Office Technology

Reasons to Choose Invisalign Over Metal Braces

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Girl with Invisalign
If you have been to the dentist recently, you may have discussed braces with your provider. If you are an adult, you may be concerned that getting braces at this point in your life will make you look less professional. You also may have been prevented from getting braces as a child due to financial constraints or access to dental care. You are not alone. About 25% of adults require dental correction involving braces for one reason or another. Thanks to Invisalign, more and more adults can get the smile they have always dreamed about without anyone even noticing! While metal braces are still an excellent option for dental corrections, Invisalign might be the right choice for you. Here are some reasons to choose Invisalign over traditional metal braces.

They’re Invisible

Okay, you probably already figured that one out. Invisalign is appealing because you can straighten your teeth without having to compromise your smile with metal braces. Invisible braces are especially appealing to adults in a professional or career setting. Unfortunately, many people want to improve their smile but shy away from braces because they fear what people think if they have metal braces in adulthood. First of all, no one should be swayed by the opinion of others; there is nothing wrong with getting braces when you are over the age of 18. That aside, Invisalign is an excellent choice if you want to avoid those situations and opinions altogether.

Better Technology, Better Results, Better Comfort

In the last decade or so since the perfecting of Invisalign, custom fittings have produced better results. With metal braces, there is not much room for customization. While metal braces are sized for your teeth, there is not much room for comfort adjustments. Even the bands that need to be changed regularly can cause discomfort for most people with metal braces. Because of Invisalign’s new technology, dentists can give patients a custom aligner through the use of 3-D molding or with the latest technology, the iTero Scanner – which we can use here in our office at Alrez Family Dentistry! Moldings and 3-D scans will create aligners that fit your entire mouth. As your teeth begin to move and shift, a dental provider can make a new molding as often as needed until the desired correction is reached.

One aspect that makes Invisalign exceptionally comfortable is the fact that you can remove the aligner! While you need to work with your provider to decide how many hours you will need to wear the aligner, most people can take these out after some time each day. Much like a retainer, it gives you more control and comfort over your dental corrections, unlike metal braces that force you to hide your teeth for a few years to see results.

A Beautiful Smile Starts Here

Whatever you choose, metal braces or Invisalign, our team at Alrez Family Dentistry would be happy to talk with you about the pros and cons of each option. We also recommend scheduling an appointment with us twice each year to ensure you are on the best track for optimal dental health. Your beautiful smile starts here!


Our New State-of-the-Art iTero Scanner Has Arrived!

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Getting a dental impression with moldings can be one of the most claustrophobic, gag-inducing feelings one can experience at the dentist’s office. Dental impressions are a necessity for many dental procedures, such as crown/bridge placement and Invisalign, because they enable dentists to create a custom and comfortable fit for your unique mouth needs. While the results might be worth the gagging, many people wonder, “is there a better way?” Yes, there is, and at Alrez Family Dentistry, we just received it!

Innovation in the Dental Universe

Dental Tech Using iTero Our office is so excited to present our patients with the newest innovation in dental technology: the iTero scanner! The iTero scanner is equipped with a 3D, intraoral, high-definition camera. This scanner maps your mouth in color and presents your dental team with a complete picture of what is happening inside your mouth without ever chomping down on a mold.

While a dental impression can take several minutes, the iTero scanner is quick. Finished in as little as 60 seconds, you won’t even have a chance to think about your gag reflex. In addition, the iTero can replace dental impressions in a majority of cases, like bridges and crowns, implants, and Invisalign. Finally, iTero combines timelapse and outcome simulation technology. This innovation allows our team to compare previous scans and even show you a predicted outcome of what your mouth will look like after your dental journey is complete.

The Best for Our Patients

We are proud to offer this new tech to both current and new patients. Our goal as your dental care team is to continue providing the same fantastic care with the added benefit of the latest and greatest technology. This added comfort in-office will make your dental visit a more enjoyable experience. If you have been putting off Invisalign or a much-needed bridge because you feared the mold, you can now rest easy! So give us a call, or schedule an appointment, and share in our joy as we introduce the iTero to Alrez Family Dentistry.


VELscope® Vx system – Oral Cancer Screening Equipment

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Laser Teeth WhiteningThe VELscope® Vx system enhances the way practitioners examine the oral mucosa and screen for tissue abnormalities, potentially leading to the earlier discovery of precancer, cancer or other disease processes. Early detection is one of the best mechanisms for enabling treatment success, increasing survival rates and maintaining a high quality of life.
The DEXcam™ 3 Intraoral Digital Camera is a tool for patient education and communication.

