Our Blog:
Archive:
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
Tags
- celebrity smiles (65)
- dental implants (16)
- chipped tooth (6)
- bonding (3)
- clear aligners (2)
- orthodontics (3)
- oral hygiene (21)
- dental injury (9)
- mouthguard (3)
- dental treatment (1)
- thumb sucking (2)
- pediatric dentistry (5)
- fillings (1)
- smile makeover (4)
- cosmetic dentistry (13)
- dental hygienist (1)
- pregnancy (1)
- dentures (10)
- Root Canals (2)
- Teeth Whitening (8)
- dental hygiene (1)
- Veneers (7)
- Dental Crowns (2)
- root canal (4)
- Nutrition (8)
- mouthguards (5)
- bridge (2)
- bacteria (1)
- oral health (16)
- sleep apnea (3)
- snoring (3)
- tooth decay (11)
- sealants (1)
- oral cancer (3)
- Nitrous Oxide (1)
- fluoride (2)
- abscessed tooth (1)
- bleeding gums (1)
- periodontal disease (1)
- gum disease (7)
- athletic mouthguards (1)
- pediatric care (1)
- sensitive teeth (4)
- crowns (5)
- chipped teeth (1)
- bad breath (3)
- braces (5)
- diabetes (2)
- tmj disorders (3)
- tmd (1)
- tmj (2)
- Laser Periodontal Therapy (1)
- orthodontic treatment (4)
- adult orthodontics (1)
- tooth grinding (1)
- medication (1)
- wisdom teeth (4)
- bridges (1)
- porcelain veneers (1)
- teeth grinding (3)
- retainers (1)
- dental emergency (1)
- sugar (2)
- x-ray (1)
- laser dentistry (1)
- extractions (1)
- missing teeth (1)
- restorative dentistry (2)
- jaw pain (2)
- bruxism (1)
- burning mouth syndrome (1)
- flossing (2)
- bone grafting (1)
- tooth pain (2)
- dental bonding (1)
- x-rays (1)
- teeth wear (1)
- dental injuries (1)
- Dental Visits (1)
- mouth sore (1)
- artificial sweeteners (1)
- medications (1)
- cracked tooth (1)
- cancer treatment (1)
- Tooth Extractions (1)
- toothache (1)
- cold sore (1)
- dental implant (3)
- bone loss (1)
- oral appliance (1)
- dental insurance (1)
- Root Canal Treatment (1)
- removable partial denture (1)
Categories:
What if you had orthodontic treatments to enhance your smile — and nobody knew about it until it was all done?
That (almost) happened to British singer, cover girl and television personality Cheryl Cole. Since her big break in 2002, on the British reality show Popstars: The Rivals, Cole has had a successful music career, taken turns judging both the British and American versions of The X Factor, and graced the covers of fashion magazines like Elle and Harpers Bazaar.
And somewhere along the way, Cole wore an orthodontic appliance. It very nearly went undetected… until a colleague spilled the beans. That’s when Cole was forced to divulge her secret: For a period of time, she had been wearing clear aligners on her teeth. Until her frenemy’s revelation, only a few people knew — but when you compare the before-and-after pictures, the difference in her smile is clear.
So what exactly are clear aligners? Essentially, they consist of a series of thin plastic trays that are worn over the teeth for 22 hours each day. The trays are custom-made from a computerized model of an individual’s mouth. Each tray is designed to move the teeth a small amount, and each is worn for two weeks before moving on to the next in the series. When the whole series is complete, the teeth will have shifted into their new (and better aligned) positions.
Besides being virtually unnoticeable, aligners are easy to remove. This makes it easy to keep the teeth clean — and can come in handy for important occasions (like cover-photo shoots and acceptance speeches). But don’t remove them too frequently, or they won’t work as planned. If that’s a possibility (with teens, for example), aligners are available with “compliance indicators” to ensure they’re being worn as often as they should be. They can also be made with special tabs to hold a place for teeth that haven’t fully erupted (come in) yet — another feature that’s handy for teens.
So if you need orthodontic work but prefer to stay “under the radar,” ask us whether clear aligners could be right for you. Cheryl Cole did… and the results gave her something more to smile about.
If you would like more information on clear aligners, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can learn more about this topic in the Dear Doctor magazine articles “Clear Orthodontic Aligners” and “Clear Aligners for Teenagers.”
