Page 19 - Masala Lite Issue 158 | February 2024

You don’t need

to floss all your

teeth, just the ones

you want to keep.

to use this method of realignment, because it is something they have done a million times
Have modern advancements like 3D printing and laser dentistry changed the way before. Switching over to a newer method would only slow them down. Furthermore, with
your job looks? traditional braces, the cost is low, and the patient pays a monthly fee which is economical

I have always wanted to do ‘sexier’ dentistry. I am trained in Europe, and that differentiates for students on a budget. In comparison, Invisalign costs significantly more and requires
the way I approach patients compared to many dentists in Bangkok. The biggest difference a large deposit before treatment can begin. Lastly, more complicated cases still require
is I spend a lot of time talking to the patient when they first come in, getting to know them traditional braces.
and addressing any concerns or anxiety. This is where the modern advancements have
helped the most. I like nice stuff, and most of the equipment I use in the clinic is imported
and state-of-the-art. If you walked in for a consultation today, using the intraoral scanner
I could create a 3D map of your mouth within 10 minutes. Next, I use nature’s ratio of
beauty — the golden ratio — and apply it to the length, shape, and width of your teeth to
create the ideal mock-up. Once the model is complete, I can project and overlay it on top Dr. Avi Sajnani’s practices for maximising oral health:
of the scan of your current teeth. By doing this, every patient understands where they are
starting and what the end result will look like. I can then go over treatment options, cost, • Brush twice a day for two to four minutes
and other issues or concerns they have. Additionally, modern dentistry saves the patient a • Do not rinse your mouth completely after
lot of time. Procedures like ceramic restoration once required numbing the patient, taking
a silicone impression, pouring in plaster, burning out the stone, pumping in blindingly hot • Wait 30 minutes after brushing before eating acidic food
ceramic, removing it, then finally inserting into the crown. Traditionally, this procedure • Preventive measures will always be easier and more economical
could take a week or more. Today, we simply scan the teeth, send it to the lab, wait for the than treatment
design to be approved, mill the crown to the exact millimetre, and it can be implanted in
the patient in a matter of hours with no stitches. • Get a professional cleaning every six months

Will Invisalign replace traditional braces? • Smoking is bad and can lead to gastric reflux, which wears

down teeth enamel
Absolutely not. Invisalign and braces act very differently. Something to consider also is
that orthodontists have different proficiencies and experience. An orthodontist who has • Hydrate often to keep the oral environment moist
been doing traditional and Damon braces for years will be far more confident continuing