Re: ALF wires?

[Guest guest]

Hi Judith,

I developed the geocities site and was one whose treatment was

started of with ALF appliances. The links don't work because the

website moved the linked pages but you can still find articles if you

dig a bit. I just need to update those links.

I know my ortho teaches seminars in the use of ALFs so there are

other orthodontists who use them, but I don't know who.

One of the reasons more orthos don't use them is that they take

longer to work, and there is also more specialized training required.

My ortho did say that he's invited one particular ortho in our area

to come to his seminars, but he never shows up, yet when he has a

really tough TMJ case, he refers it to my ortho, because he knows

he's had good success with his " wacky treatment " (as my ortho calls

it). Perhaps those who have been working in this business for a long

time are unwilling to change their treatment methods.

Yes, they do straighten teeth. I know people who have had ALF

treatment who never needed fixed braces afterwards. My case was

severe, though, and my ortho needed to put me into fixed braces for

surgery and post-op finetuning. My ortho also believes whole-

heartedly in a holistic type approach - when I had my final

consultation with him, he told me he was going to treat " the whole

body " and he did. Where else would you hear of someone offering

cranial-sacral treatments as part of the orthodontal treatment plan?

My ortho, at the time of my treatment, actually had a dentist coming

up from Washington DC area for ALF treatments, and he regularly has

people driving several hours to see him.

As for finding an ortho in NYC who uses this type of treatment, if

you want to e-mail me offlist, I'll send you my ortho's name &

number - perhaps he knows of someone who does this type of work there.

Hope that helps,

>

> Hello everyone,

>

> I'm still contemplating getting started on this process. I've been

> reading these posts for awhile and saw that most people have

> metallic braces (I also tried to convince my ortho to put on

ceramic

> and he said that the OS would not accept that) and am interested in

> any alternatives to braces.

>

> I saw that someone in this group has ALF wires and would be really

> interested in learning more about them. (for more info on alf look

> at this great website! http://www.geocities.com/orthognathicinfo/ -

> although not all the alf links are working yet...)

>

> Why don't more people use them? Do they straighten teeth like

braces

> do? I have jaw pain and muscle tension and would definitely love to

> find a way to fix the pain more holistically.

>

> If anyone knows more about this and how to find an ortho that can

do

> this (especially in NYC) I would be very grateful.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Judith