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Invisalign

Read on for tips on Invisalign wear…

Wearing and Using Your Invisalign Aligners

Here are some tips to help ensure proper use and avoid damaging your aligners.

Always Remember To:

Wear your aligners per your doctor’s instructions, usually 20-22 hours per day.

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before handling your aligners.

Handle only ONE aligner at a time.

Aligner Insertion

Make sure you have the proper aligner – the upper for your top teeth and the lower for your bottom teeth.

To help avoid confusion, each aligner is engraved with your unique case number, a “U” for upper and an “L” for lower, followed by the stage number.

You may insert either the upper or lower aligner first.  When inserting each aligner, gently push the aligners over your front teeth.  Then apply equal pressure, using your fingertips, to the tops of your left and right molars (back teeth) until the aligner snaps into place.

Do NOT bite your aligners into position.  This may damage them.

NOTE:  If you experience sharp pain or significant discomfort, discontinue use of the aligners and contact your dentist.

Aligner Removal

Using your fingertips, start on one side at the molars (back teeth) and slowly work your way around to the other side, gently pulling them off your teeth.

To help prevent damage to the aligners, avoid unnecessary removal.

DO NOT use any sharp object to remove your aligners.

Immediately rinse aligner with water, shake off excess water, and store your aligners in the protective case provided with your starter kit.

NOTE:  Take care in removing your aligners, especially if multiple attachments are being used.  Do not use excessive force to bend or twist an aligner to get it off.  Consult with your doctor if your aligners are extremely difficult to remove.

WARNING:  In rare instances, some patients may be allergic to the plastic aligner material.  In such cases, discontinue use and consult a health care professional immediately.  Align Technology must also be notified.  Orthodontic appliances, or parts thereof, may be accidentally swallowed or aspirated and may be harmful.

Daily Care and Maintenance of Your Invisalign Aligners

Clean your aligners prior to each insertion.  Use a soft bristled toothbrush with water and a small amount of toothpaste.

NOTE:  Be sure to rinse each aligner thoroughly with water after each cleaning.  We also recommend that you use the Invisalign aligner cleaning system once a week, or as needed.

Do NOT use denture cleaners to clean aligners.  Do NOT soak them in mouthwash.  These products can damage the surface of the aligner, causing it to become dull and more visible.

Proper Oral Hygiene

Remove your aligners for eating and drinking.  (You do not need to remove your aligners to drink cool water.)

Brush and floss your teeth after each meal or snack prior to re-inserting your aligners.  If you don’t have access to your cleaning system or a toothbrush, you can simply rinse your mouth, and then clean your aligners by holding them under warm running water.  It’s not the best way to clean, but it works in a pinch.  Be sure to thoroughly clean your aligners at your earliest convenience.

If you have any questions regarding hygiene techniques, please consult your doctor.

Regular dental checkups and cleanings are recommended for the continued health of your teeth and gums.

Storing Your Invisalign Aligners

Two aligner cases are included in your starter kit, a blue case and a red (or orange) case.  We recommend that you store your Invisalign aligners in a case when they are not in your mouth.  This will help protect them from loss and damage.

Designate your blue aligner case for your “current stage.”  Store the aligners you are currently using in this case.

When it is time to switch up to the next stage, transfer the previous aligners to the red (or orange) case.  Always keep the most recently used aligners in this case.  If your current aligner is lost or broken, your doctor may recommend that you temporarily go back one stage and use the aligners in the red (or orange) case while a replacement is being made.

NOTE:  Keep all of your older aligners in a clean plastic bag, or as instructed by your doctor.  Keep them out of reach of small children or pets.

Related Articles:

Invisalign Video

What is Invisalign?

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Greystone Smile Design Blog

Dr. Rod Kurthy of Kor Whitening discusses the difference between Deep Bleaching and conventional bleaching. Greystone Smile Design is proud to offer Deep Bleaching, the most effective teeth whitening system ever developed.

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Deep Bleaching Instructions

Deep Bleaching Before and After Video

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Birmingham, Alabama Teeth Whitening

Dr. Tom Dudney of Greystone Smile Design shows how the smile can be enhanced by porcelain veneers. 

More Videos of Dr. Dudney:

ABC 33/40 Extreme Makeover

Look who’s got some pearly whites!

