
Oct
For almost 50 years, Drs. Goodman, Ko, and Associates office has provided advanced and trusted cosmetic and prosthetic dentistry services to individuals and their families in Milford and across southeastern Massachusetts.
Today, Drs. Alan Ko, Brittany Bressler, and Saeed Kashefi, carry this legacy. Our dentists have considerable continuing education and training on the latest, greatest, and safest dental treatments, technologies, and procedures.
Invisalign® is among those “latest” and tech-based treatments. This orthodontic alternative to braces uses special oral appliances called clear aligners to reposition the teeth gradually. Since its debut in the late 1990s, Invisalign’s applications have evolved.
Today, we may recommend Invisalign® for everything from more modest crowding and cosmetic misalignment to more extensive “bite” problems such as “overbite” and “underbite.” With the correct diagnosis, we could even use the tool to help patients with headaches and TMJ issues. One of the key differences in our philosophy at Drs. Goodman and Ko are to create more space for the tongue which at times could help with airway and breathing. These and other bite-related concerns can be effectively, comfortably, and conveniently resolved with Invisalign® treatment.
Invisalign® aligners or aligner trays resemble other types of appliances, such as retainers. They are made from clear or transparent plastic. Since the plastic is smooth and flexible, it wears well. It doesn’t cause discomfort or sores and requires a minimal adjustment period.
Additionally, Invisalign® aligners are easy to clean. Importantly, they can be removed when eating, brushing, and flossing. This feature helps to maintain oral health and good nutrition.
All of these unique characteristics also provide attractive advantages over braces.
While effective, braces require wearing “fixed” (non-removable) brackets, wires, and bands throughout treatment. To progress with restorative, the dentist or orthodontist must tighten or adjust the braces during regular visits.
Also, braces have traditionally been made from metals such as stainless steel. The silver hue of these metals sticks out in the smile, and the wires tend to poke at delicate tissues inside of the mouth. They are also vulnerable to breakage, requiring another trip to the dentist’s or orthodontist’s office.
Lastly, it can be hard to adjust to life with braces. Eating can be a hassle. You may not be able to enjoy your favourite foods. Cleaning your teeth, gums, and braces is also a high-maintenance task. However, improper oral hygiene is a risk factor for destructive conditions like tooth decay and gum disease.
Treatment with Invisalign® avoids these and other challenges traditionally associated with orthodontic systems like braces. The appliances place consistent force on the teeth to gradually reposition them. But you are in the driver’s seat.
You do not have to depend on a dental professional to adjust an appliance for treatment to progress correctly and on schedule. With that being said, patient compliance is essential!
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During your consultation, we will use advanced software to create a three-dimensional model of your mouth. Using this model, we will show you exactly how your teeth will move throughout treatment and what your smile will look like afterwards! These virtual models are also used to fabricate your invisible aligners precisely.
Schedule an Invisalign® consultation today. Call our Milford, MA office at (508) 850-0686.
Alan Ko, DMD, studied Biology at Washington University in St. Louis (BA Magna Cum Laude), Dentistry at the University of Pennsylvania (DMD Magna Cum Laude, Dean’s Scholarship recipient, Louis I. Grossman Award in Endodontics, and Academy of General Dentistry Award Recipient), did his residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH)/Harvard Medical School (General Practice Residency and Clinical Instructor Massachusetts General Hospital), was a guest lecturer at Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and Massachusetts General Hospital (General Practice Residency). Dr. Ko’s clinical focuses are craniofacial development in children, sleep/airway dentistry, TMD and occlusion, regenerative oral surgery, and reconstructive restorative/prosthetic dentistry, including Invisalign and dental implants. He is a member of the American Dental Association and Massachusetts Dental Society and has been named as Boston’s Top Dentists since 2012.
Brittany Bressler, DMD, attended the University of New Hampshire-Durham (magna cum laude, studying psychology and pre-dental studies). Then, she attended Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston, MA (Doctorate in Dental Medicine). At Tufts, she was the Vice President of the local chapter of the American Association of Women Dentists. Dr. Bressler has been named one of Boston Magazine’s Top Dentists for the last four years.
Saeed Kashefi, DMD, FAGD, attended Harvard University (Bachelor of Liberal Arts in Literature and Creative Writing, cum laude), the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (doctorate, cum laude: He also won the JR Schmidt Fixed Prosthodontics Award), and the BWH/ Harvard-Wide General Practice Residency Program in Hospital Dentistry (residency and fellowship). He stayed on the BWH staff before taking over as clinician attending at the Massachusetts General Hospital, where he served for 16 years. Dr. Kashefi was also the Clinical Instructor at Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Dental Medicine during this time. He is a Fellow of the American Association of Hospital Dentists and Academy of General Dentistry.
Cristina Hantavis MS, CCC-SLP, is a licensed and certified Speech and Language Pathologist with extensive training in orofacial myology. She believes that oral health is deeply connected to our general health and takes a holistic approach that targets the whole body by working with the muscles of the face and mouth. Cristina previously worked in private and elementary school settings with children experiencing moderate to severe cognitive, linguistic, and behavioral challenges. She uses this experience to help children facing such issues in her current role.
David Goodman, DMD (retired), joined our practice in 1984. Our office was founded in 1975 by Dr. Carl DiGregorio, and since partnering with him, Dr. Goodman has been devoted to delivering exceptional dental care to Milford families. Although he retired in 2021, our practice still carries his philosophy of treating patients as whole people beyond just their teeth.