Pasadena Invisalign®

Forget those old-fashioned wires and metal brackets and years of orthodontist appointments. Now you can have braces that gently guide your teeth into alignment in half the time, and are virtually invisible while you're wearing them.

Traditional metal wire-and-brackets versus Invisalign® braces.
Which would you choose?

Dr. Azarbal is trained in the use of Invisalign® invisible braces, a set of clear plastic aligners that guide your teeth into position and can be removed for eating, drinking and cleaning your teeth. No more restricted diets or worrying about food caught in wires that are difficult to clean.

Because Invisalign® braces are customized for each patient, they gradually move teeth into the correct position, eliminating the need for uncomfortable adjustments that move the teeth back and forth.

How Invisalign® braces work

1. At the initial consultation, the dentist will examine the overall health of your teeth, your bite, and the amount of crowding. This will include a set of x-rays to determine the best treatment and whether Invisalign® braces are right for you. If so, detailed molds of your teeth are made.
   
   
2. The molds are scanned by a computer to create a digital image of the teeth. The dentist then uses the computer to plan how the teeth should move into position. Using the computer, a set of digitized images are developed that will be used to manufacture a set of customized plastic aligners.
   
   
3. When the first aligner is inserted, it will feel slightly uncomfortable as it is designed to move the teeth into a slightly different position. After two weeks, that aligner is taken out and the next one inserted.
   

   An Invisalign® clear plastic aligner.

   
   
   
4. As treatment progresses through the complete set of aligners, your teeth will gradually move into the correct position. Because the custom-made aligners are so precise, Invisalign® braces do not over- or under-correct requiring numerous adjustments to get the teeth into position. Thus, they can acheive correct tooth alignment in a much shorter time.

Who can wear Invisalign® braces?

Invisalign braces are not appropriate for everyone. They may not work in cases of severe overcrowding of the teeth. And, they cannot be used until all the patient's teeth are fully erupted, meaning that the patient must be about 14 years of age before they are able to wear Invisalign® braces.

Because they are removable, some patients have had issues with compliance. Although they can and should be removed for eating and brushing, the braces must be worn all other times in order to achieve the desired result.