Invisalign | Steve Sirin, DDS

Can You Get Invisalign with a Crown?

October 14, 2019 by Athena Smiles

Are regular braces or Invisalign better when you have a crown? Or are orthodontics even an option at all? I’m 34 and have one crown on a molar—it’s a CEREC crown if that matters. I was looking through the site and found information on what happens when you need to have a crown done during Invisalign treatment, but this is different because I haven’t even started anything yet. And for what it’s worth, my teeth aren’t super crooked or anything. I just have some crowding going on with my lower teeth.

Thanks,

Jake

Dear Jake,

The information is roughly the same, but let’s break it down.

Yes, You Can Get Invisalign with a Crown

Orthodontic work usually gets a green light even if you have restorative work. It’s a little more debatable if you have root canals or other things going on. Those teeth might not respond well to moving. However, if the teeth are monitored, even that should be ok. Your dentist may take additional precautionary measures in those situations, but that doesn’t apply to your situation anyway. You’re in the clear.

It Doesn’t Matter if it’s a CEREC Crown or Any Other Type

The biggest concern is that the tooth is healthy and the CEREC crown still has a good seal on it. As look as the restoration and tooth are in good condition, it’s fine. This applies to all types of crowns, whether we’re talking CEREC, porcelain, metal, or any other variety.

Invisalign Tops Braces When You Have a Crown

The problem with traditional braces and crowns is that it can be harder to get the brackets to bond to the crown. Since Invisalign doesn’t usually require any bonding unless you need attachments/ buttons, it’s often the more ideal solution for people with restorations.

You Might Need Adjustments When Treatment is Finished

Sometimes shifting teeth can result in the need for adjustments to the crown after. When we’re talking about a back tooth like yours, it’s probably just minor bite adjustments. However, sometimes, the crown ultimately needs to be replaced at the end of orthodontic treatment and occasionally, other techniques may be necessary, such as recontouring the gumline to create a more uniform smile. That wouldn’t be the case with yours, as it’s not in a highly visible spot, but it’s worth mentioning.

Start with a Consultation

Hopefully, this set your mind at ease a bit, but you’ll still need to have a consult with a local dentist to find out the specifics of your treatment. Clear braces are great in the sense that your whole mouth is literally mapped out ahead of time, so your dentist will know exactly what your alignment and bite will be like when you finish and can let you know if you’ll need to take additional steps after you finish ortho.

This blog is sponsored by Elgin Invisalign dentist, Dr. Steve Sirin.

Dentist Says Invisalign Caused Toothache and Not a Concern

September 16, 2019 by Athena Smiles

I just started Invisalign two months ago and had a horrible toothache flare up a few days ago. I called my dentist and they told me that it was normal to have some discomfort when you start treatment or switch aligners. I asked if the doctor could look at it and they told me just to take ibuprofen and monitor it for a few days. I understand that orthodontics can sometimes cause tooth pain, but I don’t think that’s what this is and I told them that. It’s a single tooth that’s throbbing. I’ve had some pretty bad cavities in the past and that’s what this feels like.

I don’t know if they reviewed my x-rays or whatever before they talked to me. I do go in for regular checkups and they just took a full set a month or so before we started treatment. I kind of understand it if they’ve already got all the info they need, but I’m a little upset they won’t even look at it. They totally dismissed me. Is this something I can trust their judgment on and just monitor or should I just go down there and insist on being seen? Or find another local dentist to check it out?

Thanks,

Wally

Dear Wally,

You should either be seen by the dentist providing your Invisalign treatment or find another dentist to give a second opinion.

General Discomfort is Normal with Invisalign, Toothaches are Not

The achy feeling people get when they go through orthodontic treatment is generally from the ligaments stretching, though sometimes the teeth, themselves, can become irritated too. If one tooth is being tugged on more than others, you might feel some localized discomfort, but it really tends to be more generalized, where you can’t pinpoint which tooth it’s coming from.

