Impressions
Traditional impressions can be messy and uncomfortable. That’s why we are proud to offer goop-free, full digital impressions with the iTero® Element™ Scanner. Not only are digital impressions more comfortable, but they are also much more accurate. Once the 5-minute scan is complete, your orthodontist has a 3D model of your mouth that can be used for Invisalign® services, retainers, or appliances like expanders. We are proud to have the most up-to-date iTero Element Scanners in each office!
AcceleDent® Aura
The AcceleDent Aura device is worn by patients for twenty minutes a day during their traditional braces or Invisalign, and is designed to help teeth straighten faster and help you achieve your perfect smile in less than regular treatment time. AcceleDent® is non-invasive and gently vibrates teeth into alignment over time. The subtle micro-pulsations stimulate blood flow to the gums and speeds up the bone remodeling process. Many of our patients also report less discomfort with treatment with the use of AcceleDent.
Propel®
Similar to AcceleDent, Propel® uses micro-osteoperforations to stimulate the bone to remodel faster and therefore accelerate tooth movement. It can be used with braces or Invisalign® and is performed at a regular orthodontic office visit. Propel® does not require any recovery time and is clinically proven to be safe and effective. Ask about Propel® at your next visit!
Caudill Orthodontics is Brevard County’s ONLY Invisalign and Invisalign Teen Top 1% provider. That means our doctors have the highest level of Invisalign treatment experience in the county. It is a fantastic time to get your free orthodontic evaluation and correct your smile and bite!