After presenting similar lectures earlier this month in both Hong Kong and Jakarta, Dr. Hickory recently returned from Gangnam, Seoul, South Korea where he gave an Invisalign® presentation to Korean dentists and orthodontists on February 10th. The three topics included in his presentation were “Invisalign® for Early Phase Orthodontics (7 to 10 year-old patients),” “Why Invisalign® is Now Faster and more Effective than Braces,” and “Propel Orthodontics” – an innovative technique that can potentially reduce the teeth straightening process by half the time.

As one of the first orthodontists in America to use Invisalign® for Early Phase treatment, Dr. Hickory often treats children with an interceptive, or early phase of orthodontics, while their baby teeth are still present in order to create space for permanent teeth, prevent loss of space in the mouth, and help guide the growth of the jaw for better occlusion and facial balance.

Having employed Invisalign® as an early phase orthodontic treatment for over five years, the combination of product improvements and experience gained during this time has allowed Dr. Hickory to treat an increasing number of pediatric patients to the point that most children visiting our offices are now treated with Invisalign® instead of traditional braces.

In comparison to metal braces, Invisalign® provides several distinct benefits including removable aligners, no broken brackets, and no poking wires. Additionally, difficulties with proper oral care can often be reduced by removing the aligners while brushing and flossing. Each of our offices also has 3D cameras used to digitally scan teeth prior to treatment. Not only do these scans eliminate the need for traditional impressions, but they provide a higher degree of accuracy as well.

Parents typically prefer the Invisalign® treatment for their kids because it generally requires fewer office visits and no repair visits. Furthermore, should an aligner ever be lost, increments between each aligner are so small that patients can most likely switch right to the next one. In the rare situation moving to the next one is not possible, our office will order a complimentary new aligner for the patient.

There are more details to come about topics Dr. Hickory discussed during his lecture in South Korea, so be sure to stay tuned.

Contact Our Office

For more information, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Hickory, please contact our office today.