Sharp or Throbbing Tooth Pain Needs to Be Checked Out ASAP

The type of pain you’re describing is not usually associated with orthodontic treatment. However, as you noted it is common when you’ve got a cavity. While something like that should have been discovered during your last exam and would likely be evidenced on your most recent x-rays, sometimes decay can be elusive. There are other causes for it too. For example, you could have cracked the tooth or it could have been injured and is now infected. These are things you do not want to take a wait-and-see approach with. It’s a bit alarming that your dental office didn’t volunteer to bring you in, let alone honor your request to be seen. Try them again, but this time, make sure it’s crystal clear what symptoms you’re experiencing and that you want to see the doctor. If they don’t jump right in and get you scheduled in the next 24 hours, you should find someone who will, and maybe even consider staying with that office if they treat you well.

Best of luck to you.

This blog is sponsored by Elgin Invisalign provider and emergency dentist, Dr. Steve Sirin.

Does Billie Eilish Really Wear Invisalign?

August 14, 2019 by Athena Smiles

At the start of her Bad Guy video, Billie Eilish makes a reference to taking out her Invisalign. She has beautiful teeth and it doesn’t look like she needs to wear braces. Is this some kind of publicity stunt? Or does she actually need to wear them?

Thx

Dear K,

Billie Eilish really does wear Invisalign. She’s actually shared photos of herself with her aligners and both she and her family have publicly spoken about her use of them.

The Invisalign Reference in “Bad Guy” is a Bit of an Inside Joke

“It became this kind of running joke with me and Bill, ‘cause we’d record, and she has been wearing Invisalign for like a year-and-a-half now,” Billie’s brother Finneas explained to Vulture. He says the starlet speaks with a bit of a lisp when she’s wearing her aligners, but that she’s so accustomed to wearing them that she forgets to take them out. Of course, she remembers when she starts singing, so popping them out mid-recording became commonplace. And, as anyone who’s ever worn the clear braces knows, they’re snug. There tends to be a soft click as the plastic releases. Finneas picked up on it and recalls telling her, “Billie, this is gonna be your version of the Lil Wayne lighter flick.”

During recording, the two mostly laughed about whether she’d remembered to remove her aligners before the session, but kind of left it at that. “When we were wrapping it up, I felt like the album was pretty dark and covered a lot of heavy stuff,” Finneas explained, giving a nod to songs like Bury a Friend. He wanted to add an element of humor to complement the darkness, not just to lighten the mood, but to heighten the seriousness of the other parts. Because the pair already had recordings of her popping out the aligners, it was easy to add the sound into the song.

You’ll Get More Dental Sounds in “Bury a Friend” Too

Interestingly, the infamous click not the only dental-oriented sound incorporated in her album. Bury a Friend has a recording of her dentist’s handpiece; the tool used to remove her attachments, according to the New York Times. “Attachments” or “buttons” are small dots of white dental material—the same kind used for tooth fillings—which are sometimes placed on the surface of teeth during treatment to help them move better. This is also one of the reasons why Billie’s click as she removes her aligners is a bit more pronounced. However, as was the case with Billie, the attachments are removed easily by the dentist when they’re no longer needed.

If You Look at Older Photos, You Can See What She’s Trying to Correct

The only people who really know what Billie wanted to correct with orthodontics are Billie and her dentist, but if you look at some of her older pictures (even back then it was hard to catch her smiling!), you can see a couple small spots which could be cause for orthodontics. For example, she’s got a tiny gap next to her front tooth on her left side. Some images also indicate that her midline might have been slightly off-center as well. Of course, after a year-and-a-half of treatment, these may already be totally vanquished or pretty close to it. Perhaps now we’ll get to see more of that beautiful smile of hers!

This blog is sponsored by Dr. Steve Sirin, an Elgin Invisalign provider.

Can My Elgin Dentist Straighten My Teeth in 6 Months Like the Ads?

July 24, 2019 by Athena Smiles

To give a little background, I saw a dentist here in Elgin about a year and a half ago about straightening my teeth. I’ve got a large gap between my front teeth and the third tooth back from the middle (the pointy one… I don’t know the official name for it) is twisted a bit. The rest could probably do with a little help as well, but those are the areas that really bother me. Anyway, I was told that I would need to do traditional braces and that the process would probably take just over a year. Well, I want to fix the cosmetic issue, not highlight it with huge metal brackets. I’m not up for all that.

