Patient question: What's Invisalign, and is it right for me? [Video]

Have you ever wondered how Invisalign treatment at Brodsky Orthodontics manages to straighten your teeth without using traditional metallic braces? The Invisalign system is a state-of-the-art system of clear, removable aligners that we proudly offer to adults and teens at our convenient Lakewood office. We have plenty of resources on our website to check out about Invisalign, or give our office a call at (562) 496-2000 for a free consultation to learn if this revolutionary new treatment option is right for you!

Drs. Charles and Joel are specially trained in Invisalign, and have had extensive experience working with the system with his patients. Elite Premier Providers like Drs. Brodsky have achieved the highest level of experience with the Invisalign system, and are the top 1% of Invisalign providers in the United States!

Brodsky Orthodontics, Invisalign Elite Premier Providers in Lakewood

While you probably know that we offer Invisalign treatment at Brodsky Orthodontics, did you know that Dr. Charles and Joel are Invisalign Elite Premier Providers?

You're probably thinking: Ok, so what does this certification mean?

Dr. Charles and Joel are specially trained in the Invisalign system of clear removable aligners, and has had extensive experience working with the system with his patients. Elite Premier Providers like Drs. Brodsky have achieved the highest level of experience with the Invisalign system, and are the top 1% of Invisalign providers in the United States!

If you are considering the Invisalign system, please give us a call at 562-496-2000 at our convenient Lakewood location to schedule a consultation. During this appointment we can work with you to determine if the Invisalign system is right for you!

Second Time Around An Invisalign Success Story from Dr. Brodsky

Rachel Fales knows what it's like to wear braces – she went through treatment as a teenager. Like many people, at some point she stopped wearing her retainer. Without the support of her custom retainer, her teeth started to readjust as she aged.

"A couple of my teeth in particular had started to move," Rachel says. "Every time I looked in the mirror, I noticed these two teeth creeping forward. Some days, I would literally look at my reflection and say 'Whoa.'"

When Rachel found out about Invisalign, the tooth-straightening system that involves wearing clear plastic aligners, she was hooked. "All it took was a single visit to my doctor for them to make impressions of my teeth," says the 26-year-old sales rep. A sequence of thirteen custom plastic aligners are now bringing her teeth back into perfect position.

Currently on her third aligner, Rachel is delighted to report that Invisalign is working out even better than she expected. Prior to treatment, she had worried that she'd forget to wear the aligners, especially since she had trouble remembering to wear her retainer. "I have a tendency," she admits, "to not do things on a regular schedule – I'm terrible at taking my vitamins every morning!" She found wearing her aligners to be simple, and describes the experience as natural. "At this point, I feel weird if they're not in," she says. "And they don't interfere with eating, because I can just take them out at mealtime!"
Her aligners don't show: they are made of thin plastic and they snap tightly onto her teeth. Rachel chuckles as she recalls, "The only person who picked up on the difference was my boyfriend's mom, and she just thought my teeth were shinier!"

Rachel does like to point out her aligners to friends. "I want them to know that Invisalign is a cool way to have perfect teeth again – even if they were like me and stopped wearing their retainers after having braces as a kid."

If you have questions about Invisalign. Give us a call at Brodsky Orthodontics, maybe you are a candidate for the amazing invisible aligners.

Invisalign: The No-Braces Way to Straight Teeth -- Dr. Brodsky

You can have perfectly straight teeth without months of wearing metal brackets and wires. And Brodsky Orthodontics can walk you through it!

Invisalign can give you the beautiful straight teeth you've always wanted. It works through a series of invisible, removable, and comfortable aligners. No one can tell you're wearing them, so you can smile more during and after treatment.

Invisalign has been proven effective and is widely available. In fact, more than 70% of orthodontists in the U.S. and Canada are certified to treat with Invisalign.

How Does Invisalign Work?

