Invisalign is a clear aligner system that straightens teeth with a series of custom removable trays. At The Orthodontic Gallery in Riverview, Dr. Wakas Abdulrazzaq, a board-certified orthodontist and Invisalign Provider, plans and supervises Invisalign treatment. Consultations are free and include a 3D scan and a written treatment plan.
With a trusted orthodontist, your Invisalign treatment is backed by years of specialized training in exactly how teeth and bites move. That’s the difference between aligners that just look the part and a treatment plan built around your specific smile.
What Invisalign Treatment Involves
- The scan. We begin with a 3D digital scan using the Medit i900 digital scanner, creating a detailed digital model of your teeth without traditional impression material.
The plan. Dr. Wakas carefully plans your treatment, including how and when individual teeth should move, where attachments may be needed, and whether additional techniques such as elastics are appropriate. A digital treatment simulation can help you visualize the planned tooth movements before your aligners are manufactured.
The aligners. Your custom Invisalign aligners are provided in a numbered series, with each aligner designed to gradually move your teeth according to the treatment plan. Aligners are typically worn 20–22 hours per day and changed according to the schedule prescribed by Dr. Wakas.
The check-ins. Regular visits allow Dr. Wakas to monitor your progress and make sure your teeth are tracking as planned. If adjustments are needed, an additional digital scan and refinement aligners may be recommended. Invisalign provides the aligner system; Dr. Wakas directs your orthodontic treatment.
Retention. Once active treatment is complete, retainers help maintain your new tooth positions. Because teeth can continue to shift throughout life, long-term retainer wear is an important part of protecting your result. See our retainers page.
What Invisalign Treats Well
Invisalign can effectively treat a wide range of orthodontic problems, including crowding, spacing and gaps, many overbites and underbites, certain dental crossbites, and tooth movement following relapse from previous orthodontic treatment. It can be an excellent option for both teens and adults when the diagnosis and treatment goals are appropriate for clear aligner therapy.
When Invisalign May Not Be the Best Choice
Clear aligners are powerful orthodontic tools, but they are not ideal for every tooth movement or every patient. Cases involving significant tooth rotations, complex extraction-space closure, substantial vertical tooth movement, or skeletal jaw discrepancies may require additional orthodontic mechanics, braces, growth-modification appliances, or—in some cases—orthognathic surgery.
Some complex cases can still be treated successfully with Invisalign using attachments, elastics, and other adjunctive techniques. The important question isn’t simply “Can Invisalign move these teeth?” but which treatment approach can most predictably achieve the desired result for your specific diagnosis.
At The Orthodontic Gallery, we also offer Angel Aligners and in-house clear aligners for selected cases, as well as traditional and custom braces. Because Dr. Wakas is not limited to a single appliance or aligner system, he can recommend the treatment approach based on your orthodontic needs rather than the brand of appliance.
Why an Orthodontist Rather Than a General Dentist
An orthodontist is a dentist who completes an additional two to three years of full-time, accredited specialty training in orthodontics after dental school. That training focuses specifically on tooth movement, bite correction, facial growth and development, and the relationship between the teeth and jaws.
General dentists receive dental training and may also provide orthodontic treatment, but their practice typically encompasses a much broader range of dental care.
That additional specialty training can be particularly important in three areas:
Diagnosis and case selection. Not every orthodontic problem is best treated with clear aligners—or even with tooth movement alone. An orthodontist is trained to evaluate the teeth, bite, jaw relationships, and growth pattern before recommending an appliance.
Monitoring and adjustments. Teeth do not always move exactly as predicted. If an aligner isn’t tracking or treatment is not progressing as planned, recognizing the reason and adjusting the mechanics can help keep treatment moving toward its intended goals.
Finishing the bite. Straight teeth are only part of the goal. Careful finishing focuses on how the upper and lower teeth fit and function together, as well as the final alignment and smile.
Dr. Wakas is also a board-certified orthodontist and Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, an additional voluntary credential beyond completion of orthodontic specialty training. Learn more about board certification.
General dentists can successfully treat appropriately selected orthodontic cases. The challenge is that the complexity of a bite is not always obvious from looking at the front of the teeth. An orthodontic evaluation considers not only how your smile looks, but how your teeth and jaws fit together and what will be required to achieve a healthy, stable result.
Invisalign for Teens
Teen treatment includes compliance indicators that fade as the aligner is worn, so parents are not relying on a self-report, and replacement allowances for the trays that inevitably get lost in a school cafeteria. Teenagers who wear them finish on schedule. Teenagers who will not are better off in braces, and we will say that at the consultation rather than after a year of stalled progress. See teen orthodontics.
Frequently Asked Questions About Invisalign
Why don't dentists recommend Invisalign?
Usually one of two reasons, and they are very different. Clinically, aligners are a poor fit for some cases: heavy crowding, active gum disease, untreated decay, or a patient who realistically will not wear them enough. That is a legitimate no. The other reason is simply that aligner treatment takes training and case volume, and a practice without either will steer patients elsewhere. If you have been told no, it is worth asking which reason applies and getting a second opinion from an orthodontist.
What is the average cost of Invisalign in Florida?
Published figures for Florida run broadly, and a range that wide is not useful for planning a specific case. We quote a written fee after examining you rather than a number over the phone. Traditional braces start at $500 down, our in-house payment plans carry no interest, and we accept CareCredit and HSA and FSA funds. See cost and financing.
What is the 30 minute rule for Invisalign?
It is the common guidance that your aligners should be out of your mouth for no more than about 30 minutes at a time, and no more than two hours across a whole day. Practically, take them out to eat, brush, and put them straight back. Long grazing sessions are what quietly derail aligner treatment.
What is the 5 year rule for Invisalign?
This refers to the window during which additional aligners and refinements are included under some comprehensive Invisalign treatment packages. The specifics depend on the package a case is submitted under, so ask us what applies to your plan and we will put it in writing before you start.
Can I switch to Invisalign if I already have braces on?
Sometimes, and it is a real conversation rather than a flat yes or no. It depends on how much movement is left, what kind, and why the switch is wanted. If the remaining work is the sort aligners handle well, the change is straightforward. If the hardest part of the case is still ahead, switching adds time.
Book a Free Invisalign Consultation
You will leave with a scan, a diagnosis, a plan, and a fee, at no cost. Call 813-867-0414 or request an appointment. We are at 10061 Beach Verbena Drive in Riverview, serving Riverview, Gibsonton, Progress Village, Ruskin, Wimauma, Brandon, Bloomingdale, FishHawk, Lithia, and Apollo Beach.