Editorials

Los Angeles Magazine Editorials

In Magazine Editorials

In Focus Magazine Editorials

Additional Editorials

Have You Had Your Smile Designed?

Editorial for “Los Angeles” Magazine

By Dr. David Alpan, DDS, MSD, Inc., founder of Aesthetic Orthodontics

What would a magnificent smile do for you? Would it give you more self-confidence if others smiled back at you upon seeing your beautiful smile? Would you smile more, knowing you have a smile that makes others glow because you smiled at them? Do you think you would have more friends because your smile made a fantastic first impression? Would you be more willing to be outgoing and fun loving when others keep telling you, ”Gee, you sure have a beautiful smile!” These are the most important reasons for having orthodontic treatment in order to correct dental-facial and cranial-facial irregularities. In addition you will have healthier teeth and gums and will be able to chew better.

What does the American Association of Orthodontics say about orthodontic treatment? When you think of braces today, with tiny brackets, space-age wires and trendy rubber bands in a rainbow of colors, it’s hard to imagine how braces use to be. This year the American Association of Orthodontics (AAO) celebrates 103 years of commitment to excellence in creating healthy and beautiful smiles. Between the ages of 5 to 7, an orthodontist should examine every child. Taking advantage of growth from ages 7 to 12 can prevent the following: future tooth decay; inflamed gums (gingivitis); a bad bite causing difficulty in chewing, jaw joint pain, chronic headaches and many other symptoms, and the possible loss of permanent teeth to straighten teeth after age 12. Regardless of age, everyone can have orthodontic treatment if they have teeth.

What is orthodontic treatment like today? In the past, braces meant a mouth full of shiny metal. Now clear brackets, which don’t turn yellow, break or slow down treatment combined with tooth-colored wires make them braces almost unnoticeable. We now have new wires made of materials (nickel & titanium first used by NASA) that move teeth quickly with less pain because they apply less force.

What are the latest advances? Today invisalign is the leading alternative to braces. Invisalign is a thin, clear, plastic, removable appliance that fits snuggly over the teeth. More and more adult patients - high-profile people in the entertainment industry, in sales, in executive positions, or those who just want to go wireless – are selecting invisalign to help them create the smile of their dreams when they have minor tooth crowding or spaces to close.

How does it work? An impression is taken of the upper and lower teeth, which is then sent to invisalign. Using 3-D imaging technology, they fabricate a series of aligners that are used to straighten the crooked teeth or close spaces between them. A series of appointments are scheduled with the orthodontist to make sure the treatment is on course. Sometimes mid-course corrections are required. The patient uses the first appliance for two weeks and then puts in the second appliance and so forth.

What are the advantages of using invisalign? There are several advantages to using invisalign - fewer appointments; the aligner may be removed while eating and one can eat hard and sticky foods. After eating the teeth are brushed, flossed, rinsed with water and then the aligner is reinserted. The aligner is nearly invisible, so few will realize that you are having your teeth straightened. The aligner is worn 22-24 hours a day except when one eats, brushes and flosses. Invisalign treatment usually takes 12 months, however, time and cost varies according to severity of irregularities and patient’s cooperation in wearing the aligner. The average cost is $5,000.

Tempero-Mandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorders (TMD) may be associated with headaches, neck stiffness, ringing in the ears, dizziness, and pain and clicking in the jaw joints and many other symptoms. After TMD therapy, orthodontic treatment is often the best way to improve the bite to alleviate symptoms.

<<Back to top

Medical Breakthroughs - Special Advertising Section Dentistry

Orthodontics has rounded a corner as well. Gone are the days when braces meant a mouth full of metal. A myriad of choices abound, such as invisalign, which is a series of clear, plastic, removable aligners that move your teeth without braces from the age of 13+. “Among the many benefits invisalign offers is the ability to see how you will look at the end of treatment before treatment even begins,” says Dr. David Alpan. Beyond that, patients treated with the invisalign system experience less tooth sensitivity, fewer cavities, and have no food limitations because there are no brackets or wires to bend, break or knock off your teeth. Because the aligners are removable, you can remove them for photo ops, intimate moments and before you eat. Every two weeks you put in a new aligner and your teeth are moved gently to their ideal position. Invisalign is also sports friendly so you can wear the aligner and not worry about being injured if someone or something hits your face. "The aligner doesn't affect your speech or impact your appearance, and unless someone is less than a foot away from you he or she wouldn’t notice that you are wearing it," adds Dr. Alpan.

<<Back to top

In Magazine Interview Article

With Tom Cruise, Nicholas Cage and other stars getting braces to improve their smile, more Americans are conscious of their smile now than ever before, according to Dr. David Alpan, DDS MSD Ltd. Dr. Alpan uses a space-age technology to move teeth into their ideal position called Invisalign® - a series of clear, removable plastic aligners that move teeth without the need for braces (brackets attached to the teeth).