* Each set of aligners is worn for about 2 weeks. These aligners are removed only to eat, drink, brush, and floss.
* As you replace each aligner with the next in the series, your teeth will move – little by little, week by week – until they have straightened to the position your orthodontist has prescribed.
* You'll visit our office about once every 6 weeks to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned.
* Total treatment time averages 9-15 months and the average number of aligners worn during treatment is between 18 and 30.

Call us at Brodsky Orthodontics to find out if you're a candidate for Invisalign.

Katherine Heigl Struggles with Crooked Teeth

Everyone struggles with little imperfections. Making crooked teeth straight, stained teeth sparkling white and chipped teeth smooth is part of what I do as an orthodontist. The sense of renewed self confidence that comes to my patients after having some sort of reconstructive work is what makes my job worthwhile.

Consider Katherine Heigl, award winning actress, and considered by many the Grace Kelly of our day. She describes struggling with crooked teeth her whole life until finally there came a point when she said "enough is enough!" She decided to do something to straighten her teeth.

I think you will enjoy this clip. Please feel free to leave comments, tell me what you think! Have you ever struggled with this same problem? Have you felt the relief of smiling to reveal a straight, bright smile after hiding crooked ones for so long? Contact us so we can hear your story, or help you create a new beautiful smile and a story of your own!

Is Invisalign® Really Customized for Each Patient?

Yes, it is, and that’s part of what makes it work. To find out if you are the right candidate for Invisalign treatment, the first thing we do is to take an impression of your teeth as they are now and digitize it. Using special software, we look at the current positioning of your teeth and compare it to the way your teeth should look.

Next we use special software to map out the exact path your teeth will take from the beginning of your treatment to the end. Based on the results, a set of custom aligners are created just for your teeth. Throughout the course of treatment, you will be required to wear these clear, removable aligners one at a time; each one moving your teeth closer and closer to their final, perfectly aligned position. And since the aligners are virtually invisible, nobody around you will even know you are wearing braces!

Dr. Brodsky is a premier certified Invisalign provider. If you have questions about Invisalign, or would like to find out if you are a candidate for Invisalign treatment, give us a call at 562-732-4750.

Tooth Spas in London

Yes, you read the title of this post right. I was scanning the local news about Invisalign and how it has become the huge topic of conversation these days, and found that oral health is now the new big "fad" in London! It turns out, that dentists are getting together and offering their services in much the same way as nail salons with what they call walk in "Tooth Spas."

It's quite an interesting idea. Instead of walking into a nail salon and getting your nails painted, you can step into a tooth spa for a teeth whitening or a "gloss and shine." One noted Tooth Spa in London is called Toothplace. Though this seems like a great idea, my only fear is the level of expertise that can be provided in a walk-in environment. The health of your teeth will effect the overall health of your entire body, so it's important, when choosing an orthodontist or dentist, that you don't take it lightly.

What are your thoughts on this new fad?

More About Getting Invisalign in Lakewood California

Have you been considering Invisalign but haven't been able to find any unbiased information online about it? I came across this video today that shows exactly how one patient has reacted to her Invisalign aligners. Clearly, she loves the product, but she also lets people know exactly how she feels in her first 10 minutes of wearing Invisalign:

Baby Teeth – and Gums! – Need Special Care

Baby Teeth – and Gums! – Need Special Care

One question we hear all the time is “When should I start brushing my baby’s teeth?” In fact, you should begin regular cleanings even before your baby has teeth. After each breast- or bottle-feeding, use a clean, damp washcloth to rub your baby’s gum tissue – gently. You can wrap the material around one finger to make it easier to remove any food bits from your baby’s mouth.

When your baby’s first tooth comes in, you can switch to a baby toothbrush. Look for special baby toothbrushes in your drugstore – they have just a few bristles and are very soft. There are even brushes shaped like finger puppets that fit over the tip of your pointer finger! All you need at this point is water – no toothpaste yet.

After a few more teeth appear, you can start using toothpaste, but you only need a tiny bit, and make sure it doesn’t contain fluoride for the first three years. From the beginning, have your little one practice spitting the toothpaste out after brushing. That way, he or she will already have the good habit of spitting when you switch to fluoride toothpaste, which should never be swallowed.

