The New York Times has a very interesting article
about how the process of getting your teeth straightened with braces has changed. Braces have gone high tech. The new methods use 3-D imaging to precisely project how a smile will change over time with braces. This cuts out all the guesswork by the orthodontist and drastically shortens the time that someone wears braces.
Three-dimensional imaging technology has been making gradual inroads in the world of orthodontics. Traditionally, orthodontists put one-size-fits-all brackets and wires on crooked teeth and then modify the setup at appointments. It's a technique that involves a surprising amount of guesswork. But now several companies offer 3-D modeling programs that make it easier for orthodontists to diagnose underlying problems and give their patients more precise treatment.
Because the braces themselves can be customized, less trial and error is involved in straightening. And, early adopters say, patients require fewer visits to the doctor. But so far the technology is not widespread, in part because it can be expensive.
"As cost comes down, 3-D imaging will become the standard," said Dr. Lee W. Graber, president of the American Association of Orthodontists. "Right now it's still in its relative infancy. It's the same kind of change that happened in medicine when they went from 2-D X-rays to CT scans and M.R.I.'s."
3-D imaging and the new kinds of braces (such as braces that don't show when you smile) are not that easy to find unless you are in a big city. The Times has another article about where to find high-tech brace options, such as Insignia Smile, Sure Smile and 3M Unitek's Incognito Invisilign.
