Reviewed by Dr. Nicole M. Berger, DDS — South Florida Smile Spa, Pompano Beach, FL
If you are considering Invisalign in Pompano Beach, here is how it works. Invisalign straightens teeth without brackets or wires, using a series of clear aligners most people will not notice you are wearing. At South Florida Smile Spa in Pompano Beach, Dr. Nicole M. Berger, DDS plans every case from a digital scan and approaches it the way a cosmetic dentist does: not just straighter teeth, but a smile that looks balanced and natural when you are done.
Quick answer
Invisalign straightens teeth with a series of clear, removable aligners made from a 3D scan of your mouth. With Invisalign in Pompano Beach at South Florida Smile Spa, Dr. Nicole M. Berger, DDS plans treatment from an iTero digital scan, with no putty impressions, and can show you a simulation of your projected result before you commit. Aligners are worn 20 to 22 hours a day and changed about every one to two weeks. Mild cases often finish in 6 to 12 months; more involved cases take longer. A retainer keeps the result afterward.
Invisalign
How Invisalign Works
Invisalign moves teeth in small, planned steps. Each set of custom aligners is shaped slightly differently from the last, applying gentle, steady pressure that shifts your teeth a fraction of a millimeter at a time. You switch to the next set about every one to two weeks, following a sequence mapped out before treatment begins.
On some teeth, small tooth-colored bumps called attachments are bonded to give the aligners something to grip, which helps with rotations and more precise movements. They are removed when treatment ends. You check in with us periodically so we can confirm your teeth are tracking to plan. Some cases finish with a short “refinement” round of extra aligners to perfect the final details; that is a normal part of treatment, not a sign something went wrong.
Getting Started
Your First Visit: Exam, Scan and Simulation
- Exam first. Dr. Berger checks your gums, teeth and bite. Aligners move teeth through bone and gum, so any cavities or gum disease are treated before tooth movement starts.
- Digital scan. Instead of trays of impression putty, our iTero scanner takes a 3D scan of your teeth in a few minutes.
- See it first. From that scan, we can show you a simulation of how your teeth could look after treatment, side by side with your smile today. It is a projection, not a promise, but it answers the question most people are really asking.
- Your plan. You leave knowing what Invisalign can realistically do for your case, roughly how long it should take, and what it involves.
Is It Right for You
What Invisalign Can Treat
Invisalign works well for many of the most common reasons adults and teens want straighter teeth:
- Crowded or overlapping teeth
- Gaps and spacing between teeth
- Many mild to moderate overbites, underbites and crossbites
- Teeth that have shifted since braces years ago, often because a retainer stopped being worn
It is not the best tool for everything. Severe bite problems, especially ones that involve the position of the jaws rather than just the teeth, may be better handled with braces or by an orthodontist, and we will tell you if that is the case. Aligners also only work if they are worn: if 20 to 22 hours a day is not realistic for you, fixed braces may give you a better result.
Timeline
How Long Invisalign Takes
Treatment time depends on how far your teeth need to move and how consistently the aligners are worn, not on age. As a general guide:
| Case | Typical examples | Typical treatment time |
|---|---|---|
| Mild | Minor crowding or small gaps | About 6 to 12 months |
| Moderate | More crowding, spacing or bite correction | About 12 to 18 months |
| Complex | Significant crowding or bite issues | 18 to 24 months or longer, often with a refinement phase |
Your own estimate comes from your scan and treatment plan. Wearing aligners less than directed is the most common reason treatment runs long.
Comparing Options
Invisalign vs. Braces vs. Other Clear Aligners
| Invisalign | Braces (metal or clear) | ClearCorrect | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Clear, removable aligners | Brackets and wires bonded to the teeth | Clear, removable aligners |
| Eating | Remove aligners; no food restrictions | Avoid hard and sticky foods | Remove aligners; no food restrictions |
| Brushing and flossing | Normal, with aligners out | Harder around brackets | Normal, with aligners out |
| Depends on you wearing them | Yes, 20 to 22 hours a day | No, they stay on | Yes, 20 to 22 hours a day |
| Best suited to | Mild to moderate cases, many complex ones | The full range, including the most complex movements | Mild to moderate cases |
At your consultation, Dr. Berger will tell you which option fits your case best, including when braces would do a better job.
Daily Life
Living With Aligners
- Wear time. Keep aligners in 20 to 22 hours a day, taking them out only to eat, drink anything other than plain water, and clean your teeth.
