Dental Health Check with Dr. Linda Niessen
Dental health topics from Dr. Linda Niessen of Baylor College of Dentistry
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 Invisible Teen Braces

By Dr. Linda Niessen
Monday, April 11, 2005

STORY:  INVISIBLE TEEN BRACES

Teenage orthodontic patients now can avoid the label "metal mouth." They are straightening their teeth with invisible braces that use no metal wires or brackets. Dr. Linda Niessen has details in this Dental Health Check.

Thousands of adults have avoided conventional braces by using the new Invisalign system. Patients wear the nearly invisible plastic trays, called aligners, 24 hours a day. They only take them out to eat and brush their teeth. Now, for the first time, teenagers are being treated using Invisalign. But only a certain type of young patient.

Heres the biggest problem, compliance. The Invisalign system requires the patient to follow the dentist's directions and wear the aligners all the time.

"You can't be very forgetful." Nicole Bullock is a very mature 13 year old. Her dentist prescribed Invisalign to straighten her top and bottom teeth. "You have to be pretty responsible, because you can't leave them some place, otherwise your teeth won't move," said Nicole.

"If they don't wear the Invisalign aligner, it doesn't work so it's an absolute requirement that they be a compliant patient."

Dr. Doug Crosby is Nicole's orthodontist. So far, he has about a dozen young Invisalign patients. "When they come in, they are supposed to be at a certain tray or aligner. And if that particular aligner is not fitting, then we know they haven't been wearing it," said Dr. Crosby.

"Certainly, my daughter, being responsible makes her just a perfect Invisalign candidate," said Monica Bullock, Nicole's Mother.

Invisalign is still for only minor movement of teeth. Eventually, the technique could be used for more complex orthodontic problems. For Baylor College of Dentistry, Texas A & M System, I'm Dr. Linda Niessen, Channel 8 News.

Dr. Linda Niessen, clinical professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences and  the Office of Communications and Development at Baylor College of Dentistry, hosts Dental Health Check, the only weekly dental feature shot on location in the nation.

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