Lately, I’ve been seeing ads online promoting clear braces and saying it only takes six months for them to work. But, they seem to only be offered as an online thing, and I’m not comfortable with that. I want to see someone in person. So, I’m wondering if any local dentists are using a system like what I’m seeing in the ads or if I really just need to suck it up and order online to get this done.

Thanks,

Karina

Dear Karina,

This is a great question. Loads of companies are promoting their clear braces online, so it’s tough to say which company’s ad you saw, but let’s break down what they’re offering and what it would take to get you the results you want.

Clear Braces Often Go by the Trade Name Invisalign

The Invisalign company is probably the biggest and longest-running name in the clear braces market. They’ve been around since the 1990s really brought the concept to light. Their claim to fame is that they created metal-free braces, which appealed to adults who wanted straighter teeth without looking like “kids.” Of course, since then, they’ve refined their approach, upgraded the technology, enhanced their aligners, updated materials, and all sorts of other things. Now, they appeal to all sorts of people and there’s even a special line for teens. Plus, people started to realize that sometimes treatment goes faster when you’re using aligners instead of brackets, simply because force is applied all around the tooth instead of just where the bracket is attached.

The Marketplace is Filled with Invisalign Copycats

Naturally, when you’re onto something good, people will start to copycat your idea. But, Invisalign has taken steps to protect their inventions. Even the material they use to make the aligners is patented. That in mind, there’s no real substitution for Invisalign, but some model their products after it.

You Don’t Get Oversight When You Order Online

Perhaps what most concerning, though, is that many places are now selling their clear braces online. The degree of supervision varies. Some simply have you take snapshots and then do a mold of your teeth at home. After that, you’re on your own. Others involve going into a physical location where an assistant of sorts takes pictures, x-rays, and the mold, then forwards them to a dentist somewhere. Again, you’re often left on your own after that and you never meet the dentist in person. And, there are at least a couple brands that have you do a video conference with a dentist. Let’s be clear here. You can’t tell a whole lot from photos and videos. They’re helpful, but orthodontics involves incredibly small movements. Chances are, the gap between your front teeth is only a millimeter or two. That in mind, you really need someone with expertise planning out your treatment, monitoring you throughout, and making adjustments as necessary. So, you are right to have concerns about going though the process online.

Six-Month Braces Are a Bit of a Pipedream

Yes, clear braces do often work quicker than metal ones, but most people don’t get results in six months. Some marketers glommed onto that concept because it is technically possible, but it’s usually only within the realm of reason for those who have already had orthodontic treatment and those who have fairly straight teeth to begin with. If you’ve already been told it will take more than a year to straighten your teeth with metal braces, odds are, even if you’re a candidate for clear ones, you may only shave a month or two off the timeline. And, that’s a big maybe.

Speak with an Elgin Dentist About Clear Braces

It sounds like you saw an orthodontist before. Many still gravitate toward metal braces, especially if they’ve been in practice for an extended period of time. It makes sense that they’d work with something they know really well and trust. At the same time, many general dentists offer Invisalign treatment. You may have more luck visiting a family practice. However, there is some chance, given the twisted tooth you mentioned, that you really aren’t a candidate for clear braces. That’s one of the downsides of following the ads—they don’t know you and they may well give you a treatment that won’t work for your situation. If that’s the case, and multiple offices tell you metal is the way to go, that may be the only solution for you. If you feel disenchanted by the process, bear in mind that, if you would have started when braces were first recommended, you’d be done already instead of living with a smile you aren’t happy with. You may not like the idea of going with them, but chances are, you won’t ever regret having leveraged them once treatment is over and you’re enjoying your new smile.

This blog is sponsored by Dr. Steve Sirin, an Elgin dentist who offers Invisalign treatment.

Was Invisalign the Wrong Choice to Correct My Midline?

June 17, 2019 by Athena Smiles

I’m really frustrated over the lack of progress I’ve had with Invisalign. A little over 1.5 years ago, I told my dentist that I wanted to straighten my smile. The big issue was that the line between my two front teeth wasn’t lined up with the middle of my face, so it made everything look asymmetrical. His plan involved doing Invisalign for nine months to straighten that line and then doing some veneers. To his credit, he let me do payment plans. I paid half of the treatment costs up front and then made payments for the full nine months. At the end of the nine months, the line still wasn’t quite right. He suggested we do another six months and ordered a new set of aligners.

