 1. What is Minor Tooth Movement? 2. What is the Difference Between Minor Tooth Movement and Orthodonitcs? 3. Why is Minor Tooth Movement done Predominantly in Adult Mouths? 4. What are INVISIBLE BRACES and how do they straighten teeth? 5. When are clear aligners worn? 6. What precautions should be taken? 7. What does the treatment cost? 8. What are the payment options? 9. Are there risks? 10. How often must aligners be adjusted in the dental office? 11. When are clear retainers necessary? 12. Does Minor Movement have a purpose other than achieving a beautiful smile? 13. What is the difference between "Cosmetic Tooth Movement" and Cosmetic Restorative Dentistry?" 1. What is Minor Tooth Movement? Minor Tooth Movement is simply the straightening of teeth to achieve a beautiful smile. It is usually done in adult mouths, and usually involves only the anterior (front) teeth. By contrast, Major Tooth Movement is complex orthodontics and is most often done in the mouths of children. Back to Top 2. What is the Difference Between Minor Tooth Movement and Orthodontics? In Minor Tooth Movement we straighten teeth by "uprighting" them. Sometimes we rotate them slightly. In Orthodontics the tooth is moved bodily through the bone. As an analogy, imagine a post leaning at an angle in soft ground. You can upright the post by pushing it sideways. This is exactly the principle of Minor Tooth Movement. Now imagine yourself gripping the post firmly and pushing it horizontally (bodily) through the ground. This kind of movement, accomplished gradually, is the basis of orthodontics. It is called "translation". Back to Top 3. Why is Minor Tooth Movement Done Predominantly in Adult Mouths? The bone in a child's jaw is soft and pliable during the growing years. Teeth can be moved relatively freely and over greater distances through the bone. In adult jaws, the bone is dense and teeth are firmly "planted" in their  supporting structures. Minor Tooth Movement or "uprighting" causes little change in the supporting bone and is well tolerated. However, translation or bodily movement can be harmful to the supporting structures of adult teeth.
Back to Top 4. What are INVISIBLE BRACES and how do they straighten teeth? A clear plastic removable "aligner" is formed over a cast of the teeth. "Divots" in the clear plastic cause desired teeth to tip or rotate until the anterior teeth are straightened. AN ADDED BONUS: Your invisible appliance can be used for bleaching. You can straighten and whiten teeth simultaneously. "Invisible braces play an important role in self-esteem," says Barbara Lane, PhD. and President, Total Image and Makeup Academy of Beverly Hills, California. "Invisible aligners provide many advantages - a person with an attractive smile is usually friendly, open for conversation, and confident." Back to Top 5. When are clear aligners worn? For optimum results, appliances should be worn constantly, except when eating. After meals or snacks, teeth and appliances are brushed and aligners re-inserted. Obviously, this is controlled by the patient, and the appliance can be removed at any time. Back to Top 6. What precautions should be taken? Slight tenderness of tooth roots is normal. This is detected when chewing or when tapping on the tooth with your finger. If teeth ache constantly, throb or have constant pain, this indicates that teeth are moving too rapidly. This rarely happens with the new clear appliances, but if this does occur the  aligner should be removed and returned to the office for adjustment.
Back to Top 7. What does the treatment cost? Only a fraction of the cost of full-mouth treatment. Almost all cases fall below $2,000. There is a charge for the initial appliance, a small charge whenever it has to be remade (maybe 2 or 3 times) and a charge for each adjustment. A retainer must be prepared when treatment is completed. The retainer is worn during sleep. Complex cases require more time and more adjustments, therefore they are higher in cost than are more simple cases. Back to Top 8. What are the payment options? Treatment is usually completed over several months - usually from three to eight months, depending on complexity of the case and cooperation of the patient in wearing the appliance. The business assistant in our office will arrange a plan for payment over the period of treatment. Back to Top 9. Are there risks? Patients are instructed to remove aligners if they experience constant pain, throbbing, or aching of the roots of the teeth. All methods of moving teeth apply pressure and cause a small amount of tenderness in the roots. Clear appliances, however, can be removed, and the patient maintains complete control. If teeth are moved too far, too fast, with excessive pressure, they can be damaged. This is true of all methods of tooth movement, including orthodontics. Back to Top 10. How often must aligners be adjusted in the dental office? The patient usually returns every two or three weeks for adjustment. Adjustments require from five to fifteen minutes on average. Back to Top 11. When are clear retainers necessary? The retainer is worn during sleep until the tooth becomes firm in its new position. The retainer fits snugly around the anterior (front) teeth and can be used as a "check" to determine if the teeth are in their correct position. The individual patient determines when to discontinue the retainer by leaving it out for longer and longer periods. Back to Top 12. Does Minor Tooth Movement have a purpose other than achieving a beautiful smile? Yes. Correct alignment of the front teeth prevents these teeth from overlapping further and insures against future drifting that could cause all the teeth to shift. Back to Top 13. What is the difference between "Cosmetic Tooth Movement" and "Cosmetic Restorative Dentistry?" If teeth have a nice appearance but are crowded and misaligned, tooth movement alone will achieve a good cosmetic result. If teeth are "loaded" with old fillings, are chipped or broken by accidents or through wear, or have large spaces between them, restorative dentistry will be the route to good appearance. Restorations (crowns, bridges, etc.) will restore the dental structures. With restorative dentistry we can change the color, contour, length, protrusion, and general function of the teeth. Back to Top Cosmetic Tooth Movement | Contact Us |
