Reviewed by Dr. Nicole M. Berger, DDS — South Florida Smile Spa, Pompano Beach, FL
Clear aligners in Pompano Beach have become the way most adults and many teens straighten their teeth, and Invisalign is the clear aligner system South Florida Smile Spa provides. The idea is simple: a series of thin, transparent, removable trays, each made from a digital scan and each moving the teeth a fraction of a millimeter, worn in sequence until the teeth are where the plan put them. What separates one aligner treatment from another is the planning, the material and the dentist watching the teeth track, not the plastic. This page explains how clear aligners work, how Invisalign compares with the other brands and the mail-order kits, what a case here involves, and who is not a candidate.
Quick answer
Clear aligners are custom, nearly invisible plastic trays that straighten teeth without brackets or wires. Each aligner is worn 20 to 22 hours a day for one to two weeks, then swapped for the next; small tooth-colored attachments on some teeth help the trays grip, and treatment for most crowding, spacing and mild to moderate bite problems takes six to eighteen months, followed by retainers. At South Florida Smile Spa in Pompano Beach, Dr. Nicole M. Berger provides Invisalign, including Invisalign Teen and Invisalign First, planned from an iTero digital scan with a preview of the result and with every visit in the office. Severe rotations, large bite corrections and jaw-growth problems are referred to an orthodontist. Mail-order aligners with no dentist examining the bite are not something we recommend.
How They Work
Clear aligners in Pompano Beach: how they move teeth
Every aligner is shaped for the position the teeth should be in one step from now, not where they are today. Putting it in creates light pressure, bone remodels on the pressed side, and the tooth follows over a week or two.
- A digital plan first. An iTero scan of your teeth is turned into a 3D sequence of every movement, and you see the projected result before any aligner is made.
- A series, not a tray. Most cases use 20 to 50 aligners per arch, each worn one to two weeks. The number is the treatment time.
- Attachments. Small tooth-colored bumps bonded to certain teeth give the aligner something to push against for rotations and vertical moves. They are polished off at the end.
- Elastics when needed. Tiny hooks and rubber bands between the arches correct bite relationships the aligners alone cannot.
- Refinements. Teeth that lag are rescanned and a short extra series is made, included in the fee.
- Retainers after. Every orthodontic result relaxes without retention; clear retainers worn nightly hold it.
The American Dental Association’s page on braces and aligners describes clear aligners alongside the other options and notes that a dentist should plan and supervise them.
Invisalign vs. other clear aligners vs. mail-order kits
| Invisalign (provided here) | Other dentist-provided brands | Mail-order aligners | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who examines you | Dr. Berger, in person, with X-rays and a bite exam | A dentist, in person | Nobody; impressions mailed or a scan at a kiosk |
| Planning | iTero scan, 3D plan reviewed by Dr. Berger, simulation shown to you | Scan or impression and a lab plan | Lab plan from your impression; no clinical check of gums or bone |
| Material | SmartTrack, a patented multilayer plastic that applies gentler, more constant force | Varies by brand | Single-layer plastic in most |
| Attachments and elastics | Yes, which is what allows rotations and bite correction | Usually yes | Usually no, which limits cases to mild crowding |
| Visits | Every 6 to 10 weeks; problems caught early | Similar | Remote photos only |
| Refinements | Included | Varies | Often extra, or not offered |
| Retainers | Made here at the end | Varies | Mailed |
| Suitable cases | Mild to moderate crowding, spacing, bite problems; teens and adults | Similar | Mild cosmetic crowding only |
The Process
An Invisalign case at South Florida Smile Spa, step by step
- Consultation. Bite exam, X-rays, photographs and an iTero scan. Dr. Berger shows you a simulation of the outcome and tells you plainly whether aligners will do the job or the case belongs with an orthodontist.
- Plan approval. The 3D plan, with the number of aligners and the attachment positions, is reviewed with you and approved before anything is manufactured.
- Fitting. Attachments are bonded, the first aligners are seated, and you learn to insert, remove and clean them. Mild pressure for a day or two is normal.
- Daily wear. Twenty to twenty-two hours a day. Out to eat, to drink anything but water, and to brush and floss; back in straight after.
- Progress visits. Every six to ten weeks to check tracking and collect the next aligners. A tooth that is lagging is caught here and handled with a refinement.
- Finish and retain. Attachments are polished off, final photographs taken, and clear retainers made the same week. Nightly retainer wear is for life.
Who is a candidate
Crowding, gaps, teeth that have drifted since braces years ago, mild to moderate overbite, crossbite and open bite, and the alignment phase before veneers or a smile makeover are all everyday Invisalign cases here. Teens with all or most of their adult teeth are treated with Invisalign Teen, and younger children with suitable problems with Invisalign First. The cases Dr. Berger refers to an orthodontist are severely rotated teeth, teeth that must move a long way vertically, large skeletal bite discrepancies, impacted teeth and children who need jaw expansion; fixed braces and an orthodontist’s appliances are simply more predictable for those. Gum disease and untreated decay are sorted out first, since aligners move teeth in bone that has to be healthy.
