Invisalign Clear Braces Digital Scanning now offered with Dr. Willis

We have exciting news for patients of Willis Family Dentistry interested in straightening their teeth with the best orthodontic system available today — Invisalign Clear Braces. Willis Family Dentistry has acquired an Itero Element digital scanning system and our dentists have completed advanced training under Elite Invisalign providers. The practice has been certified Invisalign providers for years and recently achieved the designation of "Preferred Provider." Willis Family Dentistry, an early adopter of digital scanning and digital impressions for crown and bridge work, is excited to be utilizing the Itero Element digital impression system for all Invisalign cases.

"The Itero Element has been on a six-month backorder, frankly because the speed at which we can scan is so fast now — it has changed the game with what we can do with our Invisalign treatments. They cannot make them fast enough for Invisalign dentists," our team notes. "We were very impressed with the treatment outcome simulator. Many patients are interested in enhancing their smiles with straightening and orthodontic therapy. With the treatment outcome simulator, in five minutes we can scan their teeth, run it through Invisalign's 500-million-dollar physics software, and show them a digital 3D model of their teeth — with whatever problems may exist (crowding, spacing, etc.). Then with a button we can show them the movement of the teeth into ideal positions and the correction of the problems with Invisalign aligner therapy. The technology is amazing." Our practice uses the Itero Element on Medical Park Drive in Fishersville. "In our opinion, the Itero Element is among the best scanners available right now. Our vision from day one of this practice has been to give our patients the best in dentistry, and utilizing the best in technology is part of that. Impressions, we all remember, with the metal trays will be a thing of the past in the near future."

Our practice has been providing Invisalign treatments across Central Virginia for many years, with training initially from one of New York's top Invisalign doctors — Ben Miraglia. The practice has since trained under an elite Invisalign provider, arguably the top Invisalign GP in the country: Dr. David Galler of Manhattan. Dr. Galler has been a great mentor to our team, and we now have the expertise to treat a broad range of challenging orthodontic issues with Invisalign.

For those unfamiliar with Invisalign, let's examine the history of it. You may remember Tom Cruise as the poster boy over a decade ago, transforming his smile with this then-new clear aligner therapy and the orthodontic company Invisalign. Since its inception, over three million cases have been completed. It is the equivalent of comprehensive orthodontics when billed through dental coding. Over the years the physics software has been upgraded with new movements and abilities to make corrections while straightening patients' teeth. "It is, in our opinion, the best orthodontic system in the world. Metal braces will be going the way of silver mercury fillings; in the future there will be primarily plastic aligners moving teeth," our team notes. "It's non-invasive, and we've seen the results ourselves after completing many cases. The cosmetics are superior — you don't know someone is in Invisalign unless they show you. So instead of being the first thing you notice on someone — a mouth full of metal braces for two to four years — Invisalign is never noticed. The treatment times, at least with our cases, have been much shorter, only eight months to a year and a half. The big factor for us is that without metal bands around molars and wires impinging gingiva, our patients' periodontal health is much better through the process. They can floss when they want by simply removing the clear tray, whereas with metal braces it could be two to four years of poor flossing. We routinely saw teenage patients in braces with inflamed gums and gingivitis; the wires and brackets are not friendly to the teeth. We have never seen decalcification and scarring of the teeth post-Invisalign and we can't say the same with traditional metal braces."

Willis Family Dentistry's new Invisalign services, now with digital scanning and backed by training and mentorship from the top Invisalign GPs in the country, also offer a few unique bonuses. Vivera clear retainers are included in all cases. "The first thing we tell our patients after completing Invisalign orthodontic therapy is that the retainers must be worn. We give them the first set as an additional tray, have them wear it for six weeks, then only at night permanently. People ask us how long they need to wear their retainers — our response is, as long as they want to have straight teeth. Many of the Invisalign cases we complete are adults who have had relapses to crooked anterior teeth from lack of wearing retainers." Your Invisalign therapy with Willis Family Dentistry includes four sets of Vivera retainers as well as Opalescence BOOST whitening gel. The clear aligners that straighten your teeth are also used as custom bleaching trays. "It is the ultimate cosmetic treatment we provide. We love to see the results of a newly whitened, perfectly aligned smile — everyone is happy."

Patients in the Shenandoah Valley, from Staunton to Waynesboro, have access through Willis Family Dentistry to orthodontic technology that is second to none. "It's as high-tech as any office in any city in the US. We love bringing the Itero Element into our Fishersville dental office knowing that in this rural setting our patients are getting quality equivalent to anywhere in the world — and with the training and backing from Elite Invisalign GPs, our orthodontic services have gone to the next level."