Williams vs a Flea Orthodontics Appliances for Lower Fixed Expansion?

Most commonly, lower fixed expansion cases will be seen in mixed dentition patients, and these unique scenarios can come with several potential complications and struggles. With this thought in mind, ensuring you know the difference between a Williams Appliance and a Flea for lower fixed expansion is vital, and we here at Straight Smile LLC have outlined several critical things you need to know to help out!
What’s the Difference Between a Williams and a Flea Orthodontics Appliance?
For the most part, both the Williams Orthodontic Appliance and the Flea Orthodontics Appliance have very similar features. However, the main difference between the two Orthodontics appliances is that Flea appliances have a soldered extension attached. This extension works to align crowded anterior teeth.
Which is Better for Lower Fixed Expansion Cases?
Both tools can be incredibly valuable, but if you’re attempting to use a Flea Orthodontics Appliance, it’s crucial you’re first experienced before attempting this. Indeed, Flea Orthodontics Appliances, when used incorrectly, can result in risky mistakes, such as teeth being pushed through the bone. So, if you’re not already well-versed in using these tools, you may want to avoid using a Flea Appliance.
As such, the Williams Appliance is generally much easier to use and comes with lower risk. So, this may be a safer bet to consider for your own orthodontics needs in lower fixed expansion cases.
For further support, please don’t hesitate to contact our team here at Straight Smile LLC with any orthodontics related questions you might have, too!

Keywords
Orthodontics
Straight Smile LLC

Have you been looking to determine whether a mixed dentition patient requires a palatal expansion and how this applies to dental vs skeletal crossbites? This can sometimes be a little tricky to accurately pinpoint and treat, which is why we’ve outlined a few critical things you should consider as part of your ortho course to help you find the right approach for mixed dentition patients.

When is a Palatal Expansion Required for Mixed Dentition Patients?

Mixed dentition patients (typically young children) may require a palatal expansion in some cases. A palatal expansion should be attempted at around seven to eight years of age and helps widen the palate, which may help with crossbite cases. However, there is a significant difference between dental and skeletal crossbites, which are highly important to recognize when determining the best ortho treatment course for the patient.

Dental vs Skeletal Crossbites

Generally speaking, in mixed dentition patients (children primarily), a dental crossbite is a relatively rare case to see. Contrastingly, skeletal crossbite are generally more common, such as maxillary hypoplasia or mandibular hyperplasia. However, the displacement of teeth could potentially put the patient at risk of a dental crossbite.

Final Thoughts

Generally speaking, most orthodontics cases you’ll see in mixed dentition patients requiring palatal expansion will be skeletal in nature. Dental displacements can occur, but these are generally less common overall.

 

Keywords

Orthodontics

Ortho course

Mixed Dentition

Have you been looking to find out when you should be using Invisalign and when to just stick with regular braces? Both Invisalign and regular braces can provide good solutions, but to get the best results, you want to ensure you’ve started out with the right type of solution for your patient’s unique case. Of course, this topic is largely down to personal choice, and there’s no right or wrong answer exclusively; still, we’ve outlined a few things you may want to think about to help inform your decision.
Braces vs Invisalign
Generally speaking, Invisalign is an incredibly effective tool. However, in a handful of specific cases, you might find that braces could still prove a better solution. These include the following cases:
– Impacted molars (particularly second molars as opposed to third molars)
– Impacted canines
– Cases where the patient doesn’t necessarily want to use Invisalign
It’s worth noting that you can always start with braces and switch over to Invisalign if possible. For example, in the case of an impacted canine or molar, you may be able to begin using Invisalign once the tooth has come up. However, Invisalign can be relatively expensive due to Invisalign’s laboratory fees.
There’s No Simple Solution
There’s no simple way to say whether braces or Invisalign is necessarily better for a specific scenario. This can naturally lead to patients becoming incredibly confused by the entire topic – so, ideally, you’ll want to be able to show your patients’ past cases with whichever method you choose and, critically, offer them a ClinCheck before accepting payment to ensure the patient is satisfied with the service. It doesn’t cost a cent to run a ClinCheck, after all.

Keywords
Braces
Invisalign

Not all anterior open bites are the same, but treating adult cases and growing children can be very different. In fact, with patients who are done growing their anterior open bite must be treated at the cause level. Otherwise, there can be harmful effects as a result.

This article will address why you should avoid taking adult open bite cases for correction via alignment, including being unable to predict outcomes, potentially causing harm to the patient, and mistreating patients based on age.


Reason 1: You cannot predict the outcome of treatment.

You must address, diagnose, or inspect the etiology of the open bite in an adult to guarantee or even expect that the open bite will be corrected with alignment. These cases are unpredictable by nature, so do not get swindled by alignment brands saying that fixing this abnormality is possible with aligners. In most cases, the problem is solved by treating the cause.

