Clearly Confident

This month, we spoke with Tara Emerick, board-certified orthodontist and founder of Emerick Orthodontics in Carmel. As an Angel Aligner faculty member and speaker, she teaches orthodontists across the country about clear aligner treatment and helps patients of all ages find the right path to a healthier, more confident smile.

Q: For readers who haven’t considered them, what are clear aligners and how do they move teeth differently than traditional braces?

A: Clear aligners are a series of custom-made, nearly invisible trays that gradually move your teeth. Both braces and aligners use carefully controlled forces, but braces move teeth through brackets and wires, while aligners use small changes in the shape of each tray. We also use small, tooth-colored attachments to help the aligner grab the tooth and control the movement. At Emerick Orthodontics, we use Angel Aligner because I feel that it’s superior to all of the other companies. Patients love being able to remove their aligners to eat, brush and floss, while feeling confident wearing them at work, school and social events. Consistent wear is essential, so we work together to make treatment fit into their daily routine.

Q: Who is a good candidate for clear aligners?

A: Clear aligners are an option for patients of all ages—adults, adolescents and even young children undergoing Phase 1 treatment. With advances in materials, treatment planning and tools like attachments and elastics, I can treat much more complex cases with aligners than I could several years ago. I give the option of aligner treatment to every patient who comes into our office, but I explain that their treatment success depends on their willingness to wear their aligners consistently.

Q: What advances in clear aligner treatment are you most excited about?

A: I’m especially excited about how precisely we can customize treatment. Digital scans capture a detailed model of the teeth without traditional impressions, and planning software allows me to carefully design the sequence of tooth movements. Some of the software systems use AI to anticipate the eruption timing and positioning of unerupted permanent teeth so that we can accurately guide their eruption into the correct position. With Angel Aligner, features such as integrated buttons for elastics give us additional tools to address bite correction. Other aligner brands require you to bond a metal button to the tooth, which is uncomfortable and can easily break off.
The technology is exciting, but the orthodontist’s decisions behind the plan are essential. Through my work as an Angel Aligner speaker and educator, I spend a lot of time refining that process. Thoughtful planning can help improve how teeth track, reduce unnecessary adjustments and make treatment more manageable for patients.

Q: How does Emerick Orthodontics build flexibility and personalized care into treatment?

A: Personalized care starts with listening. At the consultation, we discuss what the patient hopes to change and explain their options. As a practice owner and mom of three, I understand how much families are balancing. With clear aligners, patients continue progressing through prescribed trays at home, which can allow us to space appointments further apart. We also offer in-house, interest-free financing. Once treatment is complete, we create a retainer plan to protect the smile we’ve worked together to achieve.

Q: Beyond clear aligners, what other services does Emerick Orthodontics offer?

A: We offer LightForce custom 3D-printed braces, which allow us to personalize the brackets and treatment plan to each patient’s teeth. They’re a great option for patients who prefer a fixed appliance or who don’t think they’ll be compliant with aligners. We also provide early orthodontic and airway evaluations and growth-guidance treatment, including expansion when appropriate. And we help adults, too, including patients who had braces years ago and would like a little touch-up. We also offer professional teeth whitening.

You don’t have to know which treatment you want before coming in. That’s what we’re here for. Whether you’re bringing in your child or finally doing something for yourself, we want you to feel comfortable, informed and excited about what’s possible.

Schedule a complimentary consultation at Emerick Orthodontics, 12863 Broad Street in the Village of West Clay in Carmel. Learn more at emerickortho.com and follow @emerickortho on Instagram.