High-tech & affordable orthodontics in King Of Prussia, PA

Braces
The modern metal braces offered at ALTA SMILES involve affixing metal brackets to the teeth using dental adhesive. A flexible metal wire is then snapped into the brackets. This flexible wire moves your teeth into their desired alignment by placing light pressure on the jaw.

Braces have been used for decades, but today the brackets are smaller, the wires are more flexible, and the materials are more hygienic. Modern braces feature self-ligating wires that snap in easily, minimizing friction, treatment duration, and discomfort. As your teeth shift, your orthodontist sees you periodically to assess your progress and adjust your braces.

Braces are applied to the front of your teeth and are visible when you talk and smile. The application and adjustment processes are virtually painless. Patients only occasionally experience slight discomfort following adjustments as their teeth shift.

Braces are generally worn for one to three years, depending on the level of correction needed. Even with braces, you can still brush and floss your teeth twice daily. Patients must avoid sticky and crunchy foods that may stick to their wires or become lodged around their brackets.

Virtually all patients with misaligned teeth make good candidates for braces because the treatment is so safe and effective.

Clear Braces
Clear braces function the same way as traditional metal braces, but they're translucent. Your orthodontist still affixes brackets to your teeth and uses wires to realign your smile, but they blend in with your teeth, making them less noticeable than metal braces.

Clear braces consist of a see-through ceramic material, so they are as durable and effective as metal ones. They use smaller brackets and a unique snap-in technology that allows your orthodontist to make adjustments more quickly.

Just like with regular braces, those with clear braces should avoid sticky and crunchy foods that can cling to or damage their brackets. Patients can brush their teeth as they normally would otherwise.

Since we use modern-style brackets, we don't need to use elastic bands to engage the wire, which are more noticeable and collect bacteria. In that way, we can preserve your oral health.

Clear braces can be effective for patients of all ages, but older teens and adults tend to choose clear braces because they're less noticeable than metal braces.

C⁵ Hidden Orthodontics
C⁵ Hidden Orthodontics is a completely hidden lingual orthodontic option exclusively available at ALTA SMILES. The wires are completely undetectable when you smile or talk because they are placed on the back of your teeth. While discreet, clear braces and aligners are still noticeable.

The C⁵ Super-flex wiresTM are affixed to the back of your teeth using a dental bonding material. You won't be able to feel the wire because it will be smoothly sealed across your teeth, preventing protrusions that impact your tongue or gums. C⁵ Hidden Orthodontics does not require you to avoid particularly crunchy or sticky foods. It requires no maintenance - just brushing twice a day and flossing as you normally would.

This orthodontic treatment is generally completed in 6-9 months. C⁵ Hidden Orthodontics is a cosmetic treatment that is most effective for mild to moderate teeth misalignments, so it is not viable for those requiring bite correction. Adults who had braces in childhood but have experienced some regression of their alignment make excellent candidates. C⁵ Orthodontics is usually a less expensive option than invisible aligners.

C⁵ for Teens
C⁵ Hidden Orthodontics is also an excellent option for teens. Metal braces are visible when you smile, and clear aligners require that you maintain a rigorous brushing schedule after you eat and drink anything other than water. However, C⁵ is completely undetectable and requires no maintenance.

C⁵ Hidden Orthodontics only requires twice-daily brushing because there are no exposed brackets that can trap food. In addition, since the wire is sealed and affixed to the back of the teeth, there is no risk of injury or need for a customized mouth guard to protect your teeth if you play sports.

Unlike clear aligners that can hinder speech, C⁵ doesn't cause lisping or altered speech, which can bring about self-consciousness in young patients.

Clear Aligners
Clear aligners are removable aligners form-fitted to your teeth that use gentle force to shift teeth into alignment rather than using brackets and wires. Aligners are nearly invisible and are more comfortable than braces because they are firm but flexible. However, success with aligners requires that you wear them 22 hours per day.

ALTA SMILES uses 3D digital imaging to customize aligners for each patient. As your teeth shift every one to two weeks, you will receive a new set of aligners. The total number of aligners you'll need will depend upon the extent of your misalignment when your treatment begins. Some patients require up to 24 months of treatment with clear aligners to achieve their optimal results.

Aligners allow for better oral hygiene because you can remove them, brush and floss without wires or brackets obstructing your teeth, then reapply the aligner. However, you will need to brush your teeth every time you eat or drink anything other than water to prevent staining.

There are no dietary restrictions with aligners because you can remove them anytime you want to eat or drink.