“American Idol” runner-up Crystal Bowersox is flashing a new and improved smile on the American Idols Live tour.

“It was something I’ve always wanted to do,” Bowersox said. “I had braces when I was young and I couldn’t afford to finish treatment.”

Bowersox, 24, took to Twitter last week to announce the touch-up, posting a pic of her thousand-watt smile with the accompanying tweet, “What’s NOT missing in this picture?????? Yeah. That’s right.”

During her stint on “Idol,” the Ohio native refused to have the procedure done. Instead, she decided to wait until the season wrapped up.

Though Bowersox has always wanted to fix her gap-toothed smile, she didn’t have any problems turning down an offer that she deemed “very rude.”

“There was a dentist that made a public offer — he didn’t contact me personally, and so I turned him down publicly,” Bowersox told People. “It’s not that I didn’t want to do it. I’ve always wanted to do it.”
Now that she has, the singer, who covered Patty Griffin’s “Up to the Mountain” on the “Idol” finale, says it’s making all the difference.

“I’m smiling with pure confidence for the first time in my life,” she said. “And it’s a good thing.”

Related Articles:

Your smile is one of the most important aspects of your appearance, and we at Greystone Smile Design offer a wide variety of cosmetic procedures.  With the birth of new technology, better materials and increased knowledge, a beautiful smile is now easily within your reach!

Are You Ready for a Smile Makeover?

To read the rest of this article, click here.

Watch the ABC 33/40 interview of Dr. Tom Dudney after the Birmingham Extreme Makeover in December ’08.  Dr. Dudney discusses cosmetic dentistry, treatment options, and the many ways you can achieve the smile of your dreams!

We are proud to have Dr. Dudney as part of the Greystone Smile Design team.  To schedule an appointment, call 205-433-9452.

Related Links:

Greystone Smile Design Blog

Dr. Dudney – California Center for Advanced Dental Studies

Birmingham, Alabama Cosmetic Dentist

Greystone Smile Design is a state-of-the-art dental practice in the Greystone Cosmetic Center.  The office consists of cosmetic, family, and pediatric dental procedures behind the expertise of Dr. Trent Buchanan and Dr. Tom Dudney.  Services include tooth-colored fillings, teeth whitening, veneers, children’s dentistry, implants, dentures, teeth cleanings, root canals, and more.  It truly is an office for the entire family, and that’s something to smile about!

Dr. Buchanan is one of the most aspiring young dentists in the area.  He brings a wealth of knowledge in the fields of restorative dentistry, cosmetic procedures, and emergency treatment.  Dr. Buchanan recently completed the requirements for the prestigious Fellowship Award from the Academy of General Dentistry and will be recognized for his accomplishments at the July 2010 meeting in New Orleans.  Requirements consisted of 500 hours of approved continuing dental education and successul completion of a written examination.  Of the 140,000 dentist in the United States, only approximately 13,000 have earned this impressive honor.

Dr. Dudney, the present program director for the California Center of Advanced Dental Studies, brings an impressive resume relating to cosmetic dentistry.  He has maintained a successful private practice in Alabaster for almost 30 years and was recently featured on The Rick and Bubba Show for the “Fix Mama’s Mouth – Ultimate Mother’s Day Makeover” and ABC 33/40’s Extreme Makeover.  Dr. Dudney’s patients rave about their extraordinary results, but they claim it’s his kindness and caring attitude that sets him apart.

Greystone Smile Design prides itself on impeccable affability, caring availability, and advanced technology to make going to the dentist much more pleasurable.  Below is a list of services that make this “not your average dental office”:

• Extended hours on nights and weekends for your busy schedule
• Tooth-colored fillings
• Limited warranty on all major procedures
• Flat screen TVs in each treatment room for your enjoyment
• Payment Plans to help you get the treatment you deserve
• An anesthetic reversal agent so you’re not numb all day
• Intra-oral cameras for a virtual tour of your mouth
• Invisalign to straighten teeth without braces
• A new bleaching technique that is predictable and permanent
• Digital x-rays to reduce exposure to radiation

The ultimate goal at Greystone Smile Design is optimal oral health for life and creating lasting relationships in the process.  To schedule an appointment, fill out the form above or call 205-433-9452.

Related Links:

Greystone Smile Design

Greystone Smile Design Blog

Birmingham Smile Makeover