IPR in Kids: What’s the Right Age?

Have you ever wondered why you might need to do IPR in kids and when the right age for this procedure might be? In many cases, mixed dentition cases can be among the trickiest to fix since it’s not always clear what you should be offering as part of your dentist consultations.
What is IPR?
IPR is a procedure called interproximal reduction, which serves to help reduce a tooth’s width by removing very small amounts of enamel. This procedure can be completed relatively easily by an experienced dentist, but it’s important to consider the age of your patient before you get started.
When Should Patients be Offered IPR For the First Time
Here at Straight Smile LLC, we recommend you avoid offering IPR for kids since there’s generally not much need to do this. Children who need IPR will often have tooth crowding cases. However, these cases can be easily addressed with other techniques such as arch expansion, proclination (based on a CEPH), sequential digitalization, etc.
Generally, you may want to avoid this technique for children except when you’ve already run it through the Bolton simulator and the child needs 0.2mm per site. However, there can still be exceptions to this.
In the end, it’s worth getting professional support on a case-by-case basis. Luckily, our team here at Straight Smile LLC can help you find the proper techniques for your patients.

Have you ever considered the challenges of retaining old GenZ employees (or even hiring new ones)? In many cases, getting new employees can sometimes seem like a challenge, and when it comes to talking about Gen Z employees, things become even more tricky.
Indeed, Gen Z employees are often just getting into the workplace for the first time now, and this can make hiring them – and retaining them – a tricky task. With the right approach, though, it’s definitely not impossible!
How to Hire and Retain Gen Z Employees
If you want to hire – and retain – Gen Z employees in your business, you’ll need to keep several things in mind. Indeed, Gen Z staff often have very specific wants – but meeting these can make hiring these staff members for back and front office roles easy.
Perhaps the most important aspect here is to ensure there’s flexibility in your business. Many Gen Z workers (and others!) appreciate being able to have different working patterns to suit their needs.
In addition, embracing digital in your practice can be a great option if you want to encourage more Gen Z staff. Virtual, synchronous, and asynchronous consults and check-ins are incredibly popular among the demographic.
Finally, try to be open to suggestions. While there’s only so much that you can necessarily implement, ensuring that your staff members feel heard and appreciated can go a long way overall.
Final Thoughts
If hiring Gen Z employees seems like a challenge, don’t worry – it’s not that hard. However, you’ll need to focus on modernizing your office to provide the best experience for Gen Z staff overall.

Sometimes it can be hard to tell if a case is better suited for braces or aligners. However, there are a few cases in which you should avoid putting in Invisalign or other non-Invisalign clear aligners. These cases either put yourself or the patient at risk, or they simply cannot be done.

Let’s discuss which cases are a “Flat Out Avoid” for providers who treat patients using aligners.


First and foremost, do not take any anterior open bite cases with Invisalign or other clear aligners. Whether the anterior open bite is large or small, or someone tells you it’s possible, avoid these cases at all costs. Just because people say it can be done doesn’t mean it should be done. The reason why these cases should be fully avoided is that they are unpredictable in nature.

Anterior open bite cases always have an underlying etiology that needs to be found. Now, this doesn’t mean that patients with anterior open bites can never get Invisalign – it’s just better to seek treatment for this issue before aligners.

Secondly, class two and class three patients should only be taken if they have their wisdom teeth out and healed. Having the wisdom teeth out and healed provides enough room to safely move the teeth around, so these patients should wait until then to receive clear aligners. You should also have a Ceph and Ceph number before starting this case.

And lastly, posterior crossbite cases in adults. You can take these cases, but you won’t be able to fix their posterior crossbite. This opens you up to having to do paperwork with the patient so that they understand risk-benefit and alternatives and that the posterior crossbite will remain even after Invisalign treatment.

We often tend to assume that tools like Invisalign are the premium solution for many different ortho needs. While this isn’t wholly untrue, it’s worth remembering that some cases are out of the norm – and this is where you’ll need to consider extra carefully whether Invisalign or clear aligners is the right option for the specific case (or not).
When Anterior Bite Turbos Don’t Work with Invisalign and Clear Aligner Cases
Anterior bite turbos should not always be used alongside Invisalign and clear aligners. While this may be enough to fix the issue in some cases, using Invisalign or other brands of clear aligners may not cut it in more severe scenarios.
Generally speaking, though anterior bite turbos can be hugely valuable for many cases, there are a few scenarios when they don’t work as well. You’ll want to take a CEPH beforehand, just to be sure; then, look out for issues such as an anterior open bite case. In this scenario, the bite turbos won’t likely have much benefit.
Moreover, it’s worth noting that ER cases need to be fixed before going any further. Periodontally treated anterior teeth, or those that feature very low crown-to-root ratios may also be a higher risk overall. In short: anything that may have damaged the tooth may render it unsuitable for anterior bite turbos.
Don’t Leave it to Chance
Unfortunately, getting a patient’s treatment plan wrong can be a hugely costly mistake for your business. However, if you need any more ideas on this, don’t hesitate to contact our team here at Straight Smile Solutions for professional guidance and support on a case-by-case basis.