Dr. Alpan founded Aesthetic Orthodontics in Los Angeles in 1998 and the Beverly Hills and Las Vegas branches in 1999. In 1999, Dr. Alpan was certified by Align Technology to be an Invisalign® provider. In 2001, he was invited by Align to teach orthodontists and general dentists to become certified Invisalign providers. In 2003, Dr. Alpan began leading Invisalign® study groups for general dentists in Los Angeles and Orange County. The majority of patients now request Invisalign® over metal or clear braces.

In: What is Invisalign®?

Dr. Alpan: Based on 3D imaging technology a series of customized, removable, clear plastic aligners are made to gradually move teeth. They fit over the teeth like gloves on a hand. They're invisible, so when you smile nobody knows you're straightening your teeth. They're removable, so you can eat the hard and sticky foods restricted from those wearing braces. They're much more comfortable because they don’t irritate the lips and cheek. Nobody will call you “metal mouth.”

In: How long do you have to wear them?

Dr. Alpan: You wear a new aligner every 2 weeks. Each one moves your teeth ever so slightly week by week until your teeth gradually move into their ideal position. The average treatment time varies from 9-15 months depending on the severity of the existing condition.

In: Aren't they like retainers?

Dr. Alpan: Aligners are designed to move the teeth. Retainers hold the teeth in their final position after all tooth movement is complete – at the end of orthodontic treatment. We can make a retainer that fits over the teeth and looks like the aligner but doesn’t touch the gums. After treatment is complete, the clear, plastic retainer can also be used to hold the chemicals used to bleach the teeth.

In: Why do you like the aligners?

Dr. Alpan: The patient and I get to design their smile together on the computer with the ClinCheck® digital imaging software provided by Align Technology. We can create the ideal virtual treatment plan from start to finish. The ClinCheck® software shows the tooth movement like a movie from the beginning to the end of treatment. One woman decided she didn't want to close the gap between her front teeth because the rest of her family has that gap. We changed her treatment plan to leave a tiny space between her two front teeth - just enough to feel like a family member.

In: What if someone just wants to straighten one tooth?

Dr. Alpan: It’s very easy to do with Invisalign aligners and nobody knows.

In: Are more adults asking for braces to improve their smile?

Dr. Alpan: Yes, more adults are asking for braces for prevention and for cosmetics reasons. They are becoming more aware that misaligned teeth can lead to expensive dental and general health problems. Of course, besides improving health, adults also want to improve their smile and self-esteem.

In: Do you do Extreme Makeovers?

Dr. Alpan: I will join a team doing an “extreme makeover” only if I am asked to use braces or Invisalign® to move the teeth into their ideal positions in order to create a beautiful smile. Orthodontic treatment creates a lifelong improvement with minimal or no removal of tooth structure and is easier to maintain (than porcelain veneers or crowns) with routine oral hygiene procedures.

In: What's the most popular smile?

Dr. Alpan: Currently I believe it is the Hallie Berry smile; before that it was Julia Roberts. There are four steps to a perfect smile: straighten the teeth, contour them to match the individual’s facial form, make the tooth color appropriate to the skin color, and contour the gums to close spaces between the teeth and to not draw attention to the gums.

In: Why did you become an orthodontist?

Dr. Alpan: Beautiful smiles have amazing power. When I improve someone's smile, their viewpoints on life improve. Many people come to my office with hunched shoulders and chins down. After I, with my teams help, improve their smile, we all see their self-esteem and self-confidence improve. We enjoy watching the transformation.

In: So, with Invisalign, is it good-bye to braces?

Dr. Alpan: Not always. Some teeth need braces at first, and then, at the right time, we can switch to Invisalign. We occasionally use lingual, clear ceramic, gold and mini-stainless steel braces, but these aren't the metal-mouth braces you may remember.

In: Is Invisalign good for children?

Dr. Alpan: Invisalign® is not good for children from age seven to twelve. Orthodontic treatment ideally begins at age seven. From age seven to twelve, it is usually best to use other appliances to move teeth and expand the upper jawbones to take advantage of growth, which Invisalign® can’t do. After the age of thirteen, when the permanent first molars are usually in position in the mouth, boys and girls are treated the same way as adult patients. At age thirteen, Invisalign aligners can be used.

In: If my child has crowded teeth, will they straighten out by themselves as my child grows up?

Dr. Alpan: No, they will not straighten out by themselves. On the contrary, without orthodontic treatment the crowding will become worse.

In: Can my general dentist straighten my teeth with Invisalign®?

Dr. Alpan: I've trained over 6,000 general dentists nationwide to be certified Invisalign® providers.

For more information, please visit his website – get-Invisalign.com - and call his office – 213-382-8228 or 310-888-0066.

<<Back to top

Halloween vs. Braces

This is the time of the year that everyone is buying tons of candy to give away to children and adults as they go “trick or treating” from house to house.

On the one hand it is a season of fun and frolicking, wearing costumes, attending parties and having a great time.

On the other hand it is a season of pain and suffering from all the sugar, alcohol, cigarettes and refined and processed foods - cakes, cookies, ice creams, taffy, hard and sticky candies, etc.