If you have any questions about caring for your baby’s teeth, give us a call at 562-732-4750.

Thinking About Getting Invisalign in Lakewood California?

Have you been considering Invisalign to straighten your teeth? As an ELITE Premier Provider of Invisalign in Lakewood, Northern Orange County, and Lakewood, California, I understand the excitement patients have when it comes to invisible aligners. Invisalign is a unique advancement in orthodontics, and I'm happy to put that invisible smile on the face of my patients! To learn more about Invisalign, check out this informative video I came across:

Welcome aboard - Dr. Van Allen

Dr. Miriam Van Allen was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychobiology from the University of California Los Angeles in 2000. After completing her undergraduate degree, Dr. Van Allen then attended the UCLA School of Dentistry, where she was president of the Alpha Omega dental organization, president of the student chapter of the American Association of Women Dentists, and vice-president of her dental school class. She received her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 2005.



After dental school, Dr. Van Allen moved to Colorado to complete her orthodontic specialty residency at the University of Colorado, Denver. During her orthodontic residency training, she received an advanced certification in Invisalign clear braces treatment and attended numerous lectures on orthodontic miniscrew implants, along with completing a research project involving digital modeling for orthodontic treatment plans. Dr. Van Allen enjoys enhancing her orthodontic knowledge by pursuing the most advanced proven techniques the orthodontic profession has to offer. In return, Dr. Van Allen is able to provide her patients with only the best of care in a compassionate manner.

Currently, Dr. Van Allen enjoys being back in Southern California, taking full advantage of both the sun and surf. She is a member of the American Association of Orthodontics, the Los Angeles Dental Society, the California Dental Association, and the American Dental Association. In addition to her involvment in both the local and dental communities, she loves the theater, dancing, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends.

We are proud to have her as a part of our team.

Pot of Gold Contest Winners

Congratulations to our six Pot of Gold winners!
They had the luck of the Irish as they searched the office for the forty Pots of Gold.
Our winners are: J. Girard, A. Jimenez, K. Hollisger, K. Padian, D. Chavez and J. Derouso. All winners will receive a $15 gift certificate for Target. Your gift cards will be mailed to you.

Upcoming Contests:
Soon we will be starting one of our favorite contests. Our patients will get to acknowledge their parents for Mother's and Father's Day.

New Technology in Our Office - Cone Beam 3-D Imaging

We are proud to announce that we are the only orthodontic office in Southern California with an iCAT2 Imaging machine. This state-of-the-art unit provides us with a 3-D x-ray scan of the head and has revolutionized the way we evaluate our orthodontic patients.


The 3-D x-ray scan allows us to look at any part of the skull in various aspects. The typical scan time is only 8.5 seconds and allows us to visualize the jaw joints, the dental arches and the face.

Certainly the iCAT system sets us apart and gives us a huge competitive edge. We are proud of the outstanding services and the quality of care we can provide to our patients.

One iCATscan can improve our diagnosis and treatment planning by providing us with multiple analyses that were not available to us before. It allows us to accurately assess tooth relationships from an amazing three dimensional image. We can use this information to plan treatment of impacted teeth , evaluate true root position and root length, diagnose TMJ problems, analyze arch length precisely, and fabricate virtual study models.

Using Cone Beam 3-D imaging in our office, unquestionably eliminates the quesswork inherent to our profession and results in better diagnosis and treatment planning.

Safety is always our concern for our staff and patients. With a low exposure rate a Cone Beam 3-D x-ray is comparable to three traditional panoramic x-rays. But the diagnostic images created from just one iCAT scan produces a panorex x-ray, lateral ceph, frontal ceph, TMJ series, numerous slices, anatomical structure information and interactive 3D volumetric renderings.

This is wonderful news! Cone Beam Imaging technology is reducing the amount of radiation to our patients and produces many more images from the one scan.

