A Wonderful Smile Gets You Noticed – Feel Better With Invisalign®

Straight, aligned teeth are not only healthier, but also better for your confidence. Invisalign braces give you a youthful appearance and a wonderful smile that is more likely to get you noticed. A bright smile evokes both warmth and sincerity, and stimulates the excretion of “feel-good” hormones.

How Does Invisalign Work?

Redesigning the smile you have become accustomed to since birth to better reflect the person you are today is an easy and exciting process with the Invisalign system.

Invisalign refers to a sequence of thin, clear, virtually invisible custom-molded aligners designed to fit over your teeth and gradually straighten them. Invisalign is a non-intrusive orthodontic treatment that requires you to wear each set of aligners for two weeks, straightening your teeth bit by bit. The Invisalign system usually takes 12-18 months with regular but quick (10-15 minutes) checkups.

The aligners are comfortable to wear, and you can take them out for eating, brushing, and flossing. Unlike braces, Invisalign is practically invisible, which means that it does not draw unwarranted attention to your mouth. In fact, no one will notice unless you tell them. The entire Invisalign treatment plan is designed using 3-D computer imaging technology, so you can view your virtual results to see how your teeth will look like once the treatment is complete.

Common applications of Invisalign include:

1.       Tooth crowding

The problem tends to worsen over time, making it more and more difficult to take proper care of your teeth through brushing and flossing. Because you can’t clean areas with crowded teeth well, those spots are filled with bacteria that can easily attack the gums, teeth, and bone if they find a point of entry, like when you injure your gums through hard brushing. If no remedy is sought, the inflammation can advance to more severe gum disease that leads to gum recession, bone loss, and ultimately tooth loss.

2.       Misaligned bite

Excess wear on your front lower teeth may cause your bite to be slightly off. This, in turn, causes some teeth to meet sooner than others. The resulting stress and flexing can cause the enamel to separate from the inner dentine, forming an abfraction – a notch at the gum line. The notches create weak points that cause the tooth to become compromised and more likely to break or chip.

Final Note

Generally, Invisalign is used to correct mild to moderate bite and misalignment issues. It will not only give you a more youthful, attractive, and beautiful smile, but also deliver more balanced forced, thereby, reducing stresses and trauma responsible for fractures, bone loss, and tooth loss.

Braces Las Vegas is a certified Invisalign® provider and other forms of orthodontic braces designed to help you achieve the smile you've always wanted. Call us @ 702.660.2256 for more information on orthodontics/

Retainers after Braces

For people with a misaligned bite or crooked teeth, braces can straighten and align their smile.

Braces are placed on teeth by an orthodontist, which is a dentist who specializes in correcting irregularities of the teeth.

In the beginning, your orthodontist will conduct an exam of your teeth and gums, take impressions of your teeth, take photos of your face and teeth and order X-rays of your mouth and head.

The braces will then be placed on your teeth by your orthodontist. Periodically, you will return to see your orthodontist who will gently tighten the braces a little bit to move your teeth in the correct direction.

After the braces straighten your teeth and your orthodontist removes them, your choppers should look straight. However, teeth have a natural inclination to go back to where they were (crooked) before you had your braces put on. If that were to happen, then you would have wasted a lot of time and money on braces.

That’s why your orthodontist will have you fitted for a retainer, which you will need to wear regularly.

A retainer is a piece of plastic and metal that is custom-made for each person, after his or her braces are taken off. Each retainer is designed to fit each unique mouth; that’s why your orthodontist will make a mold of your newly straightened teeth to create a retainer.

Your retainer will help your teeth stay set in their new positions. Children and adults who have had braces both need to wear their retainers. Children and teens are especially vulnerable to shifting teeth because their bodies are still growing. The retainer helps to control this shifting, which happens naturally. 

Visit our website to learn more about the retainers or call 702-838-0707 to make an appointment today. Our experienced orthodontists will make sure that your comfort is their priority. Start on the road to straighter teeth today!

Orthodontics- A Dental Specialty

Orthodontists straighten teeth with special attention to both the aesthetics of a smile and the function of a bite. You might already know that orthodontists help patients straighten their teeth with the use of braces, but did you know that to be a specialist, one must go through extra training beyond what is required of a general dentist? They must pass the Dental Admission Test even before going to dental school. Braces are kept on sometimes for years at a time, and an experienced orthodontist can help make the process as painless as possible. In order to get the best results with your new smile, make sure you are being treated by an experienced licensed orthodontist.  At Braces Las Vegas, Dr. Kate Nguyen is our orthodontic specialist, having graduated with a BS in Biological Sciences from the University of California, Irvine, and her doctorate, a DDS, MS from the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, San Francisco. Read more about her and general orthodontics at our website. 

Benefits of Teeth Straightening

Teeth straightening is often perceived as a phase for kids, braces are seen as something one endures when going through high school. Now, an increasing number of adults are turning to orthodontics to get the perfect smile, especially with the popularity of less perceptible options like invisalign and clear braces. While teeth straightening is most often done for aesthetics, it also serves as a way to improve dental function and hygiene. A last and often underestimated benefit of straighter teeth is the positive psychological effect.  

