Ask North County Orthodontics: Is Invisalign® really customized for each patient?

Yes, it is, and that’s part of what makes it work, says Dr. Allen. To find out if you are the right candidate for Invisalign treatment, the first thing we do is to take an impression of your teeth as they are now and digitize it. Using special software, we look at the current positioning of your teeth and compare it to the way your teeth should look.

Next we use special software to map out the exact path your teeth will take from the beginning of your treatment to the end. Based on the results, a set of custom aligners are created just for your teeth. Throughout the course of treatment, you will be required to wear these clear, removable aligners one at a time; each one moving your teeth closer and closer to their final, perfectly aligned position. The best thing about it all? Nobody around you will even know you are wearing braces!

Dr. Allen is a certified Invisalign provider in Oceanside and Fallbrook, CA. If you have questions about Invisalign, or would like to find out if you are a candidate for Invisalign treatment, please give us a call.

The SureSmile Advantage at North County Orthodontics

Does the thought of having braces bring you down? The team at North County Orthodontics understands that one of the biggest concerns for orthodontic patients with braces is the length of their treatment.

But you’re in luck, because Dr. Allen specializes in SureSmile, high-tech braces that are revolutionizing the orthodontic industry. SureSmile, which combines digital 3-D imaging, has computer-aided treatment planning and customized archwires to straighten teeth about 40 percent faster than traditional braces. The SureSmile program calculates the exact shape and pattern of the teeth and bends and cuts the braces wires, with more precision than traditional braces.

There are three steps. First, Dr. Allen identifies the initial tooth position with the patented OraScanner, a wand with a tiny camera attached. The OraScanner creates a precise 3-D digital model of your mouth, which is then uploaded into software that lets us view your mouth and teeth from any angle. Next, the SureSmile system allows us to create your entire treatment plan prior to treatment, using special computer software to analyze the 3-D model of your mouth and develop a custom archwire treatment. Finally, SureSmile’s robotic technology bends Shape Memory Alloy archwires, which can “remember” your prescription.

Results

With SureSmile’s specially programmed archwires, your teeth move more directly into their intended positions. The result for our patients is shortened treatment time and a more comfortable experience in braces.

Once the braces are on it’s only a matter of time before they are taken off revealing beautiful, straight, healthy teeth. With traditional braces a patient is expected to schedule 18 to 20 office visits over two years. With SureSmile, patients average seven to 10 visits and can have their braces off within half the time!

If you’re considering orthodontic treatment, please contact us today!

Meet Our Orthodontist

Dr. W. Michael Allen is a native of southern California. He earned his DDS degree and his certificate in orthodontics from USC in Los Angeles. Dr. Allen continues his orthodontic education by maintaining membership in the American Association of Orthodontists, the American Board of Orthodontics, the Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists, and the Seattle Study Club.

Dr. Allen has lived in Carlsbad since 2005 with his wife, Natalie; their daughters, Emma, Hannah, and Lily; and sons Adam and Nathan. When he's not at the office, he enjoys surfing, golfing, volleyball, basketball, and all different kinds of sports.