Getting braces is often a rite of passage for adolescents, and today more adults than ever before are in orthodontic treatment, as well. While many patients and families budget to allow orthodontic treatment to fit into their budgets, how does the cost of braces today compare to the costs of the past?
If you are on any type of social media, chances are good you’ve seen advertisements for a company called Smile Direct Club. The company offers the advantages of Invisalign clear aligners, but without ever having to leave your house. But can you really get that dream smile without ever setting foot in an orthodontist’s office?
Dr. Michael Stosich, a Chicago-area orthodontist and clear aligner expert, says no.
“Being able to get a straighter smile without ever having to see an orthodontist sounds tempting to a lot of people,” says Dr. Stosich. “But even though you may think you are saving time and money, the reviews don’t add up. There are so many intricacies that go into the tooth straightening process, and working without a highly skilled orthodontist may leave you with a smile no better than what you started with.”
Invisalign treatment is marketed heavily to patients seeking orthodontic treatment. If you are thinking about treatment, and wondering if Invisalign is right for you, there are some things you should know first. Dr. Michael Stosich, an orthodontic expert in the Chicago area, shares what he wants patients to know before making a decision.
Kenilworth/Wilmette, IL – Chances are good that you’ve seen an advertisement or two for Invisalign. The clear aligner therapy is hyped as being quick, easy and comfortable. But does it really provide the results that it claims, in the way that it claims to?
According to many patients, the marketing hype may be just that – hype. One former patient recently shared her Invisalign journey with Dr. Michael Stosich.
“Like many patients, she saw an advertisement and thought Invisalign sounded like the perfect solution to her smile problems,” says Dr. Stosich, who treats patients in the Chicago area. “But unfortunately, many patients finish Invisalign treatment with smiles far from what they had envisioned.”
Invisalign treatment is touted as being the almost invisible and totally comfortable way to straighten teeth. But is that reality? Most patients with more serious malocclusions would probably say otherwise, especially if their treatment involves the use of buttons or attachments.
I recently took my daughter to her dentist and he raised some concerns about her orthodontic treatment. He thinks the end result of her treatment may not be the smile the orthodontist said she’d have. Now I’m confused and concerned we are paying for orthodontic treatment that may have just be corrected later.
What is TMJ Disorder?
TMJ Disorder creates jaw and bite alignment problems in people who suffer from it. The temporomandibular joint is a hinge and gliding joint that is one of the most used joints in our body. Patients who suffer from TMJ problems will experience clicking of the jaw at the joints, jaw and/or facial pain, headaches, earaches, locking of the jaw, worn teeth and ringing in the ears.
