What is
Invisalign®?
You have probably heard the word “Invisalign®” but what is it really? Invisalign® is a cutting-edge orthodontic treatment that uses clear, custom-fitted aligners to straighten teeth without traditional braces and wires. These nearly invisible aligners are comfortable and removable, offering a discreet and convenient way to achieve a beautifully aligned smile.
Some reasons Dr. Ella loves Invisalign® (and you will too!)
1. You can barely tell they’re in! These little trays fit snugly over your teeth and are perfectly clear. They come in and out so you can brush and floss those pearly whites without bulky braces and wires.
2. It is a powerful tool! Selecting the right doctor is crucial for effective Invisalign® treatment. During your consultation, Dr. Ella may draw a comparison between Invisalign® and a Boeing 787. Just as a seasoned pilot can skillfully operate the aircraft, Orthodontics with Invisalign® treatment benefits from extensive expertise. Acquiring an “Invisalign® certificate” does not equate to the qualifications needed to undertake a complex journey. Dr. Ella has extensive training and certification granted by the eminent authority in orthodontics, the American Board of Orthodontics. Dr. Ella is exceptionally qualified to utilize Invisalign® for a wide range of cases.
3. You can easily keep up with your regular cleanings at the dentist! Making sure your teeth are healthy throughout your orthodontic journey has never been easier.
4. It can be FASTER to complete your smile transformation with Invisalign® than with braces!
5. Fewer appointments, convenient visits and support throughout your treatment through an AI-powered convenient app. That’s how Dr. Ella and her team track your treatment while “you do you, boo”.
Invisalign®
Express & Touch-up
A quick and easy way to keep your smile the same! Treatment is done in 6 months or less!
This option is perfect if you:
Have one or two teeth that moved after orthodontics.
Need a “quick fix” before an event (think wedding, graduation, job interviews).
Have specific goals but want to keep your bite.
Airway &
Sleep Apnea
Treatment
Airway orthodontics is the key to breathing easy and living your healthiest life. This transformative approach focuses on not just straightening teeth but optimizing the entire respiratory and cardiovascular systems. By aligning the jaw and improving the airway, it empowers you to breathe better through your nose, sleep soundly, and feel more energized every day.
If you find yourself consistently lacking restful sleep or if you’re waking up your household with your snoring, you may be suffering from an undiagnosed sleep disorder. These are just a couple of the potential symptoms that could signal issues related to breathing during sleep. Unfortunately, sleep disorders are frequently overlooked, which may result in severe complications, such as:
- Persistent daytime drowsiness.
- Elevated blood pressure.
- Risk of heart attack and stroke.
- Heartburn and acid reflux.
- Morning headaches.
- Feelings of depression.
- Difficulty with weight loss.
- Hormonal imbalances.
The correlation between overall health and misaligned teeth and jaws, which can contribute to breathing difficulties, teeth grinding (bruxism), and sleep disturbances, is well-established.
Dr. Ella specializes in airway-focused orthodontics and offers effective improvements in your quality of life with minimal in-office appointments. Contact us today to arrange a consultation focused on improving your sleep quality.
Custom
Retainers
Whether you just finished your orthodontic treatment or have been wearing the same retainer since middle school, retainers play an essential role in maintaining the results of your orthodontic treatment.
Most orthodontists recommend wearing retainers every night to maintain your teeth in position. You might overhear Dr. Ella say, “you can stop wearing your retainers every night when you want to patron the office of an orthodontic professional again”. In other words, don’t gamble with the investment you’ve made in your smile! Retainers are thin, invisible and now, easy to have a fresh pair, so your teeth never move!
When worn full-time, day and night, the average life of a Vivera® retainer is at least 3 months before it needs to be replaced. Whether you first finish your orthodontic treatment, your teeth need time in their new position to “firm up”. Dr. Ella will tell you to wear your retainers all the time – 22 hr/day – for the first 3 months. When prescribed for patient use only at night, a Vivera retainer should typically last at least 9 months. After about a year, the plastic starts to degrade and breakdown by the bacteria and acids that are normally present in your mouth. When you think about it, do you really want to keep putting something in your mouth that you got when Justin Bieber’s “Baby” was all the rage?
Retainers are designed to be replaced periodically, so patients always have a strong, fresh set of retainers, but getting a new set of retainers can be costly and time consuming – until now!
Jaw Surgery & Invisalign®
If you’ve navigated to this part of the site, then chances are either someone at some point told you that you would benefit (or “need”) jaw surgery or a bit of research into your concerns have led you to the search term “orthognathic surgery” or “surgical orthodontics”.
In simple terms, jaw surgery, often paired with orthodontic treatments like braces or Invisalign®, is a common fix for those facial and jaw imbalances. Think of it like upgrading your facial harmony game! If your lower jaw feels a little “off-kilter” – too far back, off to one side, or just not matching the upper one – it’s all fair game. Our eyes have a natural knack for spotting facial harmony, and sometimes, you can’t quite put your finger on what’s bothering you about your looks. That’s where Dr. Ella and her amazing team come in. They’ll dive deep with comprehensive records and a thorough clinical exam, and Dr. Ella will chat with you to help you nail down those things you’d like to level up. Let’s get you feeling great in your skin! 
There are many benefits to jaw surgery with Invisalign® Enhanced function, confidence, a symmetrical, on-point 
look, and even better sleep and long-term quality of life are all potential benefits of jaw surgery! Not to mention keeping your teeth healthy, because jaws that don’t fit together well cause you to wear down your teeth faster. Future you will not thank you for the crowns and implants you’ll need down the line if you neglect your teeth today!
TMJ
Orthodontics
Dr. Ella often hears her patients complain that they have “TMJ!” We all have one! But it’s very common for patients to have pain with their TMJ (the “doctor word” is temporomandibular joint) called TMD – TMJ Disorder. Dr. Ella LOVES to nerd out about all things teeth, including the TMJ, so navigate here for a deep dive into the TMJ and TMJ disorder. For those of you looking for a quicker answer to the question of “Will Invisalign help my TMJ pain?” without gaining a minor in head and neck biology, the answer is “it depends”.
Depends on what? A few things, but the biggest factors are what’s causing your pain and how bad the discomfort is. Mild to moderate TMD is often caused by a bite that doesn’t fit together well when your jaw joint is in its correct anatomical position. This causes you to slide your jaw forward or off to one side and over time (think dozens of times a day and twelve thousand times or more over the course of a year) the muscles and ligaments that support the movement of your TMJ get tired (at best) or get inflamed or degrade (or worse), in more serious cases.
Here’s the real deal: when it comes to orthodontic treatment, it can have different effects on your TMJ discomfort – it could make it better, not change much, or maybe even make it worse. If your discomfort stems from how your teeth fit together (your bite), Invisalign might be a game-changer. On the flip side, if it’s all about muscle tension, those aligners could stop you from clenching down hard and ease your pain. But, sometimes, it might be due to something else, like medication or an ongoing health condition. The key is, let’s talk to an expert to figure out what’s right for you.
Braces
Yes! Dr. Ella is an orthodontist and also treats patients with braces. Sometimes, braces and wires are just the option that works best for a patient! Occasionally, a case can be treated a little faster with braces (but remember, braces require in-office visits every 4-6 weeks for manual “tightening” by Dr. Ella and her team). Other times, patients would prefer an appliance that they don’t have to remove and prefer to spend a few extra minutes cleaning their teeth after every meal instead of remembering to put Invisalign® back in.
The bottom line, Dr. Ella will work with you to find the solution that works best for you and your lifestyle!
