Invisalign system and cost?

The Invisalign system

Invisalign is an innovated system that started in the heart of Silicon Valley by Align Technology, found in Santa Clara. In 1998 they got FDA approval for fabrication of the product and began sales in 1999.  Since then roughly 5 million people has used the product, treated by over 80,000 dentists all over the world.  This system involves using Align Technology’s proprietary software to convert your 3-D images of your teeth into a virtual 3-D model, then got set up such that your orthodontist can pick  apart individual teeth, move, and set up your teeth into perfect alignment and occlusion.  

Through Align Technology’s proprietary software, your orthodontist create a virtual correction set-up for your teeth first, then the prescribed treatment plan was sent to a distance location so robots by Aligner Technology can fabricate, trim, cut, and package aligners  into neatly stacked package and send them to your orthodontic office for dispensary.  Due to use of their proprietary software, Aligner Technology charged a high lab fee for their aligner product. 

The cost

Full Invisalign treatment may involve 25 trays or more and may take anywhere from 15 months or longer. The costs range from $5000-$9000 depend on the geographic areas and offices.  In the bay area, the cost averages around $7000.  At Care Orthodontics, our fee is significant lower.  We extend more affordable fee to make treatment accessible to more patients.  Fee varies depends on the complexity of treatment and the individual’s occlusion.

Invisalign system can be used to treat children, teenagers, adults ranging from age 7 to 97.   A decade ago, Invisalign was recommended mostly for patients age 14 or older but in recent years, with advanced technology, Invisalign treatment, used in combination with braces, can be applied to treat children at younger age. 

Whether you are the parents of the teen or the adult who considers the Invisalign system, every individual has different needs and requirements.   For specific recommendations, you need to schedule a consultation with our orthodontist, Dr. Nancy Phan, to do a thorough clinical examinations, review the teeth and see what best fitted for your needs.  The specific time, costs, and requirements will be discussed at the consultation appointment.

Dr. Nancy Phan is a Board-certified orthodontist and dedicated many years to bring out the true beauty of your smile and strong bites.   Visit our website at www.CareOrthodontics.com or call Care Orthodontic today at 408-971-2885 to schedule an appointment.

Treatment options for sleep apnea

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a condition when your breathing stops during your sleep, sometimes occurring 20-30 times per hour. Each time you stop breathing, the lack of oxygen available to supply to the brain causes you to wake up to restart the breathing process. The continuous process of wake-sleep, wake-sleep cycles prevent you from achieving deep sleep and causes you to feel constant drowsiness and fatigue during the day.

What are the risk factors?

Sleep apnea can occur with any age and gender. However, it is more common in males over age 40. There is higher risk for individuals with obesity, smoking, drinking, and family history.

Should it be treated?

Sleep apnea should be treated immediately. If left untreated, it can lead to high blood pressure, risk of heart failure, and stroke. It interferes with sedation and surgical recovery. Due to unintentionally falling asleep during the day, it negatively affects work and school. It also leads to higher risk of injury while operating heavy machinery.

How is sleep apnea treated?

Treatment for sleep apnea depends on the severity and type of apnea. Basic treatments involve behavior management, such as instructing patients to lose weight, stop smoking, stop drinking, and sleep on their side instead of their back.

Intervention treatment may include an oxygen machine. A medical device called a CPAP machine (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) is commonly used to treat moderate to severe sleep apnea. It delivers a continuous stream of oxygen to the patient, and has been proven to lower blood pressure and reduce heart problems [Source: WebMD].

Many people find that the machine works effectively at delivering air flow. However, the drawbacks include wearing a face mask that can be cumbersome and uncomfortable, and the mask can cause sore spots and irritation to the skin. The machine can be noisy, which can wake a person up at night. It is also an expensive machine. Some patients find themselves waking up at night to take the oxygen mask off.

An alternative treatment is oral appliance therapy. The oral device works best for mild and moderate cases of sleep apnea and avoids the drawbacks of an uncomfortable machine. The treatment involves fabricating and fitting a custom-made appliance to position the mouth open and unobstructed in order to maintain an open airway. This appliance is fabricated by an orthodontist and is used to prevent throat blockages. The oral appliance must fit comfortably so that it does not cause sore spots and the person can breathe comfortably.

In some severe cases, surgical treatment may be required to permanently change the position of the jaw. The mandible can be advanced to open the airway. The maxilla can be widened with a palatal expander in order to widen airway spaces.

If you or someone you love suffers from sleep apnea, talk to your physician to be referred to a sleep apnea specialist. The specialist may conduct a sleep study to diagnose the extent of the problem and recommend the appropriate treatment. If you are diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), you can schedule a consultation with an orthodontist to see if oral appliance therapy may be helpful to treat your sleep apnea. We can custom create an oral device for you to help open your airway and improve breathing.

If you find this blog helpful, let us know. Dr. Nancy Phan and the team at Care Orthodontics want you to have a beautiful and healthy smile. We create beautiful smiles with Care!

Sources and Citations:

1. http://www.progressivebraces.com/sleep-apnea-appliance-snore-appliance
2. http://www.dentistryiq.com/articles/2013/11/using-oral-and-dental-devices-to-treat-snoring-and-sleep-apnea.html
3. http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/sleep-apnea/continuous-positive-airway-pressure-cpap-for-obstructive-sleep-apnea