Fast-forward to this week, I’m nearing the end of the second round and my teeth still are not how they should be. I consulted with another doc who says I never should have been offered clear braces. He says I should have done traditional metal braces.

Now I don’t know who to trust. Should I get a third opinion? And, if so, and this doc concurs I should have done metal braces, do I have recourse? Can I demand a refund from first one? Without it, I’m not sure I can afford to start treatment all over again. And, even if I could, I’m not sure I want to.

-Jim

Dear Jim,

If you aren’t certain whom to trust, there’s no harm in getting another opinion, but let’s break down the specifics here.

Invisalign Works for Most Situations, But Not All

Addressing the midline is tricky. The aligners are incredibly precise because they’re generated by a computer to exacting measurements. There is some possibility metal braces would have been a better choice, but it could also be a difference of opinion. A lot of general dentists offer orthodontic treatment with aligners and that’s within their level of expertise and comfort zone. It sounds like you started with a general dentist. On the flip side, orthodontists usually offer both, and they are frequently old school in their approach, and it sounds like you had your second visit with an orthodontist. In either case, it isn’t necessarily wrong, but the dentist must be able to live up to the expectations he sets.

That said, any tool is only as good as the craftsman wielding it. It sounds like you do have a particularly challenging case and it’s probably better that you’re in the care of an orthodontist now. Regardless, you’ve given the first dentist a year and a half to make good on the expectations he set and he hasn’t. In this respect, it’s probably time to move on.

Start with a Polite Refund Request

A lot of dentists will be totally ok with giving a refund under these circumstances. It doesn’t necessarily have to be an issue. Just start with a simple and polite refund request. You can speak with the dentist or to his office.

If he fails to respond, you can also ask the dentist you’re seeing now to send a refund request on your behalf. Doing so can help build the credibility of your case if the dentist has any doubts.

From there, you can caution him that you plan to take your complaint to peer review boards or the local dental board. Again, keep it polite, but be firm. If he doesn’t respond, take the action you said you would.

Lastly, you can retain a lawyer. This is not to say this dentist was negligent or did anything wrong—but it would be the next logical step if you don’t get the resolution you seek with the earlier steps. Best of luck to you.

This blog is sponsored by Elgin Invisalign dentist, Dr. Steve Sirin.

Could I Choke on My Invisalign While I Sleep?

May 22, 2019 by Athena Smiles

This may or may not sound crazy, but I’m supposed to get Invisalign next month and I’m terrified my aligners will dislodge while I’m asleep and I’ll choke. Does this sort of thing ever happen? If so, can I only wear them during the day? I know the rules say I have to wear them all night, but isn’t wearing them some of the time better than not wearing them at all?

Thanks.

-T.

Dear T.,

Most removable dental appliances do come with a disclaimer that they could potentially be swallowed, but don’t let that scare you. There aren’t any reports of that actually happening and causing any harm.

Invisalign Aligners are Snug

Your aligners are made with the use of CAD/CAM technology. Basically, the computer gets the image of your mouth and maps out every single ridge and pit. Then, a map of what your mouth will look like after treatment is created, and from there, the computer automatically generates all the steps between. Each aligner gives your teeth a little nudge. Ergo, the first time you put them on, they’ll be incredibly snug. It may even take you a few times to get the hang of snapping them into place and getting them back off again because they’re not an exact fit for where your teeth are—they’re a fit for where your teeth will be. Each set is typically worn for two weeks, so by the end of those two weeks, they will be a perfect fit. In any case, they start snug and finish snug.

Aligners are Made from Durable Plastic

It’s also worth noting that the aligners are made from a tough plastic material that is designed to withstand biting forces and apply pressure to your teeth. If not for that, they wouldn’t move them. Invisalign has gone so far to patent its material. Under any kind of ordinary circumstances, they will not break. You’d actually have to work pretty hard to get them to snap. The aligners are designed to be worn a couple of weeks, but they’re durable enough that some people keep their final set for years and wear them as a retainer.