Why we do not recommend mail-order aligners
Aligners sold by mail skip the part of orthodontics that matters: an examination of the gums, bone, roots and bite by someone responsible for the outcome. Teeth moved through thin bone or active gum disease can loosen, bites can be left worse than they started, and when something goes wrong there is nobody to see. Many of the patients who come to us after a mail-order kit need more treatment than they would have at the start. If cost is the concern, Invisalign here is quoted as one all-in fee with financing available, and the consultation is the place to compare honestly.
Clear aligners as part of a smile makeover
Because Dr. Berger plans Invisalign from the same digital scans she uses for cosmetic work, alignment is often the first step of a larger plan: straighten first, then whiten, then bond or veneer only the teeth that still need it. Moving teeth into the right position before veneers means less enamel removed and thinner, more natural veneers. Our smile makeover page explains how the stages fit together, and whitening is often done in the aligners themselves near the end of treatment.
Living with aligners
The first few days with each new aligner bring pressure and sometimes a slight lisp, both gone within a week. Aligners are cleaned with a soft brush and cool water, never hot water or colored mouthwash, and kept in their case whenever they are out; most lost aligners are lost in a napkin. Coffee and tea stain aligners and are taken with them out. Attachments can trap plaque, so brushing is slightly more careful. Patients who grind their teeth often find the aligners double as a nightguard during treatment, and a proper nightguard can be made afterward.
Cost and insurance
Invisalign at South Florida Smile Spa is one fee covering the consultation scan, the plan, every aligner including refinements, all visits and the first set of retainers, quoted in writing before you decide. Shorter cases use the Invisalign Express or Lite tiers and cost less than comprehensive treatment. Dental plans with orthodontic benefits pay toward aligners the same way they pay toward braces, usually a lifetime maximum; our team verifies yours and files the claim. Financing is available for Invisalign treatment.
Care in Pompano Beach
Why patients choose South Florida Smile Spa for clear aligners
- Planned by the dentist who examined you. Dr. Berger reviews every tooth movement in the 3D plan herself before approving it.
- A cosmetic eye. Alignment is planned toward the finished smile, with whitening, bonding or veneers sequenced after it when wanted.
- iTero scanning. No impression putty, a simulation of your result at the first visit, and rescans in minutes for refinements.
- Honest candidacy. Cases that belong with an orthodontist are referred at the consultation, not after months in aligners.
- Retainers made and replaced here. For our Invisalign patients and for anyone who has lost retainers from treatment elsewhere.
Clear aligner patients come to us from Pompano Beach, Lighthouse Point, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Coconut Creek, with check-ups only every six to ten weeks.
See your straight smile before you start
Book an Invisalign consultation with Dr. Berger. A digital scan and a simulation of your result, plus a written all-in fee and an honest answer on whether aligners suit your case.
South Florida Smile Spa · Dr. Nicole M. Berger, DDS · 572 E McNab Rd, Suite 102, Pompano Beach, FL 33060 · (954) 785-1100
Frequently Asked Questions
Which clear aligner brand does South Florida Smile Spa use?
Invisalign, including Invisalign Teen and Invisalign First, planned from an iTero digital scan. Invisalign and retainers are the orthodontic treatments Dr. Berger provides; cases needing fixed braces or jaw-growth appliances are referred to an orthodontist.
How long do clear aligners take?
Six to eighteen months for most cases, depending on how far the teeth have to move; minor crowding can finish in under six months with Invisalign Express. The aligner count in your plan is the timeline.
Do clear aligners hurt?
There is pressure for a day or two with each new aligner, which is the teeth moving, and occasionally a rough edge that is smoothed in seconds. There are no wires or brackets to cut the lips or cheeks.
Can I eat and drink with aligners in?
Only water. Aligners come out for meals and for coffee, tea, wine or anything else that stains or contains sugar, then you brush and put them back. Twenty to twenty-two hours a day of wear is what makes the plan work.
Are clear aligners as good as braces?
For crowding, spacing and mild to moderate bite problems, yes, with the same treatment time. Fixed braces remain more predictable for severe rotations, large bite corrections, impacted teeth and jaw growth, which is why Dr. Berger refers those cases.
What are the attachments on my teeth?
Small tooth-colored bumps bonded to certain teeth that give the aligner a grip for rotations and vertical movements. They are barely visible, do not stain the enamel, and are polished off when treatment ends.
Are mail-order aligners safe?
We do not recommend them. Nobody examines your gums, bone or bite, attachments and elastics are usually not available, and problems are found late. Dentist-supervised aligners cost more because supervision is the part that protects your teeth.
Will I need retainers?
Yes, for life, as after any orthodontic treatment. Clear retainers are made here when the aligners finish and are worn nightly; a fixed wire behind the lower front teeth is added for patients likely to relapse.
Do you see patients from outside Pompano Beach?
Yes. Invisalign patients come from Lighthouse Point, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Coconut Creek and across Broward County; visits are only every six to ten weeks. The office is at 572 E McNab Rd, Suite 102, Pompano Beach. Call (954) 785-1100 or request an appointment.