Fixing Class 2 / Class 3 Mixed Dentition Cases with E Space or Leeway

When it comes to orthodontics for general dentists, one of the most often overlooked factors is how the age of the patient can impact their optimal treatment approach. However, as a professional dental consultant team, we here at Straight Smile Solutions are on hand to help you learn more about how to approach and fix mild class 2 or 3 cases in mixed dentition patients with leeway or e space.
When Can Class 2 and 3 Cases Be Fixed Through E Space or Leeway?
If you notice that a mixed dentition patient has a small amount of overjet in their bite, failing to take action to resolve this challenge may result in the patient struggling overall.
When premolars come in after losing the E teeth, the size difference can have numerous challenges for patients. This results in a leeway space differential – otherwise known as the e space differential. This usually accounts for around 1.5mm to 2mm per tooth.
In many cases, this can resolve itself naturally. However, if you find that you’re struggling with a slight class 2, adding an anchorage on the top of the molars can make a significant difference. This serves to brace the teeth, preventing sliding and roughly creating around 1.5mm of extra space.
With slight class 3 cases, the optimal treatment plan for a dentist consultant to try is to put a lingual arch, which allows a little more room around the lower 5s. Down the line, you may be able to also use this with braces if needed to finish the full case.
However, before taking any steps, it can be valuable to take a CEPH first to ensure this is the right treatment approach for your patient – for example, check that they’re not going to need maxillary advancement.
Final Thoughts
Unfortunately, working out when a dental consultant can fix class 2 and class 3 cases using e space or leeway isn’t always easy. However, as a general rule of thumb, these cases are usually possible when a patient is between nine and ten years of age.

Long, dolichocephalic faces with backwards and downwards growth are unique facial structures characterized by a long, narrow skull and jaw positioned further back and lower than normal. This facial structure can lead to orthodontic issues such as overcrowding, overbite, and misaligned teeth. Invisalign or clear aligners are popular orthodontic treatment options for individuals with this type of facial structure. They can effectively address these issues without the need for traditional metal braces.

Before beginning orthodontic treatment on patients with long faces, evaluating and addressing any airway issues is crucial. This can be achieved through an evaluation by an ENT (medical specialty focused on the diagnosis and treatment of disorders related to the ears, nose, and throat, as well as related structures of the head and neck) or OMT specialist (Osteopathic Manipulation Treatment (OMT) is a manual therapy technique used by osteopathic physicians to diagnose and treat various musculoskeletal and other medical conditions.) and potential treatment of tonsils, adenoids, or tongue release. The airway is the foundation of treatment, especially for growing patients.

Invisalign is the preferred modality for treatment planning for long-faced patients due to its intrusive effects on molars, which can decrease the length of the face more effectively than braces.

The first step in treating a long face is to remove the third molars, which can help slide things back and decrease the face’s length with the help of the jaw’s hinge effect. Avoid taking out premolars unnecessarily. This can improve outcomes while also preserving healthy teeth.
Conclusion
Before starting treatment on long-faced patients, it’s important to evaluate and address any airway issues, use Invisalign for treatment planning, and remove third molars before considering premolar removal. An ENT and OMT evaluation should be conducted before treatment begins.

In many cases, it’s not always clear how labio-lingual inclination can impact overall periodontal health. With this thought in mind, today, we’re briefly looking at some of the key things you need to know in this regard to help you find the most suitable orthodontics treatment plan for your patient’s recovery.

What is Labio-Lingual Inclination?

Labio-lingual inclination is a tendency toward a specific tooth arrangement in the mouth that can significantly impact the daily lives of many orthodontics patients. Variable tooth angles can often have a significant impact in this regard.

How Can Labio-Lingual Inclination Impact Periodontal Health?

Labio-lingual inclination can, unfortunately, have a significant impact on periodontal health in many orthodontics patients. Notably, such teeth typically tend to show greater mobility and deeper probing depths. Thus, this can make the prognosis for such teeth much lesser than for regular structures.

Luckily, orthodontics treatment plan options can help with the overall periodontal health of the patient. But don’t panic; if you need any further support in creating an effective treatment plan for these cases, get in touch with our experts here at Straight Smile Solutions today to see how we can help you and your patient get the best possible orthodontics results overall!