Dental function increases with the application of teeth straightening, as teeth are properly aligned and coordinated to allow chewing, talking, and moving the jaw from side to side. An increase in dental function also means that forces on teeth are balanced when they are in use, helping teeth last longer and avoiding unnecessary wear. In general, straighter teeth are easier to clean, allowing access to more surface area for brushing and flossing than crowded teeth. This lessens the amount of plaque buildup and prevents cavities.

The psychological effect of having a better smile is another great benefit of teeth straightening. During adolescent years, having straight teeth can significantly improve one’s self esteem. However, even in adults, orthodontic treatment is shown to enhance social and career success, and positively influences others’ perception of our intelligence, likability, and trustworthiness. 

To learn more about teeth straightening, its benefits, the process and more, visit our FAQ page.

The Cost of Braces

Orthodontics have changed over the years. Treatments no longer rely on oversized metal headgear or unsightly shiny brackets over the teeth. And the good news is they're also cheaper than they used to be. Here's a brief example of the cost of modern braces:

   - Traditional braces: $5,000-7,500. This is the typical range of the complete cost for basic metal braces with brackets.

   - Lingual braces: $6,000-10,000. Lingual braces are worn behind the teeth and are hidden from view when smiling. These cost more than traditional braces due to customization requirements.

   - Invisalign treatment: $3,500-5,000. Invisalign is growing in popularity and dropping in price. This is a great choice if you want to disguise your orthodontics treatment. They're also often considered to be more comfortable than traditional braces.

Las Vegas Orthodontist Answers Frequently Asked Questions

What will my braces look like?
Ugly braces are a thing of the past. Today, braces can be made in a variety of styles, so you’ll have a lot of options to choose from. Whether you want them to be colorful and vibrant or clear and subtle, your orthodontist can find you the braces you’re looking for. If you don’t like any of the designs, you can always make them invisible with transparent braces. Braces can even be worn behind your teeth and hidden from sight.

Can all adults wear braces?
In many cases, orthodontic treatment is still a possibility for adult patients. Unfortunately, some adults have receded gumlines or shallow roots, which make braces impossible to wear. It is always best to consult your orthodontist to be sure.

Are there orthodontists that specialize on adult patients?
Yes, there are specialists in adult orthodontics. However, all orthodontists that are board-certified have been trained in treating adult patients. Just be sure that your orthodontist takes his or her time with your braces. The average teenager needs to get their braces tightened every 2-4 weeks, while adult patients should only have their braces tightened every 3-6 weeks.


For further questions regarding A Free Orthodontics Consultation please call (702) 463- 7400.

Adult Orthodontics: Am I too old for braces

Adult Orthodontics is a longer process than teenage or children's orthodontics, however there are no age limits for Orthodontics. The process of enhancing the smile and improving your oral health may be longer, but there are orthodontics patients of all ages. Some adults get braces to enhance their look and others need braces to prevent any future oral health issues.

Your orthodontist will need to review your case individually to determine your specific needs.

For further questions regarding Braces for Adults please call (702) 463- 7400.

Adult Orthodontics and How It Differs From Teenage Orthodontic Treatments

There are some minor differences with Adult Orthodontics and Teenage Orthodontic Treatments.

A major difference is the length of treatment. The older the person the longer it takes to heal and the more an orthodontist needs to take time and slowly let your mouth heal between tightening appointments.

As a teenager the jaw is apt to adjust easier so that everything fits. When growth stops, then the jaw becomes harder and difficult to adjust.

Orthodontic treatment for adults is very successful and there are many clear braces options that patients can discuss during their orthodontist visits.


For further questions regarding Adult Orthodontics please call (702) 463- 7400.

AIDS Walk Las Vegas: Join Desert Orthodontics in the 20th Annual AIDS Walk Las Vegas

Desert Orthodontics participates in and donates to the 20th Annual AIDS Walk Las Vegas.

For more than 20 years AIDS of Nevada has led the AIDS Walk. AIDS Walk Las Vegas brings public awareness to the fight against AIDS and also raises funds for treatments and cures.

"It is very important that our orthodontics practice supports our local community and helps fight against a prominent disease," said Dr. Kate T. Nguyen. "We will continue our active participation in the community."

AIDS Walk Las Vegas is on Sunday, April 25th, 2010, beginning 8 AM at the World Market Center. It “educate both children and adults about high risk behavior, how to protect ourselves, and how to take personal responsibility for our well being, we must continue to raise awareness.”

For more information about Desert Orthodontics click: Orthodontic Treatments or please call (702) 463.7400.

A trip to the Orthodontist Las Vegas

Here at Desert Orthodontics we want to continue providing our patients and the Las Vegas community with education about their orthodontist visits.

Here is a link to a video on WebMd: http://www.webmd.com/video/adult-orthodontics

The video addresses Adult Orthodontics and the procedures that can help improve the smile and health of the jaw.

For further questions regarding Adult Orthodontics please call (702) 463- 7400.