Toronto Invisalign Advice- What can I eat with Invisalign? Only water?

At MCO Orthodontics, over 100 happy Invisalign patients complete treatment with us every year.  Their satisfaction with treatment comes from being well-prepared for what to expect with treatment, as well as their amazing results.  Much of this information can be found at our website about Invisalign in Toronto, Ontario.

One of the common questions with Invisalign is about changes in lifestyle.  Many patients are looking to this clear braces technique in order to have minimal disruption to their social and professional lives.  However, it is important to know that there are changes that must be made to ensure proper and healthy treatment.

Aligners should be worn for 22 hours per day and they should only be removed for eating and brushing.  Water is the only thing that should be consumed with the aligners in.  Otherwise, sugars and acids from food will be trapped in the aligners against your teeth.  This is a quick way to cavities.  Stains will also accumulate more quickly, but these can be removed with regular dental cleanings.

Some orthodontists ask their patients to eat with aligners in as an exercise to stimulate blood flow and encourage seating of aligners.  However, the patients must clean the aligners and their teeth immediately after eating.  The aligners become more difficult to clean, and it basically nullifies any convenience of eating with them in.  We have our patients use aligner chewies  instead.

The Invisalign website is somewhat contradictory since in one section, it says “you’re required to remove your aligners to eat and drink.”  With regards to alcohol, they say “a moderate amount would be fine to consume, as long as care is taken to clean the teeth and the aligners soon after so as not to trap sugar between them.”  The issue is that “soon after” is not quantifiable.

Having worn Invisalign, we understand the social implications of wearing the aligners.  Our preference for as orthodontic professionals, as well as for our patients is to remove aligners just before having a drink, and then to make up any lost time if required.  Needing to wear aligners for a longer period of time is the lesser of two evils when compared to the potential for cavity formation.

While there are accounts of people online who have not had problems while "cheating" their oral hygiene with their aligners, there are also many people who have developed problems.  Some of these problems may also not surface immediately and may be issues that come later down the road.  If you do decide to "cheat", then understand that you are running the risk of permanent damage to your teeth.

Overall, it is important to make sure you understand all aspects of your care before you begin your treatment.  You should not be surprised by Invisalign attachments, IPR, extractions, or lifestyle changes as it starts treatment in a bad spot.  Remember that Invisalign treatment does require a commitment to wearing aligners and oral hygiene, and that ultimately the experience of your doctor is what will determine the outcome of your orthodontic care!

Dr. Tam Gives Back to his High School, University of Toronto Schools (UTS)

MCO Orthodontics has provided TeamMCO with a fantastic place to work with our amazing patients.  Dr. Tam attributes much of their success to the solid foundation he obtained while in high school at the University of Toronto Schools (UTS).

Located at the corner of Bloor and Spadina, this school has had the reputation as one of the top high schools in Canada since opening in 1910.  UTS is renowned for educating generations of outstanding graduates, including two Nobel Laureates, 20 Rhodes Scholars and numerous leaders in commerce, industry, academics, the arts, sports, government, and public service.  What makes UTS different is that it is a merit-based school.  Money cannot buy your way in.  As such, there are students spanning a large geographic area as well as a large socioeconomic spectrum.  Many of the students rely on alumni awards and bursaries to be to study at UTS.

In appreciation of what UTS has done for him, Dr. Tam began to look for a way to give back.  In conjunction with the 100 year celebration of UTS in 2010, Dr. Tam met with Alumni Directors to put together an award for students at the school.  The MCO Orthodontics UTS Community Builder Award was established, recognizing 4 students annually for excellence in a combination of academics, extra-curricular activities, and leadership within the community.  Dr. Tam was happy to present the recipients of the inaugural award last October.

Dr. Tam also got a chance to congratulate a former patient, Anoop M., who was recognized with the highest overall level of achievement in his grade.  This is a formidable achievement in a school with so many talented and gifted students.  Congratulations!

 
UTS has recently been given 10 years to move by the University of Toronto.  Read more here.  With the hard work of Alumni Directors, school administration, Alumni, and current students, there is hope that generations of students will continue to benefit from the excellent education unique to UTS.

