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Beverly Hills Orthodontist Discusses Advancements in Orthodontics

December 19, 2007 –LOS ANGELES AND SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA – Great strides have been made in orthodontics since the treatment first began.

As the practice enters its second century, Beverly Hills Orthodontist and Invisalign specialist Dr. Atoosa Nikaeen identifies several advancements that have proven to be of particular value for her patients.

To truly appreciate the modern advancements in orthodontics, it is helpful to look at how the science has evolved, Nikaeen said.

Attempts to correct the irregular position of teeth date back to at least 1000 BC, according to information posted on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s orthodontics Web site.

In 1850, the first textbooks describing orthodontics appeared. Dr. Norman Kingsley was among the first to use extraoral force to correct protruding teeth. Orthodontics began to evolve into the treatment of malocclusion and not just the straightening of teeth by the 1900s.

The 1930s marked a reemphasis on aesthetics associated with malocclusion, and extractions to improve facial proportions were reintroduced into orthodontics.

Cephalometric radiographs were developed in the 1940s, which allowed the orthodontist to see how the bones of the face contributed to malocclusion. With this technology, it was discovered that one could alter the growth of bones in growing individuals and prevent malocclusion by redirecting growth, the UNC Web site stated.

Surgical techniques developed in the 1970s, which allowed oral surgeons to perform surgery on patients who did not have the ability to grow any longer. Now bony causes of malocclusion in adults could be treated.

Modern orthodontics uses a combination of extraoral forces to align teeth as well as growth modification, surgery and extractions to accomplish three goals:

  1. Create the best occlusal relationship
  2. Create acceptable facial esthetics
  3. Create a stable occlusal result

While the process of putting braces on once took several long, uncomfortable appointments and involved attaching braces to teeth with steel bands that had to be individually fitted around each tooth, today’s treatment options include smaller braces applied directly to the tooth surface and Invisalign, which involves no brackets.

Invisalign, also known as “invisible braces,” has gained tremendous popularity as patients become aware of its many assets, said Nikaeen, who has been a certified Invisalign provider since 1999.

“Because of their unobtrusiveness, adults frequently seek out Invisalign instead of traditional braces,” Nikaeen said. “My patients are amazed that these plastic aligners work so effectively. They get such great results and they love it.”

As orthodontics continues to progress, other major advances include technology adapted from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, high-tech adhesives, translucent or tooth-colored brackets,  and computer-software to make orthodontic treatment a more comfortable and simplified process, according to the American Association of Orthodontists,.

“The NASA breakthrough is exciting,” Nikaeen said, adding that this technology has resulted in heat-activated, nickel-titanium alloy wires that effectively move teeth when the wires reach mouth temperature.

“The new wires apply gradual, precise and gentle pressures, and yet retain their teeth-moving abilities longer than their predecessors,” the AAO Web site stated. “In contrast, stainless steel wires were less resilient and needed more frequent adjustments by the orthodontist.”

Learn More
If you would like to learn more about advancements in orthodontic treatment or would like information on Invisalign, visit Dr. Nikaeen’s Web site: www.invisibraces.com or call her office for a free consultation: (310) 444-1113.

About Dr. Atoosa Nikaeen
Dr. Nikaeen graduated with honors from dental school in 1993 and received a doctorate in dental surgery (DDS). She gained experience practicing general dentistry for several years before attending Columbia University School of Dentistry and Oral Surgeons in New York, where she earned her post-doctoral education in orthodontics and received an orthodonticspecialty certificate.

In addition to running her practice, Dr. Nikaeen is a faculty member at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) Orthodontic Department and teaches orthodontic residents.

Dr. Nikaeen’s Los Angeles practice serves patients throughout Southern California, including Beverly Hills and Santa Monica.
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