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“Look after the land and the land will look after you, destroy the land and it will destroy you.” —Aboriginal Prover

Recycling is becoming more important in our world today as we seek to reduce waste and increase sustainability.

With the growing concern for the environment, it is no surprise that people are interested in finding new ways to recycle and reuse materials.

Whether through traditional recycling methods or innovative ideas such as recycling Invisalign materials, we can all do our part to make a difference.

Due to the increasing worry about the environment, numerous individuals seek methods to diminish waste and contribute to improving the environment.

The Hester and Morris Team is committed to helping in this endeavor. That's why we are excited to announce that we are partnering with a recycling program called Terracycle.

TerraCycle is a company that specializes in recycling hard-to-recycle materials. With their help, Align Technology, the makers of Invisalign, is working with TerraCycle to recycle the specially made SmartTrack ® Invisalign material.

As you know, the plastic of Invisalign is different than the regular plastic or even of other clear aligners. That's one of the ways Invisalign is set apart. Previously we could not recycle the Invisalign and advised patients to throw old aligners in the trash.

With this new partnership with TerraCycle, our patients can recycle their old aligners and help the environment simply by bringing them to the office.

TerraCycle can recycle both the aligners and the little bags they come in.

Just bring them into our office any time you're close by or at your next appointment and put them into the recycling bin. We'll take care of the rest.

As a reminder, we always encourage our patients to keep their previous set of aligners to use as a backup in case an aligner doesn't fit or gets lost. This advice does not change with this new recycling program.

At this time, the Invisalign boxes or cases are not accepted.

We're excited to be able to offer this recycling program! If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out by phone or email.

Get ready to save your smile AND the environment!
Live Life Smiling!

If you're reading this blog post, there's a good chance you're heard of Invisalign. Invisalign clear aligners are the world's first and best clear aligner system that is clinically proven to straighten your teeth and improve your smile without the need for metal braces.

Maybe you’re curious about starting Invisalign treatment. Or you are already on your Invisalign journey! We have found some things you can do to get the most out of your treatment and make your Invisalign experience as easy and convenient as possible.

Invisalign made easy: Here are three tips to help!

1. Take a pain reliever before your appointment to receive your aligners.

For some patients, the first few days of that first set of aligners can be a little uncomfortable. Not only are you adjusting to a new appliance in your mouth, but there is also a new feeling of pressure on your teeth.

RESIST THE URGE TO TAKE OUT YOUR ALIGNERS.

It's essential to wear them as directed by your orthodontist to ensure you get used to them and so that the aligners can work their magic.

To help with discomfort, we encourage you to take a pain reliever before that first aligner. And some even find it helpful to take a pain reliever for each future aligner as well.

At Hester and Morris Orthodontics, we recommend that most of our patients wear each set of aligners for one week at a time. But always follow the instructions of your orthodontist.

2. Change your aligners at night.

This tip is beneficial for patients getting used to their Invisalign aligners, much like in tip #1.

On the day you change out your clear aligners, you can change them out at night, right before you go to bed.

This means you will power through the first several hours of your aligners while sleeping, making that next day more comfortable for you.

Pretty genius, right?

3. Swish the soreness away!

One complaint many patients have with Invisalign aligners, in the beginning, is mouth sores. This happens because the new aligners are introduced and can rub your gums and cheeks. Your tongue also has to get used to the new aligners.

Some patients will get small sores on their gums and cheeks, which can be painful for them. In these instances, we recommend a simple solution: swishing some warm salt in your mouth a few times daily. It sounds weird, but it works great!

Invisalign is a fantastic solution for straightening your teeth in a faster, less noticeable way than traditional metal braces. While the first few weeks can be an adjustment period, these tips can help you quickly get used to your aligners. Remember always to follow your orthodontist's instructions for the best results! By following these simple additional tricks, you can make your Invisalign journey a breeze and have a beautiful, straight smile in no time!

In South Georgia, one Invisalign provider stands above the rest: Dr. Morris. His commitment to providing top-quality dental care is unparalleled in our region. Patients rave about his compassionate and knowledgeable approach, and it's no wonder that he's earned a reputation as one of the best providers in the state.

That's why we are excited to share with you that Dr. Morris was recently named the #1 Dental Monitoring Provider in Georgia!