Many people rush to their general dentists because of broken teeth and tooth aches. Many also rush to their orthodontists to replace broken brackets and wires from eating hard candies, taffy and other sticky deserts.

Here are some tips to help you make it through this season without too much pain or expense repairing the damage you could do to your teeth or braces.

Chewing hard candies, ice and popcorn causes minute fractures in your tooth structure. Over time these fractures fail and your tooth breaks. Sometimes it breaks right down the middle and must be removed. Suck on hard candies and ice to dissolve them in your mouth instead of biting down on them. Avoiding popcorn is the safest way to prevent breaking your teeth, brackets or wires.

If you must eat taffy or other sticky foods, let them melt in your mouth rather than chewing on them. If you are straightening your teeth with Invisalign, there are no brackets or wires to break, however you still run the risk of suffering pain from a toothache due to caries (tooth decay).

Eat as little of the treats you collect during Halloween as possible. If you must eat what you collect, spread it over the next six months. Eat one candy at the end of a healthy meal to dilute the sugar.

Sugar disrupts your hormone balance and over time a lot of sugar reverses the normal flow of nutrients into your teeth and begins the demineralization process called caries. Brushing your teeth after you eat sugar does not stop the systemic affect sugar has on your teeth and all your organs.

Brushing and flossing are important to stop and prevent inflamed and bleeding gums (gingivitis) and bone loss around your teeth (periodontitis). Sugar also causes bone loss in the jawbones and other bones of the body – called osteoporosis in medicine.

You can save yourself from pain and unwanted dental expenses by eating fresh fruits and vegetables instead of consuming candy, cookies, cakes, pies, ice cream, alcohol, coffee, caffeinated teas, and inhaling the first or second hand smoke from all forms of tobacco – cigarettes, cigars and pipes. All these drugs cause cancer, diabetes, heart diseases, dental diseases and 20,000 other named degenerative diseases.

Try to enjoy Halloween without poisoning yourself with all the junk being sold and given away during this season! The relationship between junk-food manufacturers and their customers is not a win-win relationship. They win and you lose – your money and your health.

<<Back to top

Invisalign - The First True Alternative to Braces

Tom Cruise, Nicholas Cage and millions of adults are wearing braces to have that perfect smile. Americans are more conscious of their smile now than at any other time, according to David Alpan, DDS, MSD, Ltd. Dr. Alpan, a Beverly Hills orthodontist, has trained close to 5,000 doctors nationwide to use Invisalign, the customized, removable, clear plastic aligners that fit over your teeth like gloves and that straighten them without braces. The advantages to Invisalign are:

  1. They’re invisible, so no one can see the process of the teeth getting straight.
  2. They’re removable, so you can eat everything that is restricted from those wearing braces. You can brush and floss your teeth with no problem after each meal to prevent cavities and inflamed gums.
  3. They’re comfortable, because there’s no metal in your mouth to irritate your lips or cheeks.
  4. You can fix just one or two teeth and nobody will know.
  5. You can watch the ClinCheck, a computerized movie that shows the movement of your teeth from the beginning to their final position. This also allows for your input on the final look.

The Halle Berry Smile: The new “in” smile is the Halle Berry smile, says Dr. Alpan. The steps to a perfect smile are getting the teeth straight, contoured properly, teeth whitened to complement the skin tone, and contouring the gum tissue. “Every patient leaves our offices with increased self esteem due to a prettier smile,” says Dr. Alpan.

Extreme Makeover: The “Extreme Makeover” trend can create some future health issues. When teeth are veneered or capped more tooth structure is removed. Veneers and caps (full crowns) can break and there is more chance for cavities to occur under them. They would then have to be redone. When the teeth and roots are crooked and only veneers and caps are done, it may be harder to use brush and floss for ideal oral hygiene to keep gums healthy. When teeth are moved, roots are also repositioned to best support the crown and keep the tooth in its ideal position for improved cosmetics and function. Moving teeth into their ideal position with Invisalign, clear or invisible braces may take longer than veneers, but the results are healthier and can last a lifetime. If teeth need cosmetic improvement after orthodontic treatment, beyond whitening, a veneer or crown can still be done.

Dr. Alpan treats children from ages 7-12 with braces and other fixed or removable orthodontic appliances. He treats adults from age 13 to any age with Invisalign, braces (clear, metal or gold) or invisible iBraces (hidden on the tongue side of the teeth) in his offices in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Dr. Alpan founded Aesthetic Orthodontics in Los Angeles in 1998 and the Beverly Hills and Las Vegas branches in 1999. In 2001, he began teaching doctors to become certified Invisalign providers. In 2003, Dr. Alpan began leading Invisalign study groups in Los Angeles and Orange County. He also does TMJ Therapy to relieve chronic pain in the jaw joint, face, head, neck and back. To find out more, visit his web site - get-Invisalign.com.

Anthony Mora Communications, Inc. 310-207-6615


<<Back to top