Getting Braces in Lakewood, California - Your Invisalign Orthodontists

Serving Lakewood, Northern Orange County, and Long Beach California (CA) for years, we at Brodsky Orthodontics work hard to give our patients only the best state-of-the-art orthodontic appliances available. This is why we became Invisalign Certified orthodontists early on - to stay on the cutting edge of orthodontics and better serve our California patients. Part of our service includes educating each patient on their options to help them make an empowered decision. This blog is used to provide further information for current and prospective patients. For today's post, we are going to discuss the different types of braces available at our Lakewood, California (CA) orthodontic practice.

Traditional Metal Braces
Orthodontists in Lakewood, Northern Orange County, and Long Beach California (CA)

Traditional metal braces are the most common type of braces and are more comfortable today than ever before. Made of high-grade stainless steel, metal braces straighten your teeth using metal brackets and archwires. With metal braces, you have the option of adding colored elastics (rubber bands) for a more unique and colorful smile.

Ceramic Braces
Braces and More in Lakewood, Northern Orange County, and Long Beach California (CA)

Ceramic braces are made of clear materials and are therefor less visible on your teeth than metal braces. For this reason, they are very popular with adults and teenagers. Ceramic braces are somewhat smoother than metal braces, and we have found them to be equal to metal braces in performance and durability. Clear ceramic braces also will not stain during treatment.

Invisible Braces (Invisalign)
Invisalign in Lakewood, Northern Orange County, and Long Beach California (CA)

Clear appliances (such as Invisalign) use a series of invisible, removable, and comfortable aligners to straighten your teeth. And, no one can tell you are wearing those aligners because they are invisible! Not only are the aligners invisible, they are removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment, plus brushing and flossing are less of a hassle. The aligners are comfortable and have no metal to cause mouth abrasions during treatment.

Lingual Braces
iBraces and More in Lakewood, Northern Orange County, and Long Beach California (CA)

Lingual braces are hidden behind the teeth and are therefore "invisible" when you smile. Lingual braces are 100% customized to match the shape of your teeth, and therefore the metal appliances are created uniquely for you. Lingual braces are a very reasonable option for athletes, models, actors/actresses, musicians who play wind instruments, and adult professionals.

For more information about getting orthodontic treatment in Northern Orange County, Long Beach, or Lakewood California (CA) contact the Invisalign orthodontists at Brodsky Orthodontics!

Learn About Invisalign

Invisalign®

Both Dr. Joel and Charles Brodsky are

ELITE Premier Invisalign® Providers

Consider Invisalign® to get the beautiful straight teeth you've always wanted – without braces. A complimentary consultation with the doctors can determine if Invisalign is right for you.
Because both doctors have treated well over 300 cases, they have been given a special ELITE designation by Invisalign, indicating their special experience which most other orthodontists in the area do not have.

What is it?

Invisalign uses a series of invisible, removable, and comfortable aligners that no one can tell you're wearing. So you can smile more during treatment as well as after. Invisalign is made with 3-D computer imaging technology, and has been proven effective. More than 70% of orthodontists in the US and Canada are certified to treat with Invisalign.

Why would I want it?

Not only are the aligners invisible, they are removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment, plus brushing and flossing are no problem. They are also comfortable, with no metal to cause mouth abrasions during treatment. And no metal and wires usually means you spend less time in the office getting adjustments. Invisalign also allows you to view your own virtual treatment plan when you start, so you can see how your straight teeth will look when your treatment is complete.

How does it work?

You wear each set of aligners for about 2 weeks, removing them only to eat, drink, brush, and floss. As you replace each aligner with the next in the series, your teeth will move – little by little, week by week – until they have straightened to the final position Dr. Brodsky has prescribed. You'll visit Dr. Brodsky about once every 6-8 weeks to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned. Total treatment time averages 9-15 months and the average number of aligners worn during treatment is between 18 and 30, but both will vary from case to case.



Learn more about Invisalign on their web site at www.invisalign.com.