Dr. Tam Visits Wisconsin to see the Green Bay Packers and Tour the American Orthodontics Factory

On December 11th, Dr. Tam was invited by American Orthodontics to attend the game at Lambeau Field to see the Green Bay Packers take on the visiting Oakland Raiders.  The weather was unseasonably warm at about zero degrees centigrade, the American Ortho box was full of great people enjoying the food and beverages, and the Packers kept their unbeaten streak alive with a 46-16 win.   What a fantastic way to experience a football game!

Just outside Lambeau Field at the legendary Krolls. 

Dr. Tam enjoying the pregame in the American Ortho Box. 

 Sold out as always.  Great fans with fantastic spirit!

The following morning, an hour south of Green Bay, Dr. Tam visited the manufacturing facility for American Orthodontics in Sheboygan.  Here are some interesting facts about the plant:

-There are about 425 employees in the factory

-None of the employees have a time clock nor are they paid by piece work.  They are all on the honour system.  They take time off when they need it and make up for it at their leisure.  Such as system only works with high integrity employees who value and are proud of their work.

-There is excellent quality control with a combination of machine fabrication and human fabrication/inspection.

-There is a completely isolated latex-free room for the safety of patients with such an allergy

-98% of all of American Orthodontics products are made in America

-American Orthodontics is looking to triple the size of its existing facility in the coming years

Dr. Tam feels extremely confident in the quality of the braces he uses at MCO, especially after witnessing the manufacturing process first-hand.  In fact, all of the products that we use at MCO are from top of the line companies because our patients deserve only the best!  Thank you to the people at AO for this wonderful opportunity!

Top Toronto Invisalign Orthodonitst visits Costa Rica Invisalign Treat Facility for 2nd time

MCO Invisalign orthodontist, Dr. Tam, has always aimed to be the best Invisalign dentist in Toronto.  In order to do this, he has traveled extensively to meet top doctors all over the world, visited the Invisalign Treat Facility, and attended numerous Invisalign seminars.  MCO is also one of the few offices in Canada using the Invisalign scanner to replace impressions!

One of the key aspects of proper Invisalign treatment is the planning of the ClinCheck.  While many potential patients consider Invisalign to be the same no matter where you go, this is not the case.  It is up to the doctor and their experience to determine when teeth move, how they move, and how much they move.  When simulations are created, they are done so by technicians who do not have training with orthodontic tooth movement.  Anything can happen in a video, but it doesn't mean it will happen inside the mouth. The above photo is only one section of the facility where the techs create simulations.  As you can imagine, there is a lot of variability!

In early November, Dr. Tam went to meet his team leader Alex, his current tech Auxi, and their back-up tech Roberto in Costa Rica.  This was his 2nd visit in 2 years.  He went to discuss his preferences for treatment, and to ensure that there is a smooth transition whenever Auxi is away.  Alex sported his TeamMCO t-shirt and it was fantastic to see them, as they are truly a part of our Invisalign team at MCO.  Special thanks to Alex and Auxi for the gift they got for Dr. Tam's son, Isaac!

L-R:  Dr. Tam, Alex, Auxi, Roberto

Remember that Invisalign is a technique, not a product, and seek out the most experienced Invisalign doctors to ensure you have proper care.

Inivsalign Teen Toronto: Mom Blogger Straight Talk #InvisalignTO

What a wonderful event hosted by Mom Central Canada and Kathy Buckworth at Brassaii on King West.  I had the opportunity to speak to about 25 mom bloggers from all over the Toronto area about Invisalign Teen.

My treatment coordinator in the Stouffville office, Mandy, joined me for the evening, along with our President's Circle Invisalign representative, Craig MacIntyre.  I was also fortunate enough to have a few patients and their mothers join us in case the bloggers wanted to ask questions about their experiences.

We started off with some technical difficulties in getting the projector to work, but after switching a few laptops and ultimately, a cable, all systems were a go.  After a half eaten, but great dinner, it was showtime.

I know a lot of speakers for Invisalign and many of them tout aesthetics, generating income from new patients, and getting that movie star smile without braces.  Unfortunately, the marketing for Invisalign is far ahead of the training and skill level of most doctors.  Certainly aesthetics are an important part of Invisalign treatment, but as health care professionals, we have to remember that there are health aspects to orthodontic treatment that cannot be overlooked, just because our patients are seeking a specific treatment type.  My goal was to present an analytical and informative session so that parents can make the right decision for their teens, rather than basing it on smoke and mirrors.

