Invisalign Orthodontic Treatment For Teens & Adults
From Miami Lakes to Pembroke Pines, more often than not, when people think of braces, they now also think of Invisalign. Invisalign is a manufacturer of clear orthodontic aligners that offer an alternative to conventional braces. Treatment consists of a series of clear aligners, often referred to as trays, which progressively force teeth to move into the correct position over time. Although Invisalign is an alternative solution to braces, it is not for everyone, as many dentists may have you believe.
When it comes to Invisalign, braces, or any other orthodontic procedure, your average family dentist typically lacks the proper training to correctly diagnose, plan and treat your orthodontic issues. Your family dentist serves a similar purpose to your family doctor. They are there to help you with your general needs, such as check-ups, cleanings, etc., but they should refer you to a specialist if you need a dental procedure that is outside of their training, such as oral surgery or orthodontics. This is very similar to going to your family doctor for a checkup and being diagnosed with a heart issue. Family doctors wouldn’t perform your heart surgery themselves! They would refer you to a heart specialist (cardiologist) who would then give you the appropriate diagnosis and treatment plan.
While orthodontists and dentists help patients improve their oral health, they do this differently. A dentist is a professional who studies the medical specialty dealing with the teeth, gums, nerves, and jaw. On the other hand, an orthodontist is a dentist with specialized training who focuses on the alignment of teeth, correcting bites, and occlusion. While all orthodontists are dentists, not all dentists are orthodontists!
At Miami Lakes Orthodontics, we are a Miami Lakes orthodontic specialist dealing exclusively with correcting bites, occlusion, and the straightness of teeth. Dr. Carmen Briceño Crespi is also the only board-certified orthodontist specialist (https://www.americanboardortho.com) between Doral and Pembroke Pines. As a Miami board-certified orthodontist, Dr. Briceño Crespi has taken hundreds of additional hours of education, which makes her the most qualified specialist with the skills and knowledge necessary to provide you with the highest level of patient care.
We are also Invisalign Preferred Providers, which means that we have achieved significant experience in treating patients with Invisalign treatment options. The Invisalign system now offers three types of treatment plans which can be tailored to your specific needs:
Invisalign
Also known as Invisalign complete, it is the most popular prescription for individuals who have never had orthodontic treatment. This is available for initial submission, mid-course correction, and refinement. On average this type of case takes about 12 months for adults. However, an orthodontic specialist can only determine the actual treatment length.
Invisalign Teen
Many teenagers that require Invisalign treatment are very self-conscious about their appearance. Invisalign Teen is a treatment option that offers an almost invisible way to straighten your teen’s teeth without the restrictions and less-than-appealing look that come with metal braces.
Vivera Retainers (formerly Invisalign Express)
Not everyone has vast gaps, underbites, and/or other severe cases. For this type of patient, Invisalign has developed Invisalign Express, now rebranded as Vivera Retainers. Invisalign Express (Vivera Retainers) treats simple cases in 4-6 months with as little as 5 to 10 aligners. Invisalign Express can also be used as a phase II treatment after conventional braces to ensure your teeth will not migrate back to their old positions. Invisalign Express treats simple cases in 4-6 months with as little as 5 to 10 aligners. Invisalign Express can also be used as a phase II treatment after conventional braces to ensure your teeth will not migrate back to their old positions.
So, whether it appears or you think that you need orthodontic treatment such as Invisalign, the easiest way to find out is to make a free no, obligation consultation with the award-winning, board-certified Miami Lakes Invisalign orthodontist for teens and adults, Dr. Carmen Briceño Crespi. Call us at (305) 820-6800 or fill out the form below, and one of our smile specialists will contact you as indicated.
Here’s More Information Related to Invisalign in My Area
How Does Invisalign Work?
If you are interested in how Invisalign aligners work, you are probably the most curious about how long they will take to straighten your teeth. Your dentist will give you a set of aligners that are fitted specifically to your teeth. They will then alter that set a bit to create a series of increasingly straight aligners. You will swap out sets once every two weeks, in most cases. The number of sets aligner sets you will have will depend on the amount of movement that is needed to fix your teeth.
Braces work by pulling. A combination of wires, brackets, and rubber brands helps to pull teeth into place. Invisalign, on the other hand, works through push. Each aligner will push your teeth in the desired direction a little at a time. Once the process is over, the aligners will have pushed your teeth into place.
Whether braces or Invisalign will be more effective in straightening teeth depends on these forces. The pull force exerted by traditional braces is effective at erupting an impacted tooth, but there are also many instances wherein Invisalign is the obvious choice for reasons that have nothing to do with appearance. Invisalign’s technique is also unique in that it allows direct 360-degree contact with every single tooth in your mouth.
Traditional braces utilize the flex of a distorted wire. As the wire returns to its natural position, force is applied and the teeth move. Invisalign uses force that comes from the flex of resilient plastic. Just like wires are constantly being changed and tightened, aligner trays will have to be changed quite often. This is because the teeth are only able to move a certain amount at a certain speed. This speed and distance are decided based on the physiologic bone remodeling needed and also the nerve and blood vessel migration. This basically means that the farther your teeth have to travel, the more aligners you will have.
As long as the tray fits on your teeth, it is working. If the tray is not able to move your teeth, it will not fit in your mouth. You must not hurry the process. Your teeth can only move at a certain speed. The best thing you can do to quicken the process is to wear your aligners for at least 22 hours out of each day. Bite correction falls under the same rules for Invisalign as it does for traditional braces. The wires and brackets of braces straighten teeth just as the Invisalign aligners do, but neither of these alone is enough to correct your bite. In order to correct your bite, you will most likely need the assistance of rubber bands, expanders, or other devices. These can be used with Invisalign just as they are with traditional braces.
If you are thinking about the choice between Invisalign and traditional braces, we recommend that you contact us for more information on how Invisalign can help you have the smile you’ve always wanted without the pain and shame often caused by traditional braces.