Invisalign clear aligners planned by Dr. Nelly Silva, a general dentist with two years of orthodontic post-training who also looks at your jaw and airway.
Orthodontics moves teeth and guides the bite into a healthier position. We do it with Invisalign, a series of clear, removable trays.
Each set of aligners is shaped slightly differently from the last. Worn most of the day, every set applies gentle, steady pressure that shifts your teeth a small step toward the planned position. You switch to the next set on a schedule, and the steps add up to a straighter smile and a more even bite.
The trays come out to eat, brush and floss, so there are no brackets to clean around and no foods to give up. Because they are clear, most people will not notice you are wearing them.
Straight teeth look better, and they are also easier to clean and wear more evenly. These are the common problems orthodontic treatment addresses.
Overlapping teeth trap plaque and are harder to brush and floss well.
Spaces can be closed by moving teeth together rather than adding material to them.
Upper and lower teeth that do not meet evenly can wear down and strain the jaw.
Some upper teeth sit inside the lower teeth, which can cause uneven wear and chipping.
Front teeth that do not touch when you close make biting into food harder.
Adults who had braces as teens often see teeth drift once a retainer stops being worn.
The right timing and the right appliance depend on how far the teeth and jaws have developed.
A first look while baby and adult teeth are both present can catch crossbites and crowding early. We also make habit appliances for children working to stop thumb or finger sucking.
Clear trays come out for meals and practice, and there are no wires to break. Wear time matters, so results depend on teens keeping the trays in through the day.
Teeth move at any age when the gums and bone around them are healthy. Many adults straighten their teeth to make cleaning easier, protect worn teeth or prepare for other dental work.
Dr. Silva's training goes beyond tooth position. She is a Diplomate in Dental Sleep Medicine, completed a TMD residency and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain. She also wrote the book Breathe Right: The Link Between Nutrition, Airway and Getting a Good Night's Sleep.
That background shapes the exam before any aligner is made.
We confirm the gums and bone are healthy enough to support moving teeth, and treat any problems first.
We check how your teeth meet and how your jaw joints move, since a bite change affects both.
If you snore, grind or wake up tired, we note it and discuss sleep apnea care alongside your plan.
Both move teeth with steady pressure. The difference is in how they fit into your day.
| Factor | Clear Aligners | Traditional Braces |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Clear plastic trays that are hard to notice | Brackets and wires bonded to the teeth |
| Removable | Yes, taken out to eat, brush and floss | No, fixed in place until treatment ends |
| Food | No food restrictions while trays are out | Hard and sticky foods are avoided |
| Cleaning | Brush and floss as usual | Extra time to clean around brackets |
| Your Part | Wear trays 20 to 22 hours a day | Works without daily wear decisions |
| Planning | Digital scan and a staged 3D plan | Wire adjustments made at visits |
Not every bite suits aligners. At your consultation, Dr. Silva will tell you whether Invisalign is a good match for your teeth.
Treatment length depends on how far your teeth need to move. You get an estimate with your plan, before you commit.
We talk about your goals and examine your teeth, gums, bite and jaw joints.
An iTero Element scan maps your teeth in 3D, with CT imaging when needed.
Dr. Silva maps each stage of movement and gives you a time estimate.
Wear each set 20 to 22 hours a day and move to the next as directed.
Short visits confirm your teeth are tracking with the plan.
A retainer holds teeth in their new position once movement ends.
Dr. Silva provides Invisalign in our office, and she asks patients to call her Nelly. She is a Clinical Associate Professor at Temple University's Kornberg School of Dentistry, where she earned her DMD.
★★★★★The positive energy, professionalism, modern tools and techniques, and personal touch all keep me and my family coming back.
Steven Meyers, Google Review
★★★★★Takes time for questions and gives detailed explanations.
Lynn Maison, Google Review
Every plan is priced after your exam and scan, because cost follows how much your teeth need to move.
We accept all PPO dental insurance plans. Orthodontic benefits differ from plan to plan, and we go over yours with your estimate. We do not accept Medicaid.
Payment plans let you spread the cost of treatment over time rather than paying all at once.
No dental insurance? Our dental savings plan is an option for patients paying on their own.
Straight answers about aligners, timing and cost. Anything else, ask us at your consultation.
Yes. Teeth can move at any age as long as the gums and bone around them are healthy. Clear aligners are a common choice for adults because the trays fit easily into work and social life. We check your gum health first, because healthy support is what lets teeth move safely.
Cost depends on how much your teeth need to move and how long treatment runs, so we price each plan after your exam and scan. We accept all PPO dental insurance plans, and orthodontic benefits differ from plan to plan. We'll show you what your plan covers, and payment plans can spread the balance over time.
Dr. Silva is a general dentist, not a specialist orthodontist. She completed a 2-year post-training program with the International Association of Orthodontics and provides Invisalign. She will tell you plainly at your consultation whether your bite is a good match for clear aligners.
It depends on the case. Closing small gaps or easing mild crowding can take a matter of months, while bite corrections take longer. Your plan includes an estimate, and wearing the aligners 20 to 22 hours a day keeps you on that schedule.
Around age 7 is a common time for a first look, while baby and adult teeth are both present. Early checks can spot crossbites, crowding and habits such as thumb sucking. We also make habit appliances for children who need help breaking those habits.
Yes. Teeth tend to drift back toward their old positions, especially in the first months after they move. A retainer worn as directed protects the result you worked for.
Tooth alignment on its own is not a treatment for snoring or sleep apnea. Dr. Silva is a Diplomate in Dental Sleep Medicine, so if you snore or wake up tired, tell us at your consultation. We can evaluate your airway and discuss oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea alongside your orthodontic plan.
Find out whether clear aligners fit your teeth, how long treatment would take and what your insurance covers. You leave your consultation knowing your options.
399 Arcola Road, Collegeville, PA 19426