Reason 2: You risk causing more harm than good.

With severe anterior open bites with crowding, the open bite will get worse with the alignment of those teeth. This causes more problems for the patient and more problems for the treating doctor, as you run the risk of getting sued for causing real harm to your patients. There are many cases of adult open bite cases where teeth and structures can be put at risk by improperly using aligners for these cases.

Reason 3: Your adult patients should be treated differently than child cases.

For dental care, adult cases are not necessarily 18+. Rather, an adult case should be considered a case where the patient has stopped growing. People make the mistake of treating teenagers like children in these cases, assuming that because habits have changed, they can treat the case with aligners. However, if there are no further changes because the patient has stopped growing, these changes to the bite are permanent, and the bones are now deformed and cannot be addressed with Invisalign or other aligners.

How to Tell if a Maxillary Labial Frenectomy is Required

Have you ever wondered about how you tell when a maxillary labial frenectomy is needed? In many cases, it’s pretty easy to work out the correct orthodontic treatment plan options – however, in some cases, things can seem a little trickier. In this scenario, it’s well worth considering the important things you need to know about maxillary labial frenectomy.
When is a Maxillary Labial Frenectomy Required?
First, we should briefly consider when a maxillary labial frenectomy will be required. A maxillary labial frenectomy is used when the incisors are aligned and when a space closure treatment plan has already been attempted. As a result, such treatments are common during other forms of orthodontic care; however, they should ideally only be carried out if normal functionality is compromised for any reason.
Ideally, these services should not be provided directly by general dentists since incomplete or incorrect services could result in scarring. Therefore, you should always inform the patient right from the outset if there is any possibility of needing a maxillary labial frenectomy.
When Dealing with a Minor Case
Most cases you’ll likely see will be easy orthodontic cases, and a maxillary labial frenectomy may not be required. In these cases, if you think a huge amount of work probably won’t be needed, it’s still worth mentioning to the patient the possibility of a maxillary labial frenectomy. Ideally, you should also ensure they sign for this; doing so helps prevent the risk of patients being surprised down the line if they do end up needing this treatment plan.
More Complex Cases
Several more complex issues could indicate that you need maxillary labial frenectomy. These include the following key points:
– The power chain re-popping open
– The patient had Invisalign before in a retrimming case
– The space continues to open after braces are fitted
Don’t forget – if the case is minor, the patient can always decline these services, but the patient should always be given paperwork to sign that prevents the liability coming down on you, as the orthodontist, for further work if they do end up needing a maxillary labial treatment plan.

Keywords
Easy Orthodontic
Treatment Plan

The question of whether or not to attempt to fix a posterior crossbite in an adult patient with Invisalign might be tempting, but the default is not to attempt to do so. However, some professionals continue to try to do so because there is no explicit warning from Invisalign not to do so.

Just because there is no message that something is impossible doesn’t mean that it is A. possible or B. doesn’t come without harmful side effects. So, let’s discuss the impacts of attempting to fix a posterior crossbite with Invisalign or Clear Correct.


There are side effects that are possible from attempting this correction. These side effects are part of an important assessment in the risk-benefit analysis that you will need to go through as a dental professional. Fixing a posterior crossbite rarely outweighs the risks of killing a tooth, pushing a tooth through the buccal plate, killing the nerve, mispositioning the tooth, and causing problems later, among other risky possibilities.

There are some possible scenarios where you can make some corrections with Invisalign. One example of this scenario where you can shift is a unilateral crossbite where the midlines are off. Correcting this midline may end up correcting the bite as a result.

However, most cases do not have positive outcomes and shouldn’t be committed to fixing with Invisalign because of the risks. The priority here should be saving the patient’s teeth and prioritizing long-term outcomes rather than correcting the posterior crossbite. Examine these cases with an unbiased lens and think outside of the box of Invisalign. If you don’t or can’t offer other solutions than Invisalign, these patients need to be referred to another provider.

As medical professionals, we carry many responsibilities on our shoulders. One of these responsibilities includes looking at the totality of imaging when taking it. That means if you are taking a CBCT, you are responsible for reading and interpreting the full image, even if you are only looking at one area.

If there is pathology within the image that you do not review or report on, you are liable for missing that on imaging. So, let’s discuss how Beam Readers works for screenings and how to ensure that you are in the clear before making treatments when you notice abnormalities, such as supernumerary teeth.


When performing this imaging, it is crucial to get radiology read by a licensed OMR or maxillofacial radiologist to sign off on treatment in the presence of abnormalities on imaging. Going through this extra step is essential for making sure that you are clear to move forward and make sure that these reports are given to you in writing. This is important because if something happens down the line, you deferred to the person who is more experienced than you, and that was the proper course of action decided at that time.