You Shouldn’t Wear Them If You’re Incapacitated

You’re naturally self-aware of what happens while you sleep. If you didn’t have some awareness, you’d fall out of bed every night. The same is true of what’s going on with your aligners. Although it’s incredibly unlikely they’d slip out of place or break, chances are you’d wake up right away if they ever did. However, if something interferes with your natural processes, such as alcohol or medications, you might not. In those cases, it would be more understandable to skip the aligners that night. Equally, if you suffer from a sleep condition and take sleep aids, it’s worthwhile to mention this to your dentist before you start treatment. Although you’d probably be fine regardless, the two of you may agree traditional braces are a better fit for your needs.

You Shouldn’t “Break the Rules”

If you don’t adhere to the schedule, the results aren’t predictable. There’s some chance your teeth will shift back to their original positions each night and you’d never make any progress. If you miss one night here and there, you probably won’t have an issue, but if it becomes a habit, you will. Lastly, as long as you’re taking care of them and switching them out when you should, they’re going to remain in top condition the whole time they’re in use. It’s once you start edging away from the instructions that you run the risk of having trouble.

This blog is sponsored by Elgin Invisalign provider, Dr. Steve Sirin.

What Foods are Safe to Eat with Invisalign?

March 26, 2019 by Athena Smiles

bowl of mixed fruit for invisalign food blog

I’m wondering what foods are safe to eat when I get Invisalign. I know the general rule with braces is that you have to avoid chewy or sticky stuff because it can damage the braces, but you don’t wear Invisalign while you eat. So, does my diet have to change at all?

The main reason why I’m asking is because I’ve been on the paleo diet for about a year now and I’m doing really well on it. However, I’m not really much of a meat eater and I never have been. I eat a lot nuts and eat an apple just about every day. I’m worried that going through ortho will somehow relegate me to meals outside the paleo diet and, if so, I’m just not up for that.

Thanks,

Meaghan

Dear Meaghan,

You should be totally in the clear doing the paleo diet while you’re using the Invisalign system. As you noted, the real worry is, with braces, that you’ll damage the wires or pull your brackets off. Because you wouldn’t be wearing the aligners while you eat, none of that is a concern.

The only potential pitfall is that your teeth will become mobile while you go through any kind of ortho. They have to or they wouldn’t move to their intended spaces. Right when you start and when you switch aligners, you’ll notice some sensitivity and it will probably get worse if you’re eating hard and crunchy foods. Everyone is a little different. You may be ok if you’re going with softer nuts like cashews, but chances are, you’ll probably want to give them up periodically throughout. To be fair, the apples could become a problem too.

However, where there’s will, there’s a way. If you’re experiencing sensitivity or achiness as you transition between aligners and your mouth is telling you apples and nuts are a no-go, something like a fruit puree could work. You’ve probably seen those in little pouches at the grocery store. Some companies mix in veggies too. You can also mix your own purees or do a kind of smoothie.

There are ways to get protein in too. For example, eggs are a fantastic source. Legumes are typically out, which means no peanut butter, refried beans, soy, or chickpeas, but these are all healthier non-meat options if you’re willing to bend the rules for a few days. You can also choose things like avocado and spinach, which both have decent protein and are paleo. Of course, there’s also spirulina, which has 4g of protein per tablespoon and is often hailed as a paleo superfood, though some people report upset stomachs when they ingest it in large quantities.

The bottom line is, you know what foods you like and what fits within your diet. You can certainly find ways to modify your meals during the tender times, and it’s a good idea to come up with a list of alternatives before you start treatment. If you have worries that you won’t be getting the nutrition you need because some foods may be out for short periods of time, you can also consult with a nutritionist in advance.

This blog is sponsored by Dr. Steve Sirin, an Elgin Invisalign provider.

Are Invisalign Braces Toxic?

