Invisalign

Invisalign is the most recognized name in clear aligners, which is also why it gets oversold. Here is how our orthodontists explain it: Invisalign is to clear aligners what Kleenex is to tissues. It is a brand, the biggest and best known, but it is one of several systems, and the aligner itself is only ever a tool. What actually moves your teeth is the prescription behind it, written by the orthodontist responsible for the result.

Who clear aligners are right for

Aligners work well for motivated teens and adults with mild to moderate crowding or spacing. The real catch is wear time. They only work when they are in the mouth, roughly 22 hours a day, out only for eating and drinking anything other than water. For a motivated teen or adult that is very doable. For a kid who tends to lose retainers, that is a conversation worth having honestly up front rather than six months into stalled treatment.

We look at the airway first

With children, we do not start with the teeth. We start with the airway and the way the jaw is growing, because you cannot build a straight, stable smile on a foundation that is too narrow, the same way you would not build a large house on a small foundation. Most of the time that means aligners are one option we consider after we understand the whole picture, not a default we hand every family.

Specialist care at both offices

Dr. Courtney Lavigne is a board-certified orthodontist who is also an Accredited Member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, a distinction held by fewer than 1% of dentists worldwide. Dr. Lauren Cardarelli brings advanced training and published research in 3D imaging. Both see patients at our Providence and Wakefield offices, and we work with Invisalign and other aligner systems so we can match the right tool to your case.

If aligners are right for you or your child, we will say so. If braces will serve you better, we will tell you that too. No referral is needed to get started at either our Providence or Wakefield office.