Dental Monitoring is an additional layer of care we provide to our Invisalign patients that goes home with them and into their everyday lives. We use the Dental Monitoring app to help our patients maintain their aligners and track their progress in real-time. It's simple and easy to use, and in our area, it's only available through Hester and Morris Orthodontics.

Dr. Morris has been using Dental Monitoring to help his patients achieve greater smile success since 2020, when many providers struggled to stay open and could not see their patients. We saw the benefits of Dental Monitoring for our patients and have worked to integrate it into how we treat our Invisalign patients.

Dental Monitoring has been an excellent tool to help keep our patients on track with their Invisalign compliance and to let patients and parents know how they're doing. It does not replace the need for check-ins here in the office, but it has been an enormous help in our efforts to keep our patients from having fewer inconvenient appointments and more successful outcomes.

We are proud to be able to offer Dental Monitoring to our patients. And we're incredibly proud of Dr. Morris for his commitment to his patients and to providing the best orthodontic care possible. We are always looking for ways to improve our patient care and patient outcomes, and we're proud to be able to be the top DM provider in Georgia!

If you're looking for a way to straighten your teeth without the hassle and appearance of traditional metal braces, Invisalign braces may be the solution you've been searching for.

Invisalign is a modern solution to teeth alignment that uses clear plastic aligners instead of traditional brackets and wires. These aligners are custom-made to fit your teeth and gradually shift them into place over time. Unlike traditional braces, Invisalign aligners are virtually invisible, so you can go about your daily life without feeling self-conscious. Additionally, they're removable, which means you can eat and drink whatever you like and properly clean your teeth without having to work around brackets and wires. You can read more about life with Invisalign here.

Invisalign has become increasingly popular in recent years, and for a good reason – there are many benefits to choosing this option over traditional braces. At Hester and Morris Orthodontics, we often highlight the fact that you have fewer in-office visits with Invisalign, but did you know that's just the beginning of the benefits, especially for adults? Keep reading to learn about the three surprising benefits of Invisalign.

1. Invisalign Can Cause You To Make Healthier Choices

For some, choosing Invisalign aligners has been a way to make better lifestyle choices. Because you wear the clear aligners at all times, except when you're eating, drinking, or brushing your teeth, patients find that they snack much less than before.

Every time you eat, you must remove the aligners; some get tired of that hassle and skip the snack. And while we encourage our Invisalign patients to brush after every meal, before putting the aligners back in, when eating out, it's just not always possible. With this in mind, patients are much more mindful of their food choices, knowing they'll have to remove the aligners to eat and place them back in after.

Water intake is often increased once a patient begins Invisalign treatment. We see patients who drink more water because they don't want to have to remove the aligners to drink as you would with coffee, tea, or soda.

For many patients, this is a huge benefit! Some of our patients even report losing weight while wearing their aligners, thanks to their healthier eating habits.

2. Invisalign May Mean Fewer Cavities

One common benefit of Invisalign over braces is that there are no brackets or wires, which makes it easier to keep your teeth clean. But even more, it can lead to better dental checkups too!

Because it can be hard to floss and brush around brackets, it's not uncommon for patients to with braces to have the occasional cavity. With Invisalign, because of the ease of home care, patients are less likely to have cavities compared to braces patients.

Additionally, as your teeth move into their new positions, brushing and flossing your teeth at home will become even more accessible. Straighter teeth are easier to take care of! Your dentist will thank you!

3. You Can Whiten Your Teeth With Invisalign

Patients often ask Drs. Hester and Morris if they can whiten their teeth while in the process of straightening them. While we do not recommend whitening your teeth while you're wearing braces, if you have Invisalign, you can whiten your teeth along your journey to a straighter smile.

Patients may choose to use over-the-counter kinds of toothpaste, white strips, bleaching pens, and gels. Many dentists offer in-office whitening treatments to their patients. In our practice, we give a more convenient alternative to our patients by using the Invisalign alignment tray with the Pola Advanced Tooth Whitening System.

This optional treatment uses your existing Invisalign trays to hold the whitening gel, giving you the benefit of a bright smile overnight! This is an excellent option for patients at the point of their treatment when their teeth are beginning to show noticeable movement, making the whitening process more effective. If you're interested in this option, be sure to ask us on your next visit!

What other benefits does Invisalign have over traditional braces? Share them in the comments below. We can't wait to hear from you!