Here are the key points from the evening:

• Invisalign has been used with over 1.4M patients
• Invisalign Teen was developed in 2009 with specific needs of teens in mind
• Benefits of Invisalign Teen include improved oral hygiene, no restrictions on eating, superior aesthetics, and the opportunity to teach teens responsibility.
• Orthodontic consultations are recommended at age 7.  Generally, this is when the upper front teeth have come in.  Dental development, rather than chronological age is the more important determining factor
• Many orthodontists offer complimentary consultations
• A referral from a dentist is not required to get an appointment with the orthodontist
• When thinking about medical procedures, everyone would prefer to go with a specialist for specialist work.  The same should apply to dental procedures, including orthodontic treatment.
• Orthodontic insurance will cover Invisalign and braces.
• It's more correct to ask "Can you correct my teeth with Invisalign?" than to ask "What can Invisalign correct?", since the skill and experience of the doctor will determine your final results.
• Invisalign isn't only for Teens.  If your teeth, gums, and bone are healthy, it is never too late for orthodontic treatment.
• Excellent dental resources include the Invisalign website, American Association of Orthodontists, Canadian Association of Orthodontists, your primary care dentist, online forums, and the Toronto Invisalign site.

I really enjoyed meeting a number of the mom bloggers and it was nice to be asked to work on future segments with them.  I learned a few things about parenting from them and will also be looking at a Disney cruise on the advice of Jen Reynolds :).  Overall a great evening!

-Dr. Tam

MTV Live Canada's Paul the Intern Visits MCO Markham Orthodontist

Dr. Tam, your Toronto Invisalign specialist, offering FREE Invisalign and braces consultations was recently on MTV Live with Paul the Intern.  The interview was supposed to be about Invisalign, braces, and Halloween.  Footage was filmed over the course of a few hours, but was parsed down to a 2 min segment.

None of the questions were prepared in advance and in typical Paul style, he seemed to want to trip up Dr. Tam.  Check out the video from MTV here:

Here are some out-takes that didn't make it to TV:

Facebook pics of Markham Orthodontist and Paul the Intern

Fun times!

Invisalign in Toronto- Dr. Tam Discusses Invisalign G4

In early October 2011, your Toronto Invisalign Specialist followed a program in which Invisalign announced a series of features known as Invisalign G4.  They sought to address 3 major issues that some Invisalign doctors had been having issues with.  These include:

1.  Greater root tip control for canines and upper laterals

2.  Improved predictability for upper laterals

3.  Better clinical outcomes for open bite treatments

There was a theme that Invisalign is based upon the science of orthodontics.  Namely, we have to think of a desired movement, determine a force system, and then design an appliance.  At this point, all other aligners other than Invisalign skip the middle step of determining a force system.  This is asking for failure of treatment when the proper orthodontic forces are not applied.  Anyone can make an aligner or video look good from start to finish.  The key is whether the teeth will move that way also.  Can you move roots with Invisalign?  According to the new changes, they should allow for root movement using new attachments.

In order to achieve these difficult movements, one of the newest features is to apply to force systems to one tooth.  This is in the form of attachments or a pressure point, where one feature will counteract the negative forces caused by the first.  They are supposed to allow for simultaneous movements such as extrusion and rotation, as well as translations.  There is a claim that these new attachments are more aesthetic than previous attachments, with the more gingival attachment often covered by the lip.

It was also announced that optimized attachments with G3 can now be used with precision cuts on canines.  This was not previously possible.  The cuts are not yet tested with G4 attachments, and thus cannot be used simultaneously.

Also, an update on the iOC scanner was given.

Over 1000 scanned cases have been submitted, with greater accuracy in seating, less spring, improved retention, and proper contouring around the gingiva (according to these numbers, your MCO Markham orthodontist has submitted about 3-4% of world-wide scans).  Patients have reported less saliva trapped under the plastic, likely since the aligners comform better to the teeth.  Rejections of scans to date have been virtually non-existent, since any deficiencies in the scans can be corrected easily chair-side.  Clinchecks are also back in the doctor VIP page on an average of 2 days vs 10 days for PVS impressions.

Overall, Invisalign has been very dedicated to the science of tooth movement with aligners and listening to concerns of doctors and patients.  However, remember that the most important factor in treatment is going to be proper treatment planning by your orthodontist of choice.  It is his/her job to decide exactly how the teeth will move and when to use specific features to help aid in these movements.