The newest appliance we have tried at Kennell Orthodontics is the the Invisalign Palatal Expander. The expander does the same kind of expanding that a regular Hyrax or Quad Helix, metal appliances, would do. It is just a new type of system made by Invisalign.
***Unfortunately not every patient qualifies for the Invisalign Palatal Expander***
But for those who might be eligible for this kind of expander. Let us tell you about it!
First of all, the Invisalign Palatal Expanders are 3D-printed, this makes for a custom fit to our patients teeth and palate. There are a series of multiple expanders that are to be changed everyday that slightly widen the palate creating room for adult teeth to come in.
The expander is easy enough for patients of any age to insert and remove on their own. This also makes it easier for patients to brush and floss because they can remove the appliance. There are no food restrictions because it is removable.
Here is the before, during, and after of our first patient to try the Invisalign Palatal Expander. She had great results and gave us great feedback on the experience.
BeforeDuring treatmentAfter!
Ask us about the Invisalign Palatal Expander if you come for a consultation, it just might be the perfect fit for your child's Phase I treatment!
October is National Orthodontic Health Month and Halloween is right around the corner! We have compiled a list of treats you can still have with braces on. We want to make sure your braces stay in tact, but we also want your teeth to stay healthy as well. Candy and sweets are okay in moderation, just make sure to brush and floss very well after!
Dr. Kennell was one of only 20 US orthodontists recently invited to attend the Invisalign Study Club at Align Technology's Treatment Operations Center in San Jose, Costa Rica.
All Invisalign scans taken at Kennell Orthodontics are sent to the 63,000 sq. ft. Treatment Operations Center in San Jose. Here, the 3,000 member operations team processes thousands of scans from all over the region using Align's sophisticated, internally developed computer-modeling program, which allows the teeth to move individually. Treatment plans are then created according to Dr. Kennell's exact specifications. Once the treatment plan (also called a ClinCheck) is approved by Dr. Kennell, the digital plan is forwarded to either Mexico, China, or Poland for fabrication of the aligners.
While at Align's facility, Dr. Kennell attended special Invisalign lectures about new Invisalign features & products, current research findings, and tips on improving the ClinCheck process.
During this time, Dr. Kennell also had the opportunity to meet one-on-one with his personal Invisalign CAD designer and overseeing doctor. Over 1 hour was spent modifying Dr. Kennell's personalized Invisalign prescription (IPP) to give his patients the best result possible with Invisalign.
The day wouldn't be complete without a photo in Align's "Pura Vida" lounge!
As much as we hate to admit it, it is that time of year again...back to school! With our patients starting treatment, it is important to be prepared for school. Here at Kennell Orthodontics, we recommend making your own "Orthodontic Survival Kit" to ensure your child has everything when they are away from home. You could use any kind of bag, a Ziplock will do just fine! Then, you can fill it with the necessities for braces such as flossers, travel size toothbrush and toothpaste, proxy brushes, orthodontic rubber bands, orthodontic wax, and maybe even a small mirror!
For our patients in Invisalign; floss, a toothbrush and toothpaste, and your aligner case will be most important. We even recommend leaving your aligners in the classroom or in your backpack where they will be safe. Most aligners get thrown away being in the lunchroom and we don't want that to happen!
For our patients playing sports, PLEASE wear mouthguards if your sport requires one! Keeping your teeth from harm, especially with braces on, is so important! Let us know at your next appointment if you need one. They are also kept in our emergency boxes at all offices so help yourself! Or if you can't make it in, give us a call and we will send you one!
We hope you enjoy the last few weeks of summer and make sure to add these supplies to your back to school shopping lists!
While you are at it, don't forget to fill out our new September Monthly Rewards Activity: "Back 2 School: This or That" and you will earn 20 points!
