Invisalign and invisalign-teen can be used to correct a broad range of orthodontic irregularities. There are over half a million smiles to back that up. A confident smile isn't the only benefit of correcting your dental irregularities with custom-made invisalign aligners - your general health can improve as well.

How do I get started with invisalign or invisalign-teen?

Call our office to make an initial free orthodontic consultation appointment with Dr. David Alpan. Since 1999, he has been a certified invisalign provider, has taught over 6,000 dentists nationwide and in Canada to be invisalign providers and has treated over 1,000 patients with invisalign.

Dr. David Alpan will work with you to create a custom-designed program that will treat your specific orthodontic irregularities. Your treatment program will consist of a full set of aligners, made only for you. While it's important that you visit an experienced invisalign doctor to see how well invisalign fits your specific needs, you can get a head-start now by taking our self assessment.

There are other considerations when making the decision to straighten your teeth. Think about how invisalign can fit in your life by providing a virtually-invisible option to getting the smile you want.

Eight warning signs to look for

During the initial FREE ORTHODONTIC CONSULTATION our orthodontist, Dr. David Alpan, will look for the answer to the following questions:

1. Do the upper teeth protrude? Excessive protrusion (or overbite) of the upper front teeth bucked teeth is by far the most common orthodontic problem. You can test this by placing a Popsicle stick behind the upper front teeth when you bite down on your back teeth. If there is plenty of room for the stick, you probably have more than two millimeters of space between the upper front teeth and the lower front teeth. In many patients the lower jaw is retruded giving the .weak chin. appearance. When .patient records. are done, the x-ray picture taken of the side view of the head shows if the upper jawbone is protruding in front of the lower jawbone.
   
   
2. Is there a deep bite or over-jet? The upper teeth cover the lower front teeth too much - more than one millimeter of the lower teeth. In severe cases, the lower front teeth are totally covered by the upper front teeth when you bite down on your back teeth.
   
   
3. Is there an underbite? The upper teeth fit inside the arch of the lower teeth. Usually the lower jaw protrudes or sticks out farther than the upper jaw giving one the strong chin or Jay Leno appearance.
   
   
   
4. Is there an open bite? You can stick your tongue between the upper and lower front teeth when the back teeth are together.
   
   
   
   
5. Is there too little room for the upper or lower teeth? Do you see crowded or overlapped teeth?
   
   
   
   
   
6. Is there too much room (spacing or gaps) between the upper or lower teeth?
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. Do the front teeth line up? The spaces between the two upper front teeth and the two lower front teeth should line up with each other and both should line up with the bridge of the nose. When they do not, the probable cause is drifted teeth or a shifted lower jaw, resulting in an improper bite.
   
   
   
8. Is there a crossbite? The upper back teeth fit inside rather than outside of the lowers.
   
   
   

After you've read the above questions and match the pictures to your own teeth or jaws, you will be able to determine if you need braces.

What is invisalign or invisalign-teen?

The invisalign system is the virtually invisible way to straighten your teeth to achieve the dazzling smile you've always wanted. Using advanced 3-D computer-imaging technology, the invisalign Clin-Check shows you your complete treatment plan, from the initial position of your teeth to the final desired position. Then a series of clear aligners are custom-made for your teeth to move them little by little. Each aligner is worn for about two weeks before being replaced by the next in the series, until the final position of your teeth is achieved. Your invisalign treatment time will be determined by Dr. David Alpan, based on your specific needs.

The primary benefits of invisalign and invisalign-teen aligners:

1.  Are made of clear plastic. No one may even notice that you are wearing these virtually invisible braces making Invisalign a seamless fit with your lifestyle and day-to-day interactions with others.
2. Are removable.
3. Allow you to eat and drink what you want during treatment
4. Allow you to brush and floss as you normally would for fresh breath, healthy gums and good oral hygiene.
5. Allow you to take pictures without metal brackets showing.
6. Don’t irritate lips and cheeks since there are no metal brackets or wires.
7. Reduce number of visits to our office.
8. Reduce time spent in our office since there are no bracket or wire adjustments.
9. Teen aligners have blue dots that turn clear when aligners have been worn as instructed.
10. Teen aligners have spaces for permanent teeth to erupt.
11. Teen aligners have ridges to move front teeth.
12. Teen aligners come with special instructions kits to keep teens on their course of treatment.

Can I go to any dentist to be treated with invisalign?

While invisalign can be used with virtually any treatment philosophy, special training is needed. All dentists interested in treating patients with invisalign must attend and complete specialized instructional sessions to become certified invisalign providers. Close to 30,000 doctors worldwide are already certified to treat patients using invisalign. Dr. David Alpan was certified in 1999, has taught 6,000 dentists to become invisalign providers and has treated over 1,000 patients with invisalign. He is also an Elite Premier Invisalign Provider and is among the Top 100 Orthodontist invisalign providers worldwide.

How does the invisalign or invisalign-teen aligner move my teeth?

Invisalign aligners move teeth through the appropriate placement of controlled force on your teeth. The main difference is that Invisalign not only controls forces, but also the timing of the force application. During each stage, only certain teeth are allowed to move. These movements are determined by Dr. David Alpan as he maps out your unique invisalign treatment plan.

What are invisalign aligners made of, and what do they look like?

The virtually invisible aligners, which are made of a thermoplastic material uniquely developed for the invisalign treatment plan, look similar to tooth-whitening trays. Invisalign aligners are custom-made for you to move your teeth in the sequence determined by Dr. David Alpan.

How old is the company that manufactures the invisalign aligners?

Align Technology, Inc., the company that manufactures invisalign aligners, was founded in 1997.

How many patients are being treated with invisalign?

More than 500,000 patients worldwide have been treated with invisalign. The number of invisalign smiles grows daily.

Has the FDA cleared invisalign?