Fighting Oral Cancer With Technology

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velscopeVELscope Lesion Detection

This is our portable oral cancer screening device. With the aid of the VELscope device, we are beginning to incorporate oral cancer screening into routine dental exams. Although we’ve always checked for lesions during these exams, oral cancer is typically at stage 3 or 4 by the time such lesions are visible to the eye. We are determined to catch the cancer before this point to give our patients the best shot at treatment. Today, oral cancer is becoming more prevalent due to the spread of HPV. That being said, it is important for us to help catch the disease in its early stages. Using the VELscope system, examination takes under 2 minutes and requires no rinses or stains. To learn more about VELscope devices, visit their site.

Schedule your appointment with Dr. Alrez today. You can also click to read about our other office tools like our DEXIS software or the only toothbrush we endorse — the Rotadent Contour.


The Only Toothbrush Endorsed by Alrez Family Dentistry

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genius x Oral B Toothbrushes

At Alrez Family Dentistry, we sell only the best toothbrushes for our patients — the Oral B Genius X and the Vitality These are the only products that we confidently stand behind. Why?

Genius X

The Oral-B 10000 Genius X helps you brush as your dentist recommends. It has a revolutionary Artificial Intelligence technology that enables it to recognize your brushing style and coaches you for your best results every day.

Vitality

The Oral-B Vitality electric toothbrush provides a superior clean vs. a regular manual toothbrush. The round shape of the Floss Action toothbrush head is designed to clean tooth by tooth, and its MicroPulse bristles reach between teeth for a deep clean*.

To read more about the technology used in the Alrez Family Dentistry office, visit our pages for the NOMAD Handheld X-Ray System or the DEXcam 3. If you’d like to come in for a visit, use our request an appointment page.


More Digital Imaging, Less Radiation Exposure

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DEXIS_Platinum sensorDEXIS Software for Digital Imaging

Digital Imaging is the up and coming trend for dental professionals taking intra-oral x-rays. Patients prefer this type of imaging as well, because the results are produced faster and don’t require exposure to radiation. Film-based radiographs had to sit in chemicals for viewing, which made for a lot of sitting around and waiting. Instead, digital imaging is produced almost instantly. And with DEXIS software, we are able to depend on these crystal clear images for a better diagnosis. DEXIS is motivated by efficiency and image quality when designing these products.  Each  DEXIS Platinum sensor utilizes direct USB connectivity for maximum portability and the highest quality images possible. Visit the DEXIS site to learn more about digital imaging software.

For more information on our other DEXIS tools, read about our DEXcam 3. Schedule your appointment today!


Intra-Oral Camera Allows Patients To Get a Professional View

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DEXcam3

DEXcam™ 3 Intra-oral Camera

Have you ever wanted a look inside your mouth — so you can see what the dental team is seeing? With the DEXcam 3, this is possible. And our patients love it. At Alrez Family Dentistry, we use it as an educational tool and to communicate more efficiently with our patients.

The camera is on a lightweight hand piece for easy use by dental professionals. It streams live video to a display monitor so that patients can understand what the dentist is referring to. By getting a better look at gums and teeth, patients are better prepared to understand their own dental health. Also, the DEXcam3 allows us to take pictures and save them into the patient’s file for future reference. In some procedures, having an intra-oral camera warrants greater insurance coverage making for an all around more affordable treatment. Visit the DEXIS website for more information on the DEXcam 3.

Schedule your appointment today to see the DEXcam 3 yourself. Also, read about our other technologies like the NOMAD Handheld X-Ray System or our DEXIS Software.


Alrez Family Dentistry Purchases Handheld X-Ray System

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nomadNOMAD Pro by Aribex

Recently, Dr. Alrez and the team updated the dental tool arsenal by purchasing the only FDA-approved handheld radiation device on the market.  This device is portable and weighs less than 5 pounds, so it is very convenient for use around the office. It can be especially helpful when taking x-rays of our younger patients’ teeth. It even allows for use in multiple rooms of the office. The NOMAD Pro has clearer images, long battery life, and makes the entire x-ray process much shorter. It truly is the most advanced in the industry, and it makes our jobs a bit easier. For more information on the NOMAD Pro, visit the Aribex website.

This is just one way that Alrez Family Dentistry is working to stay on top of the latest breaks in the dental industry. We’ve also installed a DEXcam for education and insurance purposes. Visit our appointment page and schedule your next visit.