Most smiles can use a little help to reach perfection. For both young and adult patients, braces are a common solution. The Real Smile Dental Clinics offer a range of orthodontic services. Our specialists are happy to discuss your or your child’s unique dental needs and suggest the best treatment.

Braces are dental devices used to improve teeth and jaw alignment. Braces candidates usually suffer from, or are at risk for, improper jaw alignment, crowding, or over- and under-bites. Braces can be used to treat naturally occurring misalignment or issues resulting from a missing tooth or injury.

Braces are generally associated with younger patients, although many adults need braces to address both longstanding and new issues that result from injury. As facial structures develop early in life, it is recommended that patients be treated between the ages of 7 and 14, so that less work is necessary in the future.

The Real Smile Dental Clinics run the gamut, from traditional to cutting edge. In general, braces can be metal or plastic brackets bonded to the front of the teeth, or they can be adhered to the back known as lingual braces.

Not like they used to be. Technology has improved greatly in the last few years. Forget the bulky, heavy feeling previously associated with braces. Today’s braces are lighter and more efficient and with greater options for colors, they look more natural than ever. Immediately following adjustments, some patients will report mild discomfort due to the shift in pressure on the teeth and jaws; however, that feeling fades and actually improves with each adjustment.

Dental hygiene is always important, but it’s more so with braces in place. Your braces increase the hiding places for bits of food, so you must be extra diligent when brushing and flossing. Additionally, you must consider that the space under your braces won’t be exposed to the same type of staining as the surrounding tooth. That can mean uneven enamel staining if teeth aren’t properly cleaned.

Because braces can make it difficult to maneuver around each tooth, patients often use water picks.

It’s important to have a smile that’s healthy, comfortable and attractive. Traditional metal braces have been the most common solution for bite and alignment problems, but Invisalign offers a comfortable alternative that is almost invisible. We offer Invisalign as a treatment option for a wide variety of orthodontic issues.

Unlike traditional metal braces, Invisalign utilizes a personalized set of clear aligners to gradually adjust your smile. You wear the aligners for at least 20 hours each day, removing them to eat, brush and floss. The convenience of using removable aligners ensures that your treatment will not interrupt your daily routine.

During your initial consultation with one of our Invisalign experts, you and your provider will discuss the treatment process and any concerns that you might have. Impressions and X-rays will be used to create an advanced 3-D image of your mouth. The image will be used to illustrate every step of your treatment plan. Your provider will use the treatment plan to create a personalized set of clear aligners.

After you receive your aligners, you will wear each new device for two weeks. Each aligner promotes a subtle change in the position of your teeth. You will typically only need to see your provider every six weeks to monitor your progress.

The number of aligners required for a full treatment varies from patient to patient, but most patients require 18 to 30 aligners. The treatment time varies from nine to 15 months, and adult treatment plans tend to be shorter than plans for teenagers. Once you have finished the full set of aligners, you can enjoy a beautiful smile. Your provider may or may not recommend wearing a retainer to prevent post-treatment changes to your smile.

Aligner Therapy (Invisalign) is a treatment option that is suitable for both adults and teenagers. Both age groups can utilize Invisalign to avoid feeling self-conscious about traditional wire and bracket braces.

Aligner Therapy (Invisalign) is a fantastic orthodontic treatment option, but it is not always the ideal solution for individuals with severe bite and alignment issues. For Aligner Therapy in our Miami Beach or North Miami dental clinics, one of our experts can evaluate your case and help you determine if Aligner Therapy is the right treatment option for you. We serve patients from Miami Beach FL, Greater Miami FL, Midtown FL, Miami Shores FL, Aventura FL, Wynwood FL, Little Haiti FL, Dodge Island FL, North Miami FL, and Pinewood FL.