February 20, 2019 by Athena Smiles

glass ball in nature for invisalign safety blog

I’m worried about the safety of Invisalign. I’ve been using the system for about eight months and have not had any issues with it. However, I just found out I’m pregnant. Although I wasn’t planning on having a baby, I’m incredibly excited and this will be my first child. I started reading about the precautions I should be taking, and several articles mentioned avoiding plastics of all types. Then, it hit me—my aligners are plastic. I stopped wearing them right away just to be on the safe side, but now my mind is going a mile a minute. Are Invisalign braces toxic? If they are, then how much danger have I already put my unborn child in by wearing the aligners and is there a way to undo any damage from exposure? I’m probably 5-6 weeks along, if that matters.

Thank you,

Lis

Dear Lis,

This is a great question that weighs on the minds of a lot of people, particularly with all the information that’s circulating on the net. It can sometimes be difficult to tell what’s what and which piece of information is true. This is an area where you will see lots of conflicting reports, so this page will break down some of the common concerns about the safety and toxicity of Invisalign and point you to reliable and trustworthy sources to confirm information.

BPA is not typically a component of clear braces.

“People became worried about BPA safety because of animal studies that showed a link between high levels of the chemical and infertility, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and high blood pressure,” says WebMD. This was of particular concern in 2008 when the CDC announced more than 90% of all adults had BPA in their systems. There was enough worry or public outcry over it that companies which manufacture baby-related products such as bottles and dinnerware moved away from it and the FDA ultimately restricted its use in some cases.

Each manufacturer has its own proprietary blend of plastics and raw materials which go into their clear braces, so it may not be guaranteed across the board, but Invisalign reports that their raw materials do not contain “latex, parabens, phthalates, glutaraldehyde, epoxy or Bisphenol A (BPA).” Ergo, if you’re going with the trade name, this is not a concern.

Cytotoxicity and estrogenicity have been ruled out.

Researchers have also looked into cytotoxicity and estrogenicity; cytotoxicity meaning toxic to cells and estrogenicity meaning the substance behaves like estrogen in the body. Ultimately, it’s these things which were the worry with BPA. There’s a fantastic article on Scientific American which breaks down the discovery of the link between BPA, hormonal abnormalities, and fertility issues. It was written in 2008 and much research has been conducted since; to the point the FDA believes BPA is safe. That being said, BPA is not even a component of the aligners and, to take it a step further, researchers have experimented with the aligners regardless of their BPA status and have reached the conclusion that the aligners do not produce any estrogenic effects.

Adverse effects are incredibly rare.

An alternate research study looked at adverse effects as a whole. It was published by the American Journal of Orthodontics & Dental Orthopedics and it looked over all adverse reports from 2006 through 2016. In 2017, the brand announced over five million people had used their aligners. That’s a significant number, but perhaps what’s most interesting is that of the millions of people who have worn the aligners, just 173 adverse events were recorded. This isn’t the total number of people, to be clear, as individuals could report more than one event each.

The Most Common Adverse Events:

Difficulty breathing (56)
Sore throat (35)
Swollen throat (34)
Swollen tongue (31)
Hives and itchiness (31)
Anaphylaxis (30)
Swollen lips (27)
Feeling of throat closing/tight airway/airway obstruction/laryngospasm (24)

There are no issues at all related to pregnancy, toxicity, or hormonal issues. Most items on the list appear to be related to allergy, irritation, or immune responses. Considering how few people have even those issues, the aligners are some of the safest medical devices around right now.

It’s difficult to imagine a safer product than clear braces.

When you look at the data and the FDA approval, all signs point to the clear aligners as being incredibly safe. Moreover, they actually serve an important health benefit. Crooked teeth are hard to clean, which means people without straight teeth typically wind up with more incidences of gum disease and tooth decay. Research presented by the American Academy of Periodontology notes that gum disease in pregnancy is linked to pre-term labor, low birthweight, and a host of other conditions which can span the child’s whole life. In other words, ditching the aligners is needless, and there’s some chance it could actually be detrimental to yours and the baby’s health to stop orthodontic treatment, particularly if you struggle with gingivitis. Keep using them as planned and visit your dentist for a cleaning and checkup for maximum health.

This blog is sponsored by Dr. Steve Sirin, a provider of Invisalign in Elgin, Illinois.

Are Invisalign Trays Recyclable?

