Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Work Hours
Monday to Friday: 7AM - 7PM
Weekend: 10AM - 5PM
DIGITAL ORTHODONTICS / YORKVILLE + WATERLOO
LightForce
Orthodontics
Patient-specific braces designed digitally and 3D printed around your individual orthodontic treatment plan.
FIXED ORTHODONTICS, REIMAGINED
Braces designed around your teeth, not selected from a standard set.
Traditional fixed orthodontics generally uses standardized brackets that are positioned and adjusted according to the treatment plan. LightForce approaches that process differently by combining a digital tooth setup with brackets designed specifically for the individual patient.
Using a digital scan of the teeth, the planned tooth positions can be reviewed virtually before treatment begins. Once the treatment plan is approved, patient-specific brackets and placement guides are manufactured for that case.
THE LIGHTFORCE DIFFERENCE
Patient-specific from the start.
The bracket prescription, bracket geometry and planned placement are created around the patient’s digital orthodontic setup rather than relying only on a standard pre-manufactured bracket prescription.
DIGITAL FROM THE BEGINNING
Scan. Plan. Customize.
01 / CAPTURE
Digital scan
A digital model of the upper and lower teeth provides the starting anatomy for the orthodontic treatment plan without relying on traditional plaster models.
02 / PLAN
Virtual tooth setup
The treatment-planning software allows the clinician to review the starting position, planned tooth positions, occlusion and proposed bracket placement before approving the case.
03 / CREATE
Patient-specific brackets
After the digital plan is approved, the bracket system is manufactured specifically for that patient and paired with placement guides designed around the planned bracket positions.
CUSTOMIZED BRACKET DESIGN
Fixed braces with a digital prescription built into the system.
LightForce uses patient-specific brackets rather than selecting the same pre-manufactured bracket geometry for every patient. Ceramic and metal patient-specific bracket options are part of the current LightForce system.
For ceramic treatment, the brackets are designed to offer a less visually prominent alternative to conventional metal braces while maintaining the control of a fixed orthodontic appliance.
Because the appliances remain bonded to the teeth during treatment, patients do not need to remember to insert and remove them each day as they would with removable aligners.
DIGITAL PLANNING BEFORE BONDING
See the intended tooth positions before the brackets are manufactured.
LightForce treatment planning begins with a virtual model showing the patient’s starting anatomy and proposed final tooth positions.
The clinician can review tooth movement, the relationship between the upper and lower arches, bracket positions and other treatment details before approving the plan. The customized appliances are then manufactured around that approved setup.
YOUR CLINICIAN REMAINS IN CONTROL
Software supports the plan. It does not replace clinical judgment.
The digital setup is reviewed, measured and modified by the treating clinician before the customized appliance is approved for manufacturing.
THE LIGHTFORCE WORKFLOW
From consultation to customized fixed braces.
01 / CONSULT
Orthodontic assessment
Teeth, bite, facial relationships, dental health and treatment goals are assessed to determine whether fixed orthodontic treatment is appropriate.
02 / DIGITIZE
Scan + records
Digital scans, photographs and appropriate dental imaging provide the records used to create and evaluate the orthodontic setup.
03 / DESIGN
Review the digital plan
The planned tooth positions and bracket setup are reviewed and adjusted according to the clinician’s treatment goals before approval.
04 / MANUFACTURE
Custom brackets are produced
The approved case is manufactured with patient-specific brackets and placement trays designed for the planned bracket positions.
05 / BOND
Place the brackets
Patient-specific indirect-bonding trays can help transfer the digitally planned bracket positions to the teeth during the bonding appointment.
06 / MONITOR
Guide treatment over time
Orthodontic appointments are still required to monitor movement, adjust wires or auxiliaries when needed and respond to how the teeth actually move clinically.
LIGHTFORCE OR INVISALIGN?
Two digital approaches. Different ways of moving teeth.
LightForce is a fixed-braces system. Invisalign uses removable clear aligners. Both can begin with digital records and virtual treatment planning, but the appliances function differently once treatment begins.
The better option depends on the orthodontic problem, treatment goals, bite, age, lifestyle, ability to wear removable appliances consistently and the movements the clinician is trying to achieve.
RELATED OPTION
Prefer removable orthodontics?
Explore Invisalign and learn how removable clear aligners differ from digitally customized fixed braces.
WHAT THE RESEARCH SAYS
Promising efficiency, without making universal promises.
Recent retrospective studies comparing LightForce with conventional fixed appliances have reported similar overall finishing quality and shorter average treatment duration in the LightForce groups studied.
Those findings should be interpreted carefully. Treatment length varies with case complexity, growth, biology, appliance breakage, patient cooperation and provider experience. One recent study also reported more bracket-related failures and emergency visits in its LightForce group.
For that reason, Ashraf Dentistry does not treat LightForce as a promise of a particular treatment time. Its value lies primarily in patient-specific appliance design, digital treatment planning and a customized fixed-orthodontic workflow.
IMPORTANT TO KNOW
Customization does not eliminate orthodontic variables.
Teeth do not always respond exactly as predicted by a digital model. Adjustments, additional mechanics, rebonding or changes to the treatment plan can still be required during fixed orthodontic treatment.
WHO MAY CONSIDER LIGHTFORCE?
A fixed option for a wide range of orthodontic needs.
ALIGNMENT
Crowding + spacing
Fixed orthodontics may be used to address crowded, rotated or spaced teeth when the overall treatment plan supports those movements.
BITE
Occlusal correction
Treatment may also address aspects of overbite, open bite, crossbite or front-to-back bite relationships depending on growth, anatomy and treatment objectives.
FIXED APPLIANCE
When removability is not the goal
Some patients prefer or clinically benefit from an appliance that remains attached to the teeth rather than depending on daily aligner wear.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
About LightForce treatment.
Are LightForce braces clear aligners?
No. LightForce is a fixed orthodontic system. The brackets remain bonded to the teeth and work with orthodontic archwires. Invisalign and other aligners are removable appliances.
What makes the brackets customized?
LightForce creates patient-specific brackets from the approved digital treatment setup. The system also provides patient-specific placement trays designed around the planned bracket positions.
Does LightForce always make treatment faster?
No treatment time should be guaranteed. Some recent studies have reported shorter average treatment duration in LightForce groups, but orthodontic treatment time varies considerably with case complexity, biology, patient cooperation, appliance issues and the treatment plan.
Are LightForce braces only for teenagers?
No. Fixed orthodontic treatment can be considered for adolescents and adults when the teeth and supporting tissues are suitable. The appropriate appliance depends on the individual orthodontic diagnosis.
Can a LightForce bracket break?
Yes. As with conventional fixed braces, brackets can loosen or break and may need to be rebonded or replaced. Following food and care instructions can help reduce appliance problems.
How do I know whether LightForce is right for me?
The decision requires an orthodontic assessment. Your bite, tooth positions, oral health, age, treatment goals and the type of movement required all influence whether LightForce, Invisalign or another orthodontic approach is most appropriate.
LIGHTFORCE ORTHODONTICS / ASHRAF DENTISTRY
Fixed orthodontics, customized before the first bracket is placed.
Schedule an orthodontic assessment to compare LightForce, Invisalign and other orthodontic approaches based on your bite, tooth positions and individual treatment goals.