Dr. Buchanan’s practice is located at 6595 Virginia Parkway, Ste. 100, McKinney. In addition to giving back to her local community, Dr. Buchanan and her team have provided orthodontic treatment for children and adults for the past 27 years.
“We have some amazing technology that we're using now, called the Spark Aligners,” Dr. Buchanan said. “This innovative aligner system is helping to stop patient snoring by opening up the airway and non-invasively treating sleep apnea.”
Sleep apnea is a disorder where a person’s breathing repeatedly starts and stops during the night. It is caused by a narrow airway which restricts the flow of oxygen while a person sleeps. People with sleep apnea often snore loudly and wake up feeling tired even after a full night of sleep.
“Sleep apnea is dangerous, because it has been linked to many major health issues,” Dr. Buchanan said. “Individuals with sleep apnea experience daytime fatigue, high blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes, and liver problems—there are so many health risks that are associated with sleep apnea and not getting proper rest.”
How Spark Aligners work
Spark Aligners, which are clear liners patients wear on their teeth, are made of a material called TruGEN. This material moves the teeth more efficiently than other types of aligners and mimics the technology of the Damon Braces Dr. Buchanan uses.
“I can get the same kind of bone and tooth movements with Spark Aligners as I see with Damon Technology Braces,” she said. “Because I use our CBCT 3-D imaging to create each patient’s perfect jaw and tooth alignment, it makes treatment more efficient.”
Dr. Buchanan said Spark Aligners are most effective when patients already have all of their permanent teeth. The aligners are a popular choice for teenage and adult patients who want a straighter smile and better oral health without wires and brackets.
“What we're doing with the Spark Aligners is widening the upper jaw and moving it forward,” Dr. Buchanan said. “This allows the lower jaw to rotate forward and open up. So just by moving the jaw forward, it's helping to open up the airways.”
Dr. Buchanan uses CBCT 3-D imaging to allow patients to see how the Spark Aligners are working during treatment.
Lasting benefits
Dr. Buchanan said Spark Aligners are non-invasive and more effective in treating sleep apnea than a continuous positive airway pressure machine.
A CPAP machine prevents lapses in breathing by delivering pressurized air into a person’s mouth while they sleep. Although this is effective at night, when a person takes off the mask, their airways are still constricted.
In contrast, the aligners change the size of a person’s airway by manipulating the jaw, providing a lasting change rather than a temporary fix.
“For a lot of my patients, they're already noticing a huge change the first day they put them in,” Dr. Buchanan said. “Many patients have reported an immediate stop to snoring and have increased their amount and quality of sleep.”
Learn more
Dr. Buchanan encourages prospective patients to schedule their free consultation before the end of the year, so they can get all the information they need for their health savings account and flex spending accounts going into the new year.
Buchanan Orthodontics is also offering a promotion: When patients come into the office for a free consultation, they will be entered into a drawing to win a $2,500 Apple gift card.
“We want to encourage patients to be informed,” Dr. Buchanan said. “It's amazing what we can do for their overall health while creating cosmetic and functional smiles.”
Buchanan Orthodontics is located at 6595 Virginia Parkway, Ste. 100, McKinney. To learn more or schedule a free consultation with Buchanan Orthodontics, visit mckinneybraces.com or text text 972-542-4412.
The above story was produced by Multi-platform Journalist Mary Katherine Shapiro with Community Impact's Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.
