When someone says the word “braces”, what normally comes to your mind? Poking wires? Sharp brackets? Overstretched rubber bands? More often than not, orthodontic appliances are synonymous with feeling bulky, tasting metallic, and looking less than flattering. There are millions and millions of patients around the world who are actively being treated with some sort of corrective appliance. Now there is a product out there that doesn’t involve all of the hassle the old treatment brought. Invisalign is the new way to correct the problems that a patients particular mouth may have.       

Before Invisalign, the process of straightening your smile was long and tedious. There were retainers, night retainers, upper brackets, lower brackets, and let’s not forget the “head-gear”. Generally, all types of braces work in the same manner. Force is created from the tension of a perpendicularly placed wire (archwire), attached to cemented brackets on the teeth. However, the force that is applied to the teeth is not what directly shapes the smile. The pressure triggers a physiological reaction in the body, which reshapes the bone inside the gums. This is a very effective course of treatment, but it is definitely not the newest, most state-of-the-art equipment.

With the coming of Invisalign aligners, orthodontic patients can now have the same results, minus the over-the-top hardware that so inconspicuously accompanies dental appliances. At your first consultation, Dr. Raskin will discuss the options of treatment plans that would be suited for you. Impressions will be taken, so your aligners are fitted exactly to your specific smile. The aligners work in a similar fashion to their predecessors. The mouth piece fits just over the teeth and gently applies pressure to the teeth so they can begin to move, rather than experiencing a pulling sensation for the first week with traditional braces. The aligners are removable, which makes eating, drinking, brushing, and flossing much easier. This also gets rid of the cemented brackets placed into the patient’s mouth (which is one of the major reasons why traditional braces are so hard to maintain.) The customized appliance is completely clear, so you can go to that board meeting or night on the town you can’t miss. The Invisalign process is not as aggressive, but is not meant for extensive orthodontic work. Invisalign is strictly a cosmetic product. Although the device is versatile in its uses, for certain types of orthodontic correction, patients may need to consult an orthodontist.

At the end of the day, it comes down to one thing…confidence. The right smile will give you the confidence to do all those things you wish you could. This shows how the little things help paint the bigger picture. However, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and your new smile won’t be either. The process does take can take up to 18 months, depending on the individual’s case.

Click here for more information about Invisalign and Advanced DDS

***DR. RASKIN IS NOW TAKING $500 OFF ALL INVISALIGN TREATMENTS^*. MONTHLY PAYMENTS CAN BE AS LOW AS $187^** PER MONTH***

*This offer expires September 31, 2010

**Payment may vary due to credit status