A Clear Alternative to Braces

May 29, 2015

A Clear Alternative to Braces: Drs. Morrone and Kaye use Invisalign to straighten teeth without noticeable metal braces.

By Liz Hunter

When you think about braces, you probably wince just a little recalling the unsightly metal brackets and painful wires of your youth. But thanks to technology and innovation, a new treatment method is changing the way we think—and see—braces.

This treatment, known as Invisalign, is actually a series of clear, customized, removable appliances called aligners. It’s a relatively new technique in the field of orthodontics, but according to Dr. Richard Kaye of Morrone & Kaye Orthodontics, Invisalign moves teeth into position just like traditional braces, but has its own set of advantages.

“We talk about how it’s a clear alternative to braces not only be-cause the appliance itself is clear, but because of the advantages it has over braces,” says Dr. Kaye, who runs the practice with his wife, Dr. Mary Beth Morrone. “The appliance is very soft and smooth, therefore it doesn’t end up irritating your mouth like braces. And for those who have trouble keep- ing their teeth clean, Invisalign is a great alternative because it is removable. There are no braces where food can get caught.”

As an elite provider of Invisalign, Morrone & Kaye has done over 650 cases of Invisalign, more than 95 percent of the practitioners in the country. “The experience and education we have in this treatment area makes us well-prepared to provide to our patients. We know what works and what doesn’t,” Dr. Kaye says. “In fact, we’ve had patients who were told by other orthodontists that they were not candidates for Invisalign and we’ve been able to treat them because of our advanced level of experience.”

There is no need for impressions for Invisalign, at least not in the sense you might re- member. Instead of biting down on a goopy substance to make a mold of your teeth, patients are now scanned digitally.

“The 3-D scanner forms an extremely ac- curate image of a patient’s mouth,” says Dr. Kaye. “We can immediately see if the scan didn’t work properly instead of creating another impression at a later appointment.” This is just the beginning of the process. Next come the actual aligners.

Each set of aligners is worn for about two weeks. Patients can remove them to eat, brush and floss. As teeth move, you graduate to the next set of aligners. Total treatment time can last from nine to 24 months, but that varies from case to case, says Dr. Kaye.

“In most instances, the treatment time is the same as braces,” he says. “As long as there is adequate pressure on the teeth, they will move at the same speed. Sometimes, treatment can be shorter if we’re just aligning teeth and not treating a patient’s bite.”

Invisalign’s technology has also advanced to allow more patients to take advantage of it. Dr. Kaye says, “In years past, Invisalign was best for someone with crowding, but now, the investments in research and development enables us to also treat a patient’s bite, as well as dental alignment.” He adds that Invisalign is actually the treatment of choice for patients with an open bite, which is when the back teeth touch before the front, leaving an open gap in the front. Many teenagers are also jumping on the band wagon.

Adults also make good candidates for Invisalign. “This treatment has become a huge draw for adults who may not have wanted braces due to their lifestyle,” says Dr. Kaye. “Now more adults are coming in for Invisalign to straighten their teeth without drawing attention to the process.”

While the treatment method is advanced, Dr. Kaye encourages patients not to shy away from it due to cost. “People think the price will be astronomical, but in our practice it’s the same cost as clear braces,” he says.

Dr. Kaye believes that, in the next decade or so, Invisalign will be used in 50 percent of new orthodontic cases, adding that orthodontists are best equipped to provide the treatment.

“Not every dentist can do Invisalign. Nobody moves teeth as well as orthodontists,” he says. “Orthodontists have the knowledge to make changes in a person’s treatment as it’s moving forward. Dentists see teeth differently than orthodontists. They see fillings and crowns, and we think about teeth in terms of the force needed to move them into a proper position.”

Drs. Kaye and Morrone are encouraged by the more than 500 patient reviews on their website. “Their thoughtful and appreciative feedback reminds us why we’re doing what we’re doing,” says Dr. Kaye.

Morrone & Kaye Orthodontics
is located at 99 W. Main St. in Moorestown
and 120 Madison Ave., Suite F in Mount Holly.

For more information,
call (856) 234-4044 or (609) 267-1221.
Visit them online at MorroneAndKaye.com.