Classical orthodontics involves wearing fixed metal braces which are often eye-catching. Although traditional technology has evolved significantly, the real revolution is undoubtedly the Invisalign® / Spark® system.

Transparent aligners

Invisalign consists of virtually invisible dental appliances, thermoformed in a medical grade plastic material. Biocompatible, they are free of BPA and phthalates.

Aligners, also called adaptive aligners or shells, are custom made from 3D digital impressions of your teeth. With these, we can present you a virtual simulation so that you can visualize the planned corrections and the expected result.

This system is said to be scalable, because it involves frequently changing the gutters for new ones. Each of the series is molded so as to induce a slight pressure in specific places on the teeth, depending on the stage of the procedure. Nothing is left to chance so every movement is meticulously controlled.

Repositioning is done millimeter by millimeter, very smoothly and quickly.

The advantages of Invisalign®

Clear aligners are suitable for correcting a multitude of cases of varying complexity. They can also be used in addition to conventional orthodontic treatment.

In addition to being versatile, Invisalign technology is suitable for a broad spectrum of patients, from young adolescents to adults. We can recap some strong points like this:

• Aesthetic and discreet - thanks to its translucent material
• Comfortable - molds to the tooth and contains no metal
• Removable - pulls out to eat, no dietary restrictions
• Promotes oral health - facilitates daily hygiene
• Speed ​​of treatment - generally shorter than a traditional procedure

Invisalign® is without a doubt a revolutionary orthodontic procedure. But it does not treat all types of malocclusion. And to be super effective, the patient must be very disciplined and wear their aligner most of the time, only removing it for eating, drinking and cleaning their teeth.

A complete oral assessment will determine if this solution is ideal for you.

Learn more about Invisalign® and Spark® technology

What is oral expansion?

Oral (or palate) expansion is an orthodontic procedure used to expand the upper bone arch when the palate is too small. The oral expander applies constant, safe pressure on teeth to gently stretch the palatine suture.

An oral expansion is done on children as a preliminary procedure. It can help prevent complex orthodontic procedures or reduce their duration.

When is a palate expander needed?

This procedure is recommended when the upper jaw is too narrow and disproportionate to the lower jaw. Widening the upper arch re-establishes balance and creates more space.

Oral expansion can also correct other problems, including :

• Malocclusion
• Insufficient space on the arch, which prevents teeth from aligning correctly
• Overlapping teeth
• Crossbite (upper teeth fall behind the bottom teeth when biting down)
• Nasal cavity that restricts air passage
• Cosmetic problems

Advantages of oral expansion

By treating malocclusion, palate expansion improves chewing and prevents premature wearing of teeth. In addition, properly aligned teeth are easier to clean because they do not overlap. Better dental hygiene reduces the risk of developing cavities or gum disease.

Two types of palate expanders

1 | Removable device

• Can be removed for cleaning (teeth are brushed as usual and the device is cleaned according to the dentist’s instructions)
• Exerts slight pressure on posterior teeth, expanding the palate and creating additional space on the dental arch (transversal expansion)
• Before bed, the device is removed, adjusted as directed and placed back into the mouth

2 | Permanent device

• Secured to teeth until the treatment is complete; it can only be removed by the dentist
• Attached to the posterior teeth and exerts constant pressure to achieve the desired expansion
• Adjusted directly in the mouth every day

The procedure

Activation phase

Every day, the child or their parent adjusts the device. The constant pressure gradually separates the bones of the palatine suture. A small key is inserted into the device and turned to activate the expansion. It’s important to follow the dentist’s activation instructions carefully. This phase lasts two to three weeks.

Immobilization phase

Once the desired width has been achieved, the activation phase ends, but the device is worn for another three months or so. During this immobilization phase, the expansion stabilizes and the bone tissue in the middle of the palate recalcifies.

During the procedure, it is normal for an interdental space, or diastema, to form between the two upper incisors. It will slowly close a few weeks after the treatment ends. The palate, however, will retain its expanded width.

Treatment duration

In general, the treatment lasts four to six months. However, as with other orthodontic procedures, its duration can vary depending on the following :

• Severity of the problem
• Oral health
• Age

When should this treatment begin?

Although palate expansions can be done at any age, it works best on younger patients aged between 5 and 8. In most cases, children and teenagers who are still growing are the best candidates.

For increased effectiveness

• Practice proper oral hygiene to help prevent cavities and gum disease
• Clean the device thoroughly
• Follow the dentist’s instructions carefully
• Wear a retainer afterward to stabilize the expansion. Your dentist will let you know how often and how long you should wear the retainer. It may be for a specific time period or for life.

