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It’s estimated that up to four million people at any one time are wearing braces in the United States and Canada. But Dr. Gregory Weaver and our team at Weaver Dentistry know that braces have come a long way from the early days of orthodontics, so much so that these days, options are available that are not visible to onlookers. The most popular of these “invisible” braces is Invisalign. Here’s a list of FAQs regarding Invisalign:

Are they really invisible?

Yes, the clear liners are virtually invisible, so they enable patients to feel good about themselves and their appearance, while getting the orthodontic treatment they need.

Are there wires, rubber bands, and brackets with Invisalign?

Nope. Invisalign is truly an alternative to conventional braces. The treatment consists of clear liners that can easily be removed and cleaned throughout the day. There are no wires, so there’s less poking and mouth irritation compared to braces. There’s also no wire tightening at adjustment appointments, so patients don’t have to worry about a sore mouth in the days that follow in-office visits.

I’ve heard that if I get braces, I won’t be able to eat certain foods like popcorn and hard candy. Is this true with Invisalign too?

No. With Invisalign, there are no food restrictions. You simply remove your aligners when you’re eating, and replace them after you’ve finished and brushed any leftover food particles away.

Does Invisalign cost more than braces?

While overall cost varies on a patient-by-patient basis and is based largely on the level of treatment, Invisalign costs about the same as traditional braces, which makes this treatment option a truly affordable alternative.

How does brushing compare with conventional braces?

Brushing your teeth while wearing conventional braces takes some getting used to. Patients have to brush around the metal brackets and floss with a specialty tool to get into the hard-to-reach areas of the mouth. By contrast, Invisalign can be removed at any time to permit regular brushing and flossing.

Every patient is different and Invisalign might not be the best course of orthodontic treatment for everyone, but it's an option that's gaining more and more popularity, and it's an orthodontic alternative that doesn't sacrifice comfort and convenience for results. For more information, or to schedule a consultation, please give us a call at our convenient Raleigh, NC office!

CEREC is an acronym for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. It is a type of dental technology that incorporates two computer technologies: CAD (computer-aided design), and CAM (computer-aided manufacturing). CEREC technology allows Dr. Gregory Weaver to design, make, and perfect a crown while you wait in the office. The process is generally completed in less than an hour.

The process begins when we take a picture of the tooth that will receive the crown. Using that picture, a digital impression of the real tooth is created. The proprietary software allows us to create the adjacent teeth digitally, which aids in the process of recreating the computer image that is sent to the milling machine via wireless transmission.

If we recommend a CEREC crown, you will get a permanent crown during a single office visit. We will be able to take a picture of your tooth and mouth, and then create the crown for your tooth. The design process allows us to match your crown to your real tooth as closely as possible.

CEREC crowns are made out of either ceramic material or a type of synthetic resin. Blocks of the material Dr. Gregory Weaver will choose go into the milling machine, where diamond blades file and shape the block of solid material into a crown that will look as much like your real tooth as possible.

Before permanently securing the crown in your mouth with resin cement, we will smooth, file, and refine the shape of the crown, putting it in your mouth to check your bite, and removing it to make small adjustments. After cementing the tooth in your mouth, Dr. Gregory Weaver will check to make sure the surface of the crown is smooth enough to make proper contact with your teeth when you bite down.

For more information about CEREC, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Gregory Weaver, please give us a call at our convenient Raleigh, NC office!

When you are missing teeth, it is critical to replace them. Without all your teeth, chewing and eating can be challenging, as well as uncomfortable. Missing teeth can also destabilize your bite. Dental implants are a great option for replacing teeth that are missing or are badly diseased. A dental implant at Weaver Dentistry offers relief, support, and stability to your bite, and often, implants are the most natural and effective option available.

Dr. Gregory Weaver and our team have helped many patients using implant dentistry at our Raleigh, NC office restore their smiles to look more natural. Each implant is created to fit in perfectly with the look of the rest of your teeth.

Besides making your smile appear more natural, dental implants have other benefits. They include:

• Restoring your ability to properly chew food
• Preventing your teeth from shifting and moving
• Stabilizing your bite, helping you avoid pain or discomfort

If you are missing a tooth or multiple teeth and feel like you are a candidate for dental implants, Dr. Gregory Weaver and our team at Weaver Dentistry encourage you to give us a call to schedule an appointment. See you soon!

If you’ve been experiencing headaches, dizziness, or tingling in your fingers, you might be surprised to learn that the source of the problem could be your jaw. These are some of the complaints from patients who suffer a condition known as temporomandibular disorder, or TMD.

What exactly is TMD?

If you’ve heard of TMJ, you might have wondered if it is the same condition as TMD. They are different, although there’s a link between them.

TMJ is short for temporomandibular joint. The TMJ is made up of two sets of joints that enable your jawbone to slide and rotate. When at least one of these joints develops an inflammation and becomes painful, the resulting condition is called TMD.

What Patients Experience

Patients can experience many different symptoms, including:

• Soreness or discomfort in the jaw, especially in the morning or late afternoon

• Pain radiating to your face, shoulder, neck, back, or behind your eyes
• Ringing in your ears or an earache
• Jaw locking, popping, or clicking
• Limited mouth motions
• Tooth sensitivity
• A different fit between your upper and lower teeth

How it’s Treated

Using patented TruDenta® technology, Dr. Gregory Weaver will measure the opening and closing of your mouth to determine the forces generating pressure in your head, neck and jaw. Other important factors are the extent of the disorder, the expected course of the condition, and how well you’re able to tolerate certain therapies. Your opinion and your preferences should always be part of any TMD treatment decision.

Our team at Weaver Dentistry can suggest many treatment options, starting with the most conservative:

• Resting the TMJ
• Use of stress management and relaxation techniques
• Therapy to reduce clenching your teeth
• Physical therapy
• Mouthguard or other type of oral device
• Posture training
• Changing your diet to give jaw muscles a rest
• Applying ice and hot packs
• Surgery

To learn more about temporomandibular disorders, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Gregory Weaver, please give us a call at our convenient Raleigh, NC office!