You may not be qualified to do so or may not have OMR resources in your area, which is why Beam Readers is an option for reviewing CBCTs and other dental imaging. Using Beam Readers is a quick way to ensure you begin treatment safely. Beam Readers is an online service capable of performing these readings and reviews for about $50-100. They have 60 OMRs on staff in addition to other imaging techs who can answer your orthodontic questions and review in all 50 U.S. states and Canada. For specific questions, pricing can be a little over $100, but they also have bulk and high-volume pricing available.

Have you ever had any questions about twin blocks? Twin blocks are highly important tools to use as part of your dental consulting and Invisalign services to help grow a lower jaw – mainly if the patient is mandibular deficient and is still actively growing.
What You Need to Know First
Before you start with twin blocks and braces, it’s first important to check that the patient is eligible for a twin block overall. A twin block will only work if the patient is mandibular deficient and if their skeletal structure is still growing. It’s not necessarily enough to just assume this is the case or take the patient’s word for it. Taking accurate measurements can help you ensure that you get the best possible results overall.
Other Applications for Twin Blocks
In addition to growing the lower jaw, twin blocks can also be customized depending on your unique requirements. As such, it’s important to keep in mind the key things you have learned during your SmileDirectClub online orthodontic courses and sessions to ensure you’re not “biting off more than you can chew,” as it were.
Don’t be Afraid to Do Things in Stages
One of the most important things to consider when providing twin blocks is not to rush into things too fast. If your patient has too significant a gap, this will be too much of a difference to make in a single go. As such, in these scenarios, you’ll want to do things in stages instead to reduce the risk of things going wrong.
Installing a Transverse Screw
Did you know that, in many cases, it’s possible to optimize your patient’s care by doing several things at once (so long as this won’t strain the muscles and jaw)? A transverse screw can be installed for crowding cases or if there’s a deficient maxilla transversally.
Don’t Use it for Deep Bites
Unfortunately, it’s important to keep in mind that twin blocks are not often effective for deep bites. While you can potentially try this, plenty of braces and Invisalign options may be more effective for deep bites.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve been looking to begin providing twin block services as part of your Invisalign and braces packages, it’s important to consider today’s overall key points. Indeed, here at SmileDirectClub, we strongly recommend that you learn all you can before getting started with twin blocks and the like to increase the chances of your cases being successful. And luckily, there are plenty of great orthodontic courses out there that can help with this.

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Invisalign
Orthodontic Courses
SmileDirectClub
Braces
Dental consulting

When it comes to orthodontics, one of the key things you’ll need to know is how to manage bracket repositioning and forced eruption cases. If this is something you have been struggling with, we’ve outlined some of the key things you need to know about how to fix posterior open bite or for re-bracketing purposes as part of your ortho course.
Triangle Elastics and Posterior Box Elastics Won’t Work!
First of all, it’s important to recognize here that if the wire is passive, triangle elastics and posterior box elastics just won’t work – after all, this will just result in forced erupting, which will most likely bounce back into place after.
Two Ways to Handle Bracket Repositioning and Forced Eruption
If you are looking to finish up the alignment process for your patient and are already satisfied that the arches are fully coordinated, you could consider step bends after finishing leveling. However, as a general or pediatric dentist following an ortho course, forced eruption may be more effective.
If the gums are inflamed, or you’re already starting at the gum line, you may want to remove the tie and loop it under or over the bracket without tying it in as you normally would. Don’t forget to explain this to your orthodontics patients, too, or else they may panic that the braces haven’t been fitted correctly!

Keywords
Orthodontics
Ortho course

Have you ever wondered whether you should be using Invisalign 3 or Invisalign 5 aligners? As ortho consultants, ensuring you know the key differences between these two aligner types is highly important. As such, as part of your online orthodontic courses, it’s important to consider these two Invisalign aligners and how they differ.
Invisalign 3 vs Invisalign 5
All ortho consultants ought to consider several key differences between Invisalign 3 and Invisalign 5. These include the following points:
– Price: Invisalign 3 lab fees are marginally cheaper than Invisalign 5, costing $1879 and $1985 respectively; however, this does not necessarily mean better value.
– Additional aligners: While Invisalign 3 includes just three additional aligners, Invisalign 5 offers unlimited additional aligners.
– Timeframe: The Invisalign 3 plan only runs over a three-year period, while Invisalign 5 runs over five years in total.
Overall, Invisalign 5 is likely to offer better value for money overall. Unless you are dealing with a very straightforward case, Invisalign 5 is likely to be a better choice overall, as it offers more revisions and greater flexibility. This also allows you to also offer better value on retreatments.

Keywords
Online orthodontic courses
Invisalign
Ortho consultants