Albuquerque Orthodontics

You Don’t Have to Visit an Orthodontist To Straighten Your Smile

While orthodontists are specially trained to correct dental alignment issues, they’re not the only professionals who can straighten your teeth. In practice since 1981, Dr. Tim Kelly is a dentist who has decades of experience in orthodontic techniques. When you have a dentist like Dr. Kelly, you can skip the additional trips to the orthodontist and enjoy quality dental and orthodontic care and more at our dental office in Albuquerque, NM.

We Offer Two Types of Orthodontics Braces and Invisalign

Patients who want straighter smiles have choices when it comes to the type of orthodontics they receive. Our Albuquerque, NM, dental practice offers two of the most popular forms of orthodontics: braces and Invisalign.

Braces

Patients with braces have a series of metal brackets placed on the front surfaces of their teeth. An archwire is threaded through the brackets. This wire exerts pressure on the teeth, gradually guiding them into position. Small rubber bands can also be used to exert additional pressure. During follow-up appointments, usually every four to six weeks, our dentist tightens the wire and monitors the patient’s progress.

Invisalign

Rather than metal brackets and wires, Invisalign uses a set of clear, removable aligner trays that straighten teeth. Each aligner is slightly different, and patients switch to a new aligner every couple of weeks to continue treatment. Follow-up appointments usually take place every six weeks. Dr. Kelly won’t have to make any uncomfortable adjustments; he’ll simply monitor your oral health and the progress of your treatment.

Comparing Invisalign and Traditional Braces

Given its improved comfort and subtlety, our dentist recommends Invisalign orthodontics whenever appropriate. However, Invisalign is only meant to treat mild to moderate misalignment, so there are some situations in which braces may be a better choice. However, you have the final choice as to which orthodontic method we use to address your needs. To help you make your decision, we’ve provided a comparison of both forms of orthodontics:

Invisalign

• Uses: Can be used to treat mild to moderate cases of crooked, gapped, or misaligned teeth
• Suitability: May not be suitable for patients with smaller teeth, as they may not fill out the aligner trays
• Comfort: The aligners are made of smooth plastic, so they won’t irritate lips or gums
• Look: Nearly invisible, hard to notice
• Length of Treatment: Cases generally take 12 months to complete
• Commitment: Aligners must be worn for at least 22 hours a day, and patients can brush and floss as normal
• Diet: Removable, so no dietary restrictions
• Appointments: Follow-up orthodontic appointments usually take place every six weeks

Braces

• Uses: Can be used to treat mild to severe alignment issues, as well as severe bite issues
• Suitability: Affixed directly to the teeth, can be used to align teeth of all sizes
• Comfort: The metal brackets and wires may cause some irritation inside the mouth
• Look: Made of metal, highly noticeable
• Length of Treatment: Cases generally take 18 months to 2 years to complete
• Commitment: Brackets are fixed to the teeth, must take extra care when brushing and flossing around them
• Diet: Some hard and crunchy foods should be avoided
• Appointments: Follow-up orthodontic appointments usually take place every four to six weeks

The Orthodontic Treatment Timeline

Treatment with Invisalign generally takes less than 12 months to complete, and treatment with braces generally takes less than 2 years to complete.

Consultation

Visit our office in Albuquerque for a consultation with Dr. Kelly. He’ll assess your oral health and degree of misalignment to determine whether Invisalign or braces is right for you.

Impressions

Dr. Kelly will take detailed digital images of your teeth and photographs for precise planning. If you are receiving Invisalign treatment, they will be used to fabricate your aligner trays.

Orthodontic Fitting

During this appointment, Dr. Kelly will use a guided template to place any tooth colored attachments needed during your Invisalign treatment.

Follow-up Appointments

You’ll return to our office every four to six weeks so Dr. Kelly tracks your progress. Verifies your alignment, fit and provides additional aligners for the next steps in your treatment.

Aftercare

Whether you received Invisalign or braces, Dr. Kelly will likely recommend you wear a retainer at night once your treatment ends. This will help keep your teeth in their proper positions.