Imagining your life with Invisalign® at St. Pete Smiles

Are you wondering what Invisalign treatment is really like, and what effect it will have on your day-to-day activities? Will it slur your speech? Will people know you're in treatment? You're not alone in your concerns! Dr. Bracy and our team thought we’d share this list of questions and answers for anyone pondering the St. Pete Smiles Invisalign Special Event.

How exactly does Invisalign work?
Using 3-D computer imaging technology, Invisalign creates a series of custom-made, clear aligners exclusively for your teeth, based on the treatment plan that we specify for you. Each aligner moves teeth incrementally and is worn for about two weeks, then replaced by the next in the series until the final position is achieved.

Will I experience pain during treatment?
Most people experience temporary discomfort for a few days after a new aligner is placed. This feeling of pressure is normal and is a sign that Invisalign is working by sequentially moving your teeth to their final destination.

Can other people see that I'm in treatment?
One of the benefits of Invisalign is that the aligners are clear. You can straighten your teeth without anyone knowing.

How do I clean my aligners?
The best way to clean your aligners is by brushing and rinsing them in lukewarm water.

How often must I visit St. Pete Smiles during treatment?
For most patients, visits every 4-6 weeks are frequent enough for us to determine that your treatment is progressing properly. Dr. Bracy will provide you with a specific schedule that supports your individual treatment plan.

Invisalign and your oral health, from Dr. Bracy

When considering treatment options, patients often ask us how Invisalign treatment is so different than traditional braces. Well, there are more reasons to smile about Invisalign with St. Pete Smiles than you may know. Invisalign is a series of removable aligners that are nearly invisible, and besides straightening your teeth, can improve your oral health. Here’s how:

Healthy gums: Straight teeth allow a close fit for gums. This lessens the gum stress that is caused by crowded or widely spaced teeth, thus also reducing red and swollen gums.

Easy cleaning: Invisalign is removable, therefore brushing and flossing is easier and you are able to maintain a healthy mouth. These habits are vital to avoiding tooth decay, plaque and even gum disease.

Improved speech and chewing: Properly-aligned teeth don’t have the discomfort or compound speech impediments that can be caused by crowded teeth or a deteriorating jawbone.

If you have any questions about Invisalign, just ask Dr. Bracy the next time you’re in for an appointment. Or, you may post your question on our Facebook page! You can also visit the Florida Dental Association website for more information on oral health care.

Ask Dr. Bracy: Is Invisalign® really customized for each patient?

Yes, it is, and that’s part of what makes it work, says Dr. Bracy. 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. The best thing about it all? Nobody around you will even know you are wearing braces!

Dr. Bracy is a certified Invisalign provider in St. Petersburg, FL. If you have questions about Invisalign, or would like to find out if you are a candidate for Invisalign treatment, please give us a call.

Expect only the highest quality of dental products and treatment at St. Pete Smiles

Since dental laboratory outsourcing has become so prevalent these days, Dr. Bracy and our team feels that it is essential that our patients know that at St. Pete Smiles we use only superior materials that have been made locally. Our lab-made appliances, such as crowns and partials, do not contain inferior materials or products manufactured in countries where regulations are not mandatory. Our practice will not participate in laboratory cost cutting that can pose health risks to our patients.



If you have any questions about how our office offers the highest quality of general and cosmetic dental care to our patients, just give us a call at 727-280-5812 and ask! There is no potentially risky dentistry at St Pete Smiles!

At St. Pete Smiles, we respect your time

At St. Pete Smiles, we provide the highest quality of general dental and cosmetic dental care in the St. Petersburg community. Unlike other practices that book multiple patients into the same time slots, we choose the approach of individual attention to minimize delays. We respect your time and do our best to not make you wait. Dr. Bracy and our team runs an organized and on-time schedule because we know that your time is important.

If you have any questions about our modern approach to dentistry, state-of-the-art facility, or specific treatments at our office, feel free to give us a call at 727-280-5812. We look forward to hearing from you!

Meet Bella, our friendly St. Pete Smiles cat!

Bella the cat has been a fixture at St. Pete Smiles since last winter. Starting out wild and starved, she's now a healthy one-year-old (after a trip to the vet for shots and spay). She greets the office staff every morning looking for attention and breakfast!

Michele and Susie trade off coming by on the weekends to feed her. Even Laura, who cleans the office on the weekend, pitches in. And you can be sure Bella doesn't let us forget to give her a "snack" and a pet before leaving at the end of the day!

-Dr. Bracy and team

Zoom!® Whitening at St. Pete Smiles

A whiter smile is one just one dentist visit away! ZOOM!® professional teeth whitening brightens and whitens your teeth in just 45 minutes. Once you have gone through the Zoom!® treatment we will send you home with an at-home whitening bleaching kit with custom made trays. Using the take home trays will allow you to maintain your desired level of whitening over several months.

While Zoom!® Smile Whitening is a great way to enhance the appearance of your smile, it's not always for everyone. Those with deep, dark stains that remain unaffected by whitening treatments and patients with regular tooth sensitivity may not be good candidates. Find out more about teeth whitening at our web site; and when you are ready to have a whiter, brighter smile contact Dr. Bracy for an evaluation!

5 Reasons why you should visit St. Pete Smiles today!

Dr. Bracy and our team at St. Pete Smiles knows that achieving and maintaining a healthy smile is not only an important aspect of your appearance, but it is also very important to the health of your entire body. That being said, summer is also a time when folks are putting off visiting the dentist due to the nice weather, vacations, and other obligations. Today, Dr. Bracy and our team wanted to share with you five reasons why you should schedule an appointment with St. Pete Smiles this summer.

5 Reasons to come see us this summer:

1. The year's half over- don't let the 2010 insurance benefits slip through your fingers

2. Get the kids in for their back to school checkups

3. Avoid the end of the year rush with the holidays

4. Prevention is key- don't let your health fall by the wayside

5. Small problems turn into bigger ones with time

Have a great week everyone!

-Dr. Bracy and team

Dr. Bracy and our team are back in the office!

Dr. Bracy and our team at St. Pete Smiles in St. Petersburg, FL, just returned from a week out of the office. We're coming back to the office recharged and refreshed, after a little R&R and time with family.

One of Dr. Bracy's activities while out of the office was to spend a day at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art and Estate in Sarasota. What a local gem! I highly recommend a visit (less than an hour from here)!

While the office was closed, we had the office treatment rooms refreshed. We removed some wallpaper and added a bright new coat of paint. It turned out great! Be sure to take a look the next time you're in for a visit at St. Pete Smiles!

Have a great week,

-Dr. Bracy and team