health
Dr. Andrea Nakisher
uses an iTero scanner
that is moved over
the teeth to take
fast, accurate digital
impressions for
Invisalign braces.
A Bite Of The
Future
Orthodontists talk
of technological
advances and
braces.
JOYCE WISWELL
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
66
August 30 • 2018
W
e’re not there yet, but
in the not-too-distant
future it may be as
common to see a 3D printer
churning out retainers in an
orthodontist’s office as it is to see
a spit sink today.
Technology is constantly
advancing in the science and
art of straightening teeth and
correcting misaligned bites. But,
practitioners note, you can only
rush things so far.
“There is a lot of talk about
accelerated treatment modali-
ties, like vibrat-
ing the teeth,
but I person-
ally feel there
needs to be
more research,”
said Rebecca
Lash Rubin,
Dr. Rebecca Rubin D.M.D., M.S.,
who practices
with her father,
Steven Rubin, at Lash
Rubin Orthodontics in West
Bloomfield. “We orthodontists
jn
like to take our time. We are
moving teeth through bone, and
there is nothing fast about that.”
MARCHING FORWARD
“Our profession, from a techno-
logical standpoint, has changed
tremendously, which certainly
makes things
more efficient
and pleas-
ant for our
patients,”
said Andrea
Nakisher,
D.D.S., M.S., a
third-gener-
Nakisher
ation dentist
with offices in
Farmington
Hills and Commerce. “However,
the basic principles of orthodon-
ture have not changed.”
One thing that’s different is
the modern-day acceptance of
braces, which were once dreaded
but have now become downright
cool with the younger set.
“They’ve become a fashion
statement. I can put on braces
with 50 different colors, some
that have glitter and glow in the
dark,” said Nelson “Nick” Hersh,
D.D.S., M.S., of
Hersh-Beattie
Orthodontics
in West
Bloomfield
and Waterford.
“Kids have fun
with it — and
I have fun with
Dr. Nick Hersh
it, too. All the
kids see each
other’s braces and know what’s
going on, so there is no fear or
anxiety.”
One of the more unpleasant
aspects of getting braces, bit-
ing into what Nakisher called
“mushy molds” to have impres-
sions made of the teeth, is
becoming a thing of the past
with the advent of three-dimen-
sional scanners.
Hersh loves his iTero scanner,
which he calls “a magic wand, so
to speak” that is moved over the
teeth to take fast, accurate digital
impressions for Invisalign braces.
“The kids love it, the adults love
it, and every time someone uses
it in the office I have to stop and
watch,” Hersh said. “It only takes
two or three minutes and there is
no discomfort at all.”
Nakisher said, “We’ve almost
eliminated taking impressions.
That’s an amazing thing.”
CLEAR RESULTS
The clear plastic aligners known
as Invisalign continue their
popularity with both patients
(particularly adults) and practi-
tioners.
“Invisalign has really opened
up orthodontics to people who
would not have sought it in the
past because they didn’t want
metal braces,” Nakisher said.
“The advancements are really
impressive,” noted Rubin, who
is looking forward to participat-
ing at ORT’s Camp Hermelin
fundraiser in Bingham Farms
on Sept. 16, where she’ll be on
hand to answer questions about
orthodontics. She’s a mem-
ber of Temple Israel in West
Bloomfield, where her grandfa-
ther, George Stutz, was a found-
ing member. “Invisalign used to
just fix crowding and some other
problems, but in the past two or
three years they can really mimic
what we do with traditional
braces.”
Many parents, however, still
prefer traditional metal braces
for their children, Rubin said,
because they are not removable,
eliminating the temptation for
kids to pop them out.
“The key to Invisalign is that
you have to wear it,” she said.
“The best results I have seen are
with patients who are totally
dedicated and wear them 24/7
except to eat, brush their teeth
and on special occasions.”
SPECIALIZED SERVICE
While all orthodontists are den-
tists, only 6 percent of dentists
are orthodontists, according
to the American Association of
Orthodontists.
“We are trained to evaluate
problems that a general dentist
may not be able to identify,” said
Nakisher, who also belongs to
Temple Israel, supports Detroit
Dog Rescue and volunteers at
Tamarack Camps’ medical clinic
each week, helping kids who
may be having problems with
their braces. She recommends
children first see an orthodontist
at age 7.
“We enable kids to build
their self-esteem,” said Hersh, a
member of the West Bloomfield
School Board who also sits
on the Tamarack Camps and
Holocaust Memorial Center
boards. “And that is the biggest
mitzvah.” •