iTero® Element™ Digital Impressions
We Make a Great First Impression
Zammitti & Gidaly Orthodontics is a completely digital orthodontic practice in Davidson, Concord, and Harrisburg, NC. We are proud to offer our patients the ease and convenience of iTero® Element™ intraoral scanning. The iTero Element is an optical impression system (CAD/CAM) used to record topographical images of teeth and oral tissue, utilizing a compact hand-held wand. Data generated from iTero may be used in conjunction with the production of your traditional braces or with Invisalign® clear aligners. Not only is an iTero Element digital scan far more comfortable than the old putty-based impressions, but it’s faster and provides more precise images. iTero Element software is used with the iTero Element scanner to capture 3D digital impressions of teeth, oral soft tissue, structures, and bite relationships. The software controls the data processing, integrates the data, and exports it to fabricate your orthodontic appliances. In addition to scan data, we can also import and export your case information to simulate what your new smile will look like.
Comfortable, Fast, Accurate
iTero digital impressions are great for people with gag reflexes since there isn’t any putty used in the mouth. They are also more accurate than traditional alginate or PVS materials. Since the impressions are digital, they allow for faster turnaround times on Invisalign aligners and create a more precise fit.
During the scanning process, Dr. Zammitti or Dr. Gidaly will use the iTero Element Scanner’s wand to capture images of your teeth and gum tissue. You can breathe or swallow as you normally would. You can even pause during the process if you need to sneeze or want to ask a question. The iTero Element Scanner will give us a 3D model of your mouth that we can use with all orthodontic services, including the Invisalign Outcome Simulator, to show you what your new smile might look like.
Acceledent® Aura
Smile Faster
You want to improve the look of your smile, but does the thought of spending years in braces seem out of reach? With AcceleDent Aura, you can now speed your tooth movement by up to 50%! Using this fast, safe, and easy-to-use appliance, you’ll be finished with your orthodontic treatment and achieve your desired smile faster!
It’s Fast
AcceleDent Aura is a lightweight, comfortable, and hands-free appliance that is used 20 minutes per day as a complement to orthodontics. The exclusive SoftPulse Technology’s® precisely-calibrated micropulses gently accelerate the movement of your teeth as guided by your orthodontics.
It’s Gentle
With patented SoftPulse Technology, AcceleDent Aura’s vibration is a safe approach for accelerating tooth movement. In fact, the force applied to teeth during ordinary chewing is at least 200x greater than the force applied with AcceleDent Aura.
It’s Safe & Reliable
AcceleDent Aura is safe, as demonstrated in U.S. clinical trials. AcceleDent has been prescribed to thousands of patients worldwide since its introduction in 2009. Cleared by the United States Food and Drug Administration, AcceleDent is only available by prescription from your orthodontist.
Acceledent Aura Will Make You Smile
- Achieve your beautiful, desired smile – faster!
- Accelerate your orthodontic experience without sacrificing aesthetics.
- AcceleDent is lightweight and comfortable. You may even forget you’re using it!
- AcceleDent can be used for patients of all ages, including children, teens, and adults.
Propel Orthodontics
Welcome to a fast and gentle way to accelerate your orthodontic treatment. We are excited to offer accelerated orthodontic treatment with PROPEL Orthodontics! If you’re interested in improving the aesthetics of your smile but are put off by the thought of having to spend months or even years in braces, PROPEL could be right for you. This state-of-the-art technology speeds up tooth movement, and though every patient’s situation is different, many can now have their orthodontic treatment completed in less than a year.
How Does Propel Work?
Over the past 20 years, new treatment options have made our patients’ orthodontic experience more efficient, but not necessarily faster. That is, until now!
PROPEL works with your own biology by stimulating the bone surrounding your teeth. It helps your teeth to move faster and more predictably into their ideal position. This allows you to see your new smile faster and requires fewer visits to our office. PROPEL can be completed right here in our office and does not require any invasive surgical procedures.
In addition, PROPEL treatment involves minimal discomfort. There is zero recovery time, and you will be able to return immediately to your normal daily routine.
PROPEL can be used for approximately 80% of patients receiving orthodontic treatment and can be used in conjunction with any treatment type, including TADs, clear aligners, clear braces, and conventional metal braces. To learn more, contact our office!
Diode Laser Treatment
Diode laser treatment provides several benefits for patients receiving orthodontic care. By using a specialized diode laser, we can safely and effectively remove excess gum tissue to expose more of the tooth’s surface for better aesthetics and function. Your gum tissue serves as a “frame” for your teeth; orthodontic lasers are used to sculpt the gums around the teeth in a way that helps improve the overall appearance of your smile. The best part of laser treatment? In most cases, there is no need for needles! We simply apply a topical anesthetic to the gum tissue being treated, so all you feel is the laser tip’s slight movement.
Ideal Bracket Placement
If your gums haven’t receded properly, or if a tooth is erupting slower than expected, a laser can be used to remove excess tissue and reveal enough tooth surface to place a bracket. This can also be used to place TADs as an alternative to headgear.
Impacted Teeth
Impactions refer to teeth that haven’t erupted properly through the gums. By using laser treatment, we can assist a tooth’s eruption without the need to wait months for the tooth to erupt on its own or to refer an expensive surgical procedure.
Aesthetic Gingival Recontouring
Following the removal of your braces, your orthodontist may recommend recontouring your gum line to maximize your smile’s aesthetics. Aesthetic gingival recontouring is a procedure to reshape the gum line to improve your smile’s aesthetics by exposing more of your teeth. Your orthodontist will use a laser to remove excess gum tissue around the upper teeth to make them look longer. If the gum line is uneven, aesthetic gingival recontouring can also sculpt the gum line to produce a more symmetrical, balanced smile.
TADS
Temporary Anchorage Device (TAD)
Temporary anchorage devices, or TADs, are small titanium anchors used in certain orthodontic cases to help achieve quicker tooth movement with more efficiency and comfort. TADs may be used in addition to braces or as an alternative to headgear.
How Are TADS Placed?
A strong anesthetic is used to numb the gum tissue and the jaw surrounding the area where the TAD will be placed. Once the area is numb, your doctor will gently place the TAD through the gum tissue and firmly into the jawbone. The placing of a TAD is quick and may be over before you know it. While your doctor is placing the TAD, you may feel slight pressure, but within a day, you will no longer be able to feel the TAD. Your TAD is removed once your treatment is complete or no longer needed to help straighten your teeth. Removal of a TAD is a comfortable procedure that takes just a few minutes.
What Can I Do To Relieve Discomfort Caused By My TAD?
If you feel any discomfort from having your TADs placed, Tylenol® is recommended to relieve your pain. If you continue to experience discomfort days after your treatment, please contact your dentist as soon as possible.
How Can I Keep My TAD Clean?
A TAD can be cleaned the same way you clean your braces: by brushing your teeth at least three times a day. When your TAD is placed, we will also provide you with an antimicrobial mouthwash that you will need to use twice a day.
If you have questions about TADs, please contact our practice. We will answer any of your questions and provide you with detailed information about your orthodontic treatment.