You will be asked what you want to change about your smile and what
questions do you have about braces, Invisalign or Invisalign teen.
We will do a detailed examination of your face,
jaws and teeth including a caries
risk assessment and screening you for gum
disease. We want your teeth to be properly aligned but we don't want
to change the more desirable features of your face.
We will explain any diagnostic tests (x-rays/radiographs,
photos/digital images and impressions of the teeth) that are necessary
to plan your treatment. These diagnostic tests record the position of the
teeth and jaws. X-ray/radiograph radiation is minimized by using films
with intensifying screens which produce higher quality images with less
radiation and by using special shields that block radiation to the thyroid/neck
and below. Making impressions of your teeth involves pressing a tray filled
with soft putty onto your teeth. After a minute, the putty hardens and
is removed from your mouth. The hardened putty is now a mold which is filled
with plaster to form an exact copy of your teeth. There is no substitute
for having all the information that these diagnostic tests can provide.
This is one area where taking shortcuts (skipping diagnostic tests) can
lead to improper diagnosis and treatment. The Maryland State Dental Association
web site states that an
examination without radiographs is pure guesswork. These diagnostic
tests will be kept by our office indefinitely because they can be used
to explain treatments proposed and carried out.
We will try to answer the following questions: Can your problem be corrected?
Have we corrected similar problems before? How long will it take?
When should treatment begin? What kind of appliance, device or solution
will be used? What do I do for braces treatment
to succeed? What do I do for Invisalign treatment
to succeed? What are the pros and cons of braces
and what are the pros and cons of Invisalign?
What are the advantages
of self-ligating braces over conventional braces? Do my teeth need
to be thinned or shaved in width for treatment to succeed? Will temporary
plastic bumps called attachments have to be placed on my teeth to aid in
their movement? How much will it cost? Are there a variety of payment
options?
We will custom tailor treatment for you.
We will indicate if you want
treatment, you must have any dental care that will change the shape of
your teeth completed before the
impressions are taken. If the shape of a tooth is altered after the impressions
are taken, your aligners may no longer fit and your treatment can progress
no further.
We will explain that Dr. Trepp assists your family
dentist in your dental health care but he does not replace your family
dentist who remains your primary care provider. We will not be checking
for cavities during your visits unless the cavity is very obvious.
This is why it is important that you see your family dentist for a cleaning,
caries
risk assessment and cavity check-up, sealant
and fluoride varnish applications and periodontal
evaluation check-up every 3 - 6 months.
You may schedule an orthodontic
appointment with Dr. William Trepp in his Severna Park, MD office by calling
410.696.4624 or in his Clinton, MD office by calling 301.868.6200.
Written inquiries should be mailed to: 69 Robinson RD, Severna Park, MD
21146, USA or 8918 Woodyard RD, Clinton, MD 20735, USA