Is it painful?

Some mild pain will be felt during the activation phase. You’ll feel pressure on your palate and cheeks, and you may feel some tingling under the device and along your nasal bone. This discomfort generally goes away 15 to 30 minutes after the activation. Taking a painkiller like Advil™ should help.

Orthodontics can do much more than just make your smile look better. Malpositioned, misaligned and overlapping teeth can impact tooth function and a person’s overall health.

What causes tooth malpositions?

Congenital reason

This happens when there is a difference between the size of teeth and the space available on the dental arch.

Functional reason

Resulting from an inappropriate force exerted on teeth

• Thumb sucking
• Pressure from the tongue when swallowing
• Bruxism (excessive grinding and gritting of teeth during sleep)
• Breathing through the mouth

What are the consequences of tooth malpositions?

• Cosmetic concerns
• Chewing problems
• Predisposition to dental and gum disease because overlapping teeth are harder to clean
• Occlusion problems

Can tooth malpositions be detected early?

The dentist may be able to detect dental malpositions or similar problems when a patient is very young. When possible, it is important to act quickly :

• Encourage children to stop sucking their thumb
• Learn to swallow using the right movement of the tongue (with help from a speech therapist)
• Get used to breathing through the nose

If addressing these risk factors is not enough, the dentist may need to begin phase 1 orthodontic procedures.

What is a phase 1 orthodontic procedure?

Phase 1 orthodontic interception treatments are proposed when serious alignment problems are detected in young patients. By definition, interception means “to stop or interrupt a predictable evolution or progression.”

These are called “phase 1” treatments because they are the first step in a series of orthodontic procedures that can sometimes continue into adolescence. The initial interception aims to correct overlapping teeth. With early intervention, permanent teeth have a better chance of coming in normally.

This type of treatment can prevent serious cosmetic concerns, but its main purpose is to help with functional problems.

When is it used?

• The upper and lower jaws are not the same width
• There is a difference between the size of teeth and the width of dental arches
• Patient has a crossbite, where the upper teeth bite down behind the lower teeth
• The front teeth don’t connect when the mouth is closed
• Teeth have begun migrating toward a space left from a baby tooth. This space needs to be opened so that the permanent tooth can come in
• Serious malpositions have been identified, wearing down teeth and causing gum problems

If the problem is detected early on and the treatment is effective, a phase 2 orthodontic procedure may not be needed. Early intervention allows patients to obtain better results than interventions started after dental-facial growth is complete.

When can a phase 1 orthodontic procedure begin?

Early intervention helps a young person’s teeth develop optimally. However, it is very difficult to know exactly when to intervene, because the dentist must estimate future facial growth and dental-alveolar development.

Orthodontic interception takes place around the age of four, but permanent teeth begin coming out at age seven. Since anomalies are easier to detect at an early age, treatments will usually begin then. Removable devices are often sufficient for correcting problems and obtaining quick results. The interception phase ends by age 11, when the permanent cuspids come in.

Depending on the problem at hand, different orthodontic procedures may be proposed, including: palate expanders, retainers, orthodontic spacers, and removable or permanent devices.

What results can I expect at the end of a phase 1 procedure?

• Occlusion is re-established
• Malpositions are corrected
• Enough space is available on the dental arch for all permanent teeth

Phase 1 treatments can sometimes provide long-term solutions to some dental malposition problems. Unfortunately, an orthodontic correction might still be required in the future, despite an early intervention.

Tips for prevention

The best prevention strategy is to get an orthodontic assessment. Because there is no correlation between skeletal growth, dental development and age, it is difficult to know exactly when to perform an initial assessment. In general, we recommend having an assessment done around the age of seven. If you’re unsure, see a specialist. It’s never too early to get an informed opinion.

Fixed orthodontics | Braces

When teeth are badly positioned, overlapped, or too far apart, it is important to correct their alignment using braces. Strategically placed on the dentition, the device will apply gentle and constant forces to bring the teeth, bones and jaws to an optimal position.

Fixed orthodontics as we know it today is more discreet. The brackets are smaller in size and can be ceramic to match the shade of the tooth. It is also possible to opt for self-ligating devices, without ties. Lingual braces have the property of being installed on the back side of the tooth to turn into invisible braces.

Ceramic orthodontic brackets | Clear pins

We use a ceramic case for great discretion. The case is more aesthetic and much less visible while having the same characteristics as the metal case.