January 23, 2019 by Athena Smiles

I recently wrapped up a round of Invisalign treatment. While I was going through it, my dentist told me to make sure I kept the old ones, just in case I needed to use them again for some reason. It kind of made sense at the time, particularly if I were to lose one, but now I’ve got a drawer full of them and have no clue what I’m supposed to do with them. Since they’re plastic, are they safe to toss in the recycle bin? Is there any kind of special protocol I need to do beforehand, like run them through the dishwasher first?

Thanks,

Josh

Dear Josh,

This is a great question, Josh. Invisalign recently got a patent for the plastic they use and call it SmartTrack. According to their press release, the material is a “multi-layer polymer.” This basically means there are lots of layers of plastic pressed together in order to make the trays. An example of this in film form is cellophane; what you might wrap your leftovers in or what your meat from the deli counter could be wrapped in. However, there are many types of polymers too, and they can be mixed together to form different materials. According to Invisalign, they tested over 260 materials before they settled on SmartTrack. That’s fairly easy to do given how a single shift in polymer use results in a whole new material.

That being said, you’re probably familiar with the numbers written on the bottom of plastic items. Those designate the type of plastic because each type has to be processed differently in recycling and some facilities don’t have the ability to recycle certain numbers, while certain plastics are not recyclable at all. In this case, the plastic used is actually a mixture of plastics, and scientists are still working out how to effectively recycle it. So, at present, the tech doesn’t exist to recycle the trays.

Adding to this, most cities have a ban on recycling medical waste. Here in Elgin, medical waste cannot be recycled. The trays typically fall under this classification, meaning even if the tech existed, you still couldn’t toss the trays in the recycle bin.

Bear in mind, this is not necessarily a bad thing. Everything we do leaves a carbon footprint of some sort. If you’re going with metal braces, then there’s mining, processing, shipping, and more taking place. If you don’t get braces of any type, then having teeth closer together or misaligned can put you at greater risk for decay. Ergo, you aren’t wrong to act and take care of your oral health. You need to. Given the choices available to us today, trays are not a bad way to go, but hopefully new materials will emerge that provide similar results with a lessened carbon footprint.

This blog is sponsored by Elgin Invisalign dentist, Dr. Steve Sirin.

When Will My Elgin Dentist Get My Invisalign Aligners?

January 16, 2019 by Athena Smiles

compass and map for elgin dentist invisalign blog

Will it take an Elgin dentist longer to get Invisalign aligners than it would for one in Chicago? That probably sounds like a weird question, given how close the two cities are, but the reason why I’m asking is because I wanted to get a start on my treatment right away. My dentist in Elgin quoted me a six-week wait, but my friend who goes to an office in Chicago was told four weeks or less. When I questioned my office, they said “it’s always six weeks.” Is there something odd about transit or bigger cities getting preferential treatment or is my office just behaving strangely? I guess neither is good. I’m just confused. If it does take longer for things to be made and shipped for some reason, will this impact my treatment later and slow me down even more?

Thanks,

Sammi

Dear Sammi,

It sounds like you’re following the general process; that the Invisalign factory gets your models and pictures, fabricates the aligners, and then ships them to your dentist in Elgin. There shouldn’t be a difference in timing based on the cities. It could be that your office has had bad experiences with cases showing up late or getting delayed in transit, so perhaps they delay booking the delivery appointment longer than others. Or, it could be that the person was misinformed, they were booked, the dentist would be on vacation, or something similar. This is a good question you’d want to ask them directly. If a staff member doesn’t know, the office manager or doctor will.

As far as the delay impacting things as you progress in treatment goes, it should not. When the aligners are fabricated, they’re done all at once in a big batch. Your dental office may not give them to you in one lump. Oftentimes, they’ll only give out a couple at a time to ensure you follow up with your check-ups and to make sure that the aligners remain in good condition until you’re ready to use them. The only reason it might become an issue later on is if your treatment changes or you lose an aligner. With lost aligners, people can usually just move to the next set, so a replacement isn’t necessary, but it depends on how long you wear it before it’s lost. Because treatment is mapped out by a computer, it’s pretty rare to have anything change while you’re working through the aligners. In other words, chances are your office will have them all from the start, so there’s no waiting for shipments at all.

This blog is sponsored by Elgin Invisalign dentist, Dr. Steve Sirin.