- Eating and drinking. There are no food restrictions, because the aligners come out. Hot drinks can warp them, and sugary or colored drinks get trapped against your teeth, so drink those with the aligners out.
- Cleaning. Brush before putting aligners back in, and rinse and clean the aligners themselves every day to keep them clear.
- Comfort. Expect a feeling of pressure for the first day or two of each new set; that is the aligners working. Speech usually adjusts within a few days.
After Treatment
Keeping Your Results
Teeth have a memory and will try to drift back toward where they started, which is why so many people who had braces as teenagers find their teeth have moved again. A retainer is what keeps your new smile in place. Most patients wear one at night for the long term. We will fit yours when treatment ends and show you how to look after it. The American Dental Association notes that healthy teeth can be treated orthodontically at any age, and that retention is part of every course of treatment (ADA MouthHealthy: Braces and aligners).
Adults and Teens
Invisalign for Adults and Teens in Pompano Beach
Most of our Invisalign patients are adults who want straighter teeth without the look of braces at work or in photos, including many who had braces years ago and saw their teeth shift. Read more in Invisalign for adults in Pompano Beach.
Teens are good candidates too, provided they are ready to wear aligners consistently. See Invisalign for teens for what parents should know.
Your Dentist
Why Patients Choose Dr. Berger for Invisalign in Pompano Beach
Straight teeth are only part of a great smile. As a cosmetic dentist, Dr. Nicole M. Berger, DDS looks at how your teeth, gums and smile line work together, and can plan Invisalign alongside whitening, bonding or veneers when you want to take things further. She has practiced dentistry since 2004 and completed a general practice residency at Montefiore Medical Center in New York.
- iTero digital scanning, with no impression putty
- A preview of your projected result before you start
- Honest guidance, including when braces or an orthodontist would serve you better
- Sedation options for patients who are anxious about dental visits
- One office in Pompano Beach, convenient to Lighthouse Point, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Coconut Creek
Cost and Financing
Invisalign Cost, Insurance and Financing
The cost of Invisalign depends on how complex your case is and how long treatment takes, so we give you a specific figure after your exam and scan rather than a generic price. Many dental insurance plans with orthodontic benefits contribute toward aligner treatment, and orthodontic care is generally an eligible expense for FSA and HSA accounts. Our team checks what your plan may cover and explains financing options with monthly payments. Visit our new patient page for insurance information, or call (954) 785-1100.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Invisalign cost in Pompano Beach?
It depends on how complex your case is and how long treatment will take, so we give you a specific figure after your exam and digital scan. Insurance with orthodontic benefits, FSA and HSA funds, and monthly financing can all help, and our team will walk you through them.
How long does Invisalign take?
Mild cases often take about 6 to 12 months, moderate cases 12 to 18 months, and complex cases 18 to 24 months or longer. Wearing aligners 20 to 22 hours a day is the biggest factor in staying on schedule.
Does Invisalign hurt?
Most people feel pressure or mild soreness for a day or two when they start a new set of aligners, which is a sign the teeth are moving. It is generally more comfortable than braces, with no wires or brackets to rub.
Can I eat and drink with Invisalign?
Take your aligners out to eat and to drink anything other than plain water, then brush before putting them back in. Because they come out, there are no food restrictions during treatment.
What are attachments?
Small, tooth-colored bumps bonded to some teeth that help the aligners grip and move those teeth precisely. Not every case needs them, and they are removed at the end of treatment.
I had braces years ago and my teeth moved. Can Invisalign fix that?
Often, yes. Relapse after braces is one of the most common reasons adults come to us for Invisalign, and it is frequently a shorter, simpler case. A retainer afterward keeps it from happening again.
Is Dr. Berger an orthodontist?
Dr. Nicole M. Berger, DDS is a general and cosmetic dentist who provides Invisalign. For bite problems that are better treated by an orthodontist, she will tell you so and help you find the right care.
What do I do after Invisalign?
Wear your retainer as directed, usually nightly for the long term. Teeth naturally try to drift back, and the retainer is what protects the result.
Invisalign in Pompano Beach: see your new smile before you start
Book an Invisalign consultation: a quick exam, a digital scan, and a preview of your projected result, with no putty impressions.
South Florida Smile Spa · Dr. Nicole M. Berger, DDS · 572 E McNab Rd, Suite 102, Pompano Beach, FL 33060 · (954) 785-1100