Invisalign Braces

Invisalign uses a series of clear aligners that are custom-molded to fit you. The virtually invisible aligners gradually reposition your teeth into a smile you'll be proud of.

* Remove your aligners to eat, brush and floss
* Change aligners every two weeks
* Your teeth move little by little
* Regular progress checks with your dentist or orthodontist
* Results often in 6 months to 1 year

Why people prefer Invisalign

The convenience and ease of use of the Invisalign system have made it the choice of over half a million people. In fact, Invisalign has been effective in giving hundreds of thousands of people amazing new smiles.

* Most people won't notice you're in treatment
* Won't disrupt your lifestyle

No metal wires or bands to irritate your mouth, and best of all, most people won't notice you're in treatment. Invisalign®, the clear alternative to braces, has been chosen by over 500,000 people who want amazing smiles.

Is Invisalign® for Me?
Effective for a wide range of smiles.

The Invisalign system has been successful in giving hundreds of thousands of amazing smiles to both teens and adults. A certified Invisalign provider will create your individual treatment plan using Invisalign's clear, custom-molded aligners to solve a range of issues, including:

* Overly crowded teeth
* Widely spaced teeth
* Overbites
* Underbites
* Crossbites

In fact, take a look now at “Before and After” photographs of Invisalign cases. You'll see the amazing results Invisalign can bring.
Made to fit lifestyles like yours.

Now nothing comes between your lifestyle and having an incredible smile. Because Invisalign offers you comfort, convenience and virtual invisibility during treatment. With Invisalign, you can:

* Be as active as you like because Invisalign won't hold you back
* Remove your aligners for special events, eating and brushing
* Feel more confident everywhere you go

Look your best during treatment.

Invisalign is clear and practically invisible, so nothing gets in the way of your new smile. No wonder Invisalign is the choice of over half a million people.

* Unobtrusive in business meetings or social gatherings
* No metal wires or bands to irritate your mouth
* Many people won't notice you're wearing aligners

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Laser Dentistry

Laser dentistry offers a highly effective alternative to painful and noisy drilling procedures. Lasers can now be used to perform a variety of functions, including cavity removal, tooth restoration, and periodontal surgery. Dental lasers can also remove plaque and dental decay from a cavity-affected tooth, preparing it for a filling. A laser beam can also help harden bonding material. Laser Dentistry can effectively reshape gums, remove excess or affected gum tissue in gum disease sufferers and remove bacteria from between diseased gums and teeth.

What are the Benefits of Laser Dentistry?

There are currently four areas of dental care that are enjoying the benefits of laser dentistry:

1. Cavity removal can be accomplished with dental lasers. The laser has the ability to remove decay within a tooth, and prepare the surrounding enamel for bonded fillings. The need for anesthesia is greatly reduced or eliminated over the traditional methods.
2. Curing, or hardening bonding materials is another area where dental lasers have become important. The laser drastically reduces the time it takes to finish a filling and create what some researchers have shown to be a stronger dental restoration.
3. Whitening teeth can be accomplished with special solutions that are applied to the tooth surface in the dental office and activated by laser energy. Color changes of several shades is possible in a very short time. When combined with at-home tray based whitening systems, dramatic changes can be seen in even the most difficult cases.
4. Periodontal, or gum related care is the fourth area benefiting from dental lasers. Laser dentistry is currently used for re contouring or reshaping gums, removing extra or diseased gum tissue associated with the use of certain medications or periodontal disease, and removing the bacteria in periodontal pockets to promote healing. Healing time and post operative discomfort can be significantly reduced over the traditional surgical methods.

Pain Free Anesthetic Delivery

Over 50% of patients fear anesthetic syringes, according to a recent national survey. Some patients get more nervous than others at the mere sight of a needle. Discomfort from a dental shot is mostly due to the feeling of pressure created by the flow of dental anesthetic. A computer controlled injection system called the Wand can greatly relieve this discomfort.

THE WAND ® doesn't look like a traditional syringe, so the patient's initial apprehension is minimized. During the actual injection, the development of an anesthetic pathway combined with computer controlled constant flow assures that there is minimal awareness that the injection is even being given.

Computer Controlled Novocaine Delivery System

THE WAND ® represents the first major technological advance in anesthetic delivery since the syringe was first invented nearly one hundred fifty years ago. This computer controlled “Novocaine” delivery system conquers fear of pain and anxiety. Dr. Ruiz gives his patients the highest quality dental care while addressing their concerns about the pain, fear and anxiety associated with standard syringe injections.

THE WAND ® can be positioned more accurately and has a controlled Novocaine flow rate. This provides quicker numbing of the teeth, without the usual numbness of the tongue, lips and face. This computer controlled anesthetic delivery system also eliminates that “fat face feeling” that can last for hours. The Wand effectively controls the flow of Novocaine, delivering the correct amount of anesthetic at a rate that is painless. The source of most discomfort from Novocaine injections isn't the needle. It's the flow of the anesthetic into the tissues of the mouth. Unlike traditional syringes, the Wand delivers anesthetic at an optimal flow rate for a comfortable, pain free injection.

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Meth Mouth

Methamphetamine Use and Oral Health (Meth Mouth)

Methamphetamine is a cheap, easy-to-make illicit drug. It's known by several street names: Meth, Speed, Ice, Chalk, Crank, Fire, Glass, and Crystal. It is highly addictive and its use is on the rise in the U.S. even though it produces devastating effects on users' health.

Methamphetamine is a potent central nervous system stimulant that can cause shortness of breath, hyperthermia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, irregular heart beat, high blood pressure, permanent brain damage and rampant tooth decay. Some users describe their teeth as “blackened, stained , rotting, crumbling or falling apart.” Often, the teeth cannot be salvaged and must be extracted.

An example of Meth Mouth.
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The extensive tooth decay is attributed to the drug's acidic nature and its tendency to dry mouth tissues. A methamphetamine “high” lasts much longer than that produced by crack cocaine (12 hours versus one h our for cocaine). This can lead to long periods of poor oral hygiene. And while they are high, users often crave high-calorie, carbonated, sugary beverages or they may grind or clench their teeth, all of which can harm teeth.Heavy users may appear malnourished because methamphetamine acts as an appetite suppressant.

An example of Meth Mouth.
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According to the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 12.3 million Americans age 12 and older had tried methamphetamine at least once in their lifetimes (5.2 percent of the population), with the majority of past-year users between 18 and 34 years of age. Significant decreases in the past year use were seen among 12- to 17-year-olds.

Traffickers have aggressively targeted rural areas in an effort to escape law enforcement, and most use is found in the western, southwestern, and midwestern U.S.

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