Welcome to our practice. Led by board-certified orthodontist Dr. Neil Gorin.
Technology in Our Practice (From Outer Space, To Cyberspace)
It is not a stretch to call today's braces "space age." Dr. Gorin actually uses materials that have their origins in the space program.
Heat-activated arch wires were developed through NASA. When the wires reach mouth temperature, they start to move teeth gently and gradually. These wires use a nickel-titanium alloy that was originally engineered to automatically activate antennae or solar panels of spacecraft orbiting into the sun's rays.
Some of today's tough, resilient brackets were engineered from the same materials used in rocket nose cones. Why? As the Cold War wound down, at least one Southern California defense contractor, seeking business alternatives, retooled and started producing ceramic orthodontic brackets.
Many of the advances seen in orthodontics today are software-based. The rapid growth of the Internet has led demand for appropriate software.
Below you will find descriptions of the technology used in our practice:
InvisaligntmDr. Gorin is a Certified Invisaligntm Practitioner Consider Invisalign to get the beautiful straight teeth you've always wanted – without braces. A complimentary consultation with Dr. Gorin can determine if Invisalign is right for you.
Invisalign uses a series of invisible, removable, and comfortable aligners that no one can tell you're wearing. So you can smile more during treatment as well as after. Invisalign is made with 3-D computer imaging technology, and has been proven effective. More than 70% of orthodontists in the US and Canada are certified to treat with Invisalign.
Not only are the aligners invisible, they are removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment, plus brushing and flossing are no problem. They are also comfortable, with no metal to cause mouth abrasions during treatment. And no metal and wires usually means you spend less time in your doctor's office getting adjustments.
Invisalign also allows you to view your own virtual treatment plan when you start, so you can see how your straight teeth will look when your treatment is complete.
You wear each set of aligners for about 2 weeks, removing them only to eat, drink, brush, and floss. As you replace each aligner with the next in the series, your teeth will move – little by little, week by week – until they have straightened to the final position Dr. Gorin has prescribed. You'll visit Dr. Gorin about once every 6 weeks to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned. Total treatment time averages 9-15 months and the average number of aligners worn during treatment is between 18 and 30, but both will vary from case to case.
Learn more about Invisalign on their web site at Invisalign.com.
PatientImagestm -- Internet access to our records room
Our practice uses PatientImagestm to effectively leverage the power of the Internet to improve communication between practitioners, labs, patients and families. The system seamlessly integrates with orthodontic related digital technologies to enable fast and easy Internet access to orthodontic information.
PatientImagestm provides our patients with a secure, password protected portal into our records room where they can view their initial, progress and final images of x-rays, photos and 3-D models.
OrthoMationtm -- Tooth Movement that Patients Understand
Patients are always interested in how their teeth are moving. It is often difficult to envision the path the teeth are taking while waiting for the final result. Dr. Gorin employs OrthoMation, a computer program that displays tooth movement animations, when explaining tooth movements and procedures to patients.
Digital Patient Models -- No More Plaster Casts
Digitizing patient impressions, rather than turning them into stone casts, provides highly accurate representations of the oral condition that are superior to traditional casts in every aspect. With digital models Dr. Gorin can easily store, retrieve, diagnose and communicate cases electronically, saving all the hassles associated with plaster casts. -- click to enlarge images
Computer Assisted Treatment Predictions
Computer assisted pre-treatment set-ups are redefining orthodontic treatment planning. These virtual set-ups enable Dr. Gorin to effortlessly create and compare multiple, patient-specific, treatment possiblities on the screen, providing a higher level of assurance when selecting a case strategy. -- click to enlarge images
Computer Assisted Bracket Placement
Accurate bracket placement has long been recognized in orthodontics as the single most critical determinant of efficient tooth movement. At present, standard placement methods provide minimal guidance as to how the actual position of a bracket compares to the clinician-defined prescription. Computer assisted bracket placement provides a breakthrough solution. A bracket placement wand includes a miniature video camera, transmitting real-time images from the patient's mouth to the screen. When the computer software detects a match between the projected image and the clinician-prescribed position, an audio-visual sign is provided and the bracket can be accurately bonded. Computer assisted bracket placement reduces the number of wire-bending and repositioning appointments. -- click to enlarge images
Space-Age Wire Technology
One of the most dramatic breakthroughs in orthodontics came from NASA: heat-activated nickel-titanium alloy wires that effectively move teeth when the wires reach the temperature of the mouth . Dr. Gorin uses these new wires to apply gradual, precise and gentle pressures to the teeth. The wires also retain their teeth-moving abilities far longer than their predecessors, which were made from stainless steel.
Automated Appointment Confirmations – text messages (sms)
Dr. Gorin recognizes that many of his patients depend on their cell phones not only as a source of communication but as an invaluable organizing tool and appointment book. For those patients that have embraced this technology, Dr. Gorin provides text messaging appointment reminders. Our office staff is often thanked for the last minute text message reminders.
TV's and Play Stations in Every Treatment Room
We know how valuable your time is. We make every effort to stay on schedule and to get you in and out of the office in the most reasonable amount of time. The majority of orthodontic appointments are “quickies”, but there are appointments that require a little more time. We have installed televisions and PS3's in all of the treatment rooms to help pass the time.