Using fixed appliances to correct bites in mixed dentition can effectively achieve proper dental alignment and improve oral health. Fixed appliances like braces are commonly used to straighten teeth and correct bite issues. These appliances consist of brackets attached to the teeth and connected by archwires that apply gentle pressure to the teeth, gradually moving them into their correct positions over time.

Mixed dentition refers to a child’s dental development period when they have both primary (baby) and permanent teeth. This typically occurs between the ages of six and twelve. During this time, children may develop bite problems, such as an overbite or underbite, that require orthodontic treatment.

Fixed appliances, such as braces, are often used to correct bite problems in mixed dentition. When using fixed appliances in mixed dentition, it’s important to consider the child’s ongoing dental development. This means that the orthodontist must carefully plan the timing of the treatment to ensure that it does not interfere with the eruption of permanent teeth.

Children with mixed dentition may have a greater risk of tooth decay and gum disease due to the presence of both primary and permanent teeth. Therefore, maintain good oral hygiene habits throughout the treatment process.

Fixed appliances can effectively correct bite problems in mixed dentition but require careful planning and maintenance to ensure the best possible outcomes.

Conclusion

Screening patients for interceptive orthodontics at a young age is recommended before it becomes too late to make a difference. There are some easy and affordable interceptive techniques that can be used to improve orthodontic health and future outcomes, such as the nance appliance and the anterior bite plate. The Nance appliance is a space maintainer that can also help correct class 2 malocclusion and hold teeth back from sliding forward, while the anterior bite plate is used to correct a deep bite. Both appliances can be easily inserted and monitored to help patients without requiring extensive braces or aligners.

One of the most beneficial aspects of Invisalign is the Invisalign Virtual Care Workflow, which can help providers save money and time when treating Invisalign clients. However, many providers are unaware of this helpful resource.

Let’s discuss how to use the Invisalign Virtual Care Workflow, how it can improve your workflow as a provider, and how it can even help you make more money as a provider of Invisalign aligner treatments.


There can be a high lab fee for Invisalign, but the Virtual Care Workflow can reduce the chair time you need to spend with patients. Patients that a virtual care experience will work for include those that are tech-savvy and willing to undergo their treatment in this way. You may also consider raising prices on in-person appointments or lowering prices on virtual care to incentivize using the Invisalign virtual plan.

Invisalign Virtual Care is a great tool for keeping everything in one place regarding patient care. It works as an app to streamline the interactions between patient and provider. The patient signs up just as you will. The patient then will download an app, and they will take photos of their progress and upload them to the app, typically weekly.

Providers get updates once a week for their patient’s care, which allows them to check in on the status of the aligners without having the patient come into the office. You can then comment on the photos according to the next step. If you would like to see the patient in person to discuss a concern you see in the images, you can do so, or you can sign off on the next set of aligners.

If you aren’t a fan of switching to virtual care, at the very least, the virtual care options from Invisalign are a great resource for patients who might be traveling or are otherwise unable to come in for a visit.

As an orthodontist, you need to consider a lot of different factors when creating a treatment plan for your patients. Of course, your final decision must always be made on which option is best suited to the patient’s lifestyle and preferences. However, it’s still worth keeping in mind which treatment is more profitable – Invisalign vs braces – to help you decide how to steer your treatment approach overall.

Invisalign vs Braces – Which is More Profitable?

It’s not immediately clear whether braces or Invisalign are more profitable for dentists, but it is important to ensure that your dental clinic has effective solutions to make money.

Overall, Invisalign tends to be a more profitable solution for dentists than braces. Indeed, braces usually make around half the hourly rate of Invisalign cases. In line with this, it’s perhaps unsurprising that some dentists may try to push Invisalign – however, remember that not every patient will need Invisalign.

Even when you consider the reduced fees associated with fitting braces vs Invisalign’s lab costs, Invisalign still tends to be more profitable per hour than braces. However, it’s worth keeping in mind that cases needing frequent revisions and checking may be less profitable overall. This is also true when you consider the different rates charged for Invisalign orthodontists compared to regular orthodontists.

Find the Ideal Solutions for your Patient’s Treatment Plan Today

It’s not always clear which option – Invisalign vs braces – could work best for your patient’s needs, and keeping this in mind could definitely help influence your final decision on the most appropriate method. Of course, for the most part, X is more profitable as a treatment plan.

However, it’s critical to keep in mind that you should never choose a treatment plan based solely on profitability. Indeed, both Invisalign and braces can offer perks and drawbacks. As such, if you need help choosing the ideal treatment plan for your patients, don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team here at Straight Smile Solutions for your dental consultation package.