Testimonials

I had traditional braces back as a young teenager and thought my teeth were set for life but I was unfortunately wrong. I developed a severe open bite which I noticed when I was about 18 years old. I consulted with 3 different orthodontists and was told by numerous dentists that there was no way to fix my bite other than jaw surgery and extensive braces. During my 20’s we were moving every 2 to 3 years for my husband’s job and that plus the cost prohibited me from trying anything to fix my teeth. My open bite impacted my life in a major way. It impaired my speech, ability to eat certain foods, and I was very self conscious about it. I prayed for a miracle but accepted this was a condition I would have to learn to accept.

My family and I settled back into Naperville where we planted our roots and I was finally able to look into treatment again. Through a Google search I found Dr. Manal Ibrahim and Invisalign online. I remember how excited Dr. Ibrahim was at our consultation and I was so skeptical I didn’t allow myself to get too excited and Dr. Ibrahim correctly named me a “doubting Thomas.” I figured it was worth a try as I had no other option and I still cannot believe the transformation my teeth have undergone.

Over the 18 months I became a pro at Invisalign, wearing my rubber bands, and doing my orthopulse treatments for 20 minutes a day. At the time I started my kids were 8 months, 2 and 4 years old and I enjoyed the quiet moments I had during my orthopulse when I had an excuse to not talk! My teeth were sore sometimes but never nearly as much as I remember when I had traditional braces as a teenager. Being in my 30’s I was self conscious of having braces so I loved that with invisalign I could take out my trays for social functions and it was so discreet. I also appreciated that Invisalign did not require frequent office visits which was so helpful since childcare is always difficult to arrange.

In the beginning, I had a habit of losing buttons easily and would get very stressed out by it. Fortunately, Dr. Ibrahim was always available to answer my questions. I tried not to overuse this privilege but it was so reassuring to have the ability to communicate with her about quick concerns or questions. Her enthusiasm, kindness, and attention to detail is remarkable. Every time I went into the office the staff was kind, welcoming, and encouraging of my progress. My only regret is not doing this sooner and I am forever indebted to Dr. Manal Ibrahim and the staff at Innovative Orthodontic Centers for changing my life. Now I can speak clearly, eat anything I want (hello buffalo wings), and have confidence in my appearance. She is truly an answer to prayers and a miracle worker!

Dr. Ibrahim and the Innovative Orthodontic Centers team have made my mouth and smile perfect, which wasn’t easy. I had an enormous, infected, and gaping hole on my bottom row of teeth because my former dentist improperly pulled my tooth and then failed to treat me. Fortunately, Dr. Ibrahim and her team developed a treatment plan using Invisalign that worked—on the first try. She coordinated with my new dentist, who had recommended me to her, as my teeth continued to straighten even more, week by week.

I had absolutely no problem driving from the north side of Chicago to Naperville to have Dr. Ibrahim work on my teeth because you simply can’t argue with results. Now, my teeth are completely straight and have remained so. The hole is closed up and gone. My mouth is healthy and not infected. In fact, my smile and mouth are way better than they were even before I got my tooth pulled improperly. Thanks to Dr. Ibrahim and the Innovative Orthodontic Centers team, I’m healthy. I would absolutely recommend her practice to anybody, given how professional and effective my treatment was.

There is a lot to smile about these days as a first time parent, so I am blessed to be able to express myself with confidence. I initially approached Innovative Orthodontic Centers for a consultation for Invisalign via a referral from my dentist. I was supporting my father with his recent cancer diagnosis and had started a new job so along with the changes in my life I worried that I would not be able to be disciplined with orthodontics.

When I met Dr. Ibrahim, she made me feel at ease as she approached my orthodontic challenge and assured me it was something that could be accomplished with Invisalign. Her confidence and professionalism echo the accolades she has received, the praise from her peers, and the success of her practice.

Treatment was shorter than expected at just over 2 years and was the most surprising part of my journey. Innovative Orthodontic Centers’ use of modern technology such as 3D scanning, simulated treatment plans, and Acceledent allowed me to trust the process and have confidence in following the team’s instructions. From the welcome desk where Connie made me feel welcome, to the technicians Angeles and Anya that I checked in with, every visit was a pleasure and respected my time.

I hold Dr. Ibrahim and Innovative Orthodontic Centers in high regard and urge potential clients to not hesitate to take a step in the right direction by correcting their bite, removing their insecurity, and smiling freely.

I truly enjoyed having my Invisalign and had no problems with it. When my mom first told me I was going to the orthodontist to get braces I was petrified. I had been working as a model and actor at a very young age and feared getting braces would be the end of me booking jobs.

I knew I needed to get my teeth fixed because I had some weird spacing issues, plus sometimes during auditions, I would worry … “what if they don’t like my smile?”
A lot of print jobs would ask for a closed-mouth smile, but because of my overbite, I was never able to do it. This was very discouraging for me.

When I first met Dr. Ibrahim and everyone at Innovative Orthodontics they were all so kind and made me feel so comfortable. I thought it was the coolest thing when they made a three dimensional model of my mouth and I was able to see on the computer what was going to happen to my teeth. I vividly remember going to school and hearing my friends complain about brackets and wires and having their braces tightened. They complained about their teeth hurting after their wires were tightened, and there were so many foods they couldn’t eat. Even worse a friend of mine had a retainer once, an expander once, and braces twice in the last four years. That scared the heck out of me.

Luckily for me, I was able to get my Invisalign and Acceledent, and I never had to do any of that or have any pain. Having my Invisalign was super convenient allowing me to take my trays out if I was ever doing a show, and although I couldn’t really eat with my trays in, there were never really any other restrictions to what I could eat. I loved that the office had games and movies to help relax me before my appointments. Plus, the technicians were friendly, and the office had hot chocolate in their waiting room which makes everything better!

I always suggest Invisalign to kids in the acting or modeling business who know they’re going to need braces. I only had my trays for a little under a year and the end result was awesome! When they say innovative, they mean it. Innovative Orthodontic Centers are not only future-forward but interactive and kind.

Thank you Innovative Orthodontic Centers for giving me the confidence to keep smiling and doing what I love to do! You guys are truly the best!

I had been contemplating getting braces for several years. I was at a point that smiling while keeping my mouth closed was the new norm. I knew my teeth were shifting but being in my mid-50s made me very hesitant. I did not think I was a good candidate for Invisalign and was worried about the prospect of wearing metal braces. After doing some research I decided to make an appointment with Dr. Ibrahim of Innovative Orthodontic Centers in downtown Naperville. Five minutes into my first meeting I knew I made the right choice!

Dr. Ibrahim took her time with me and showed me several options. Not only did I have an overbite, but I also had too much spacing in my bottom jaw because I was missing my molars. We both decided the best route would be to create more space in my bottom jaw and then proceed with two implants to fill in those spaces. And the best part, I could use Invisalign to accomplish this. Great news! Within just a couple of months, my teeth were shifting to where they should be. My smile was coming back to me!

Now for the implants! I was not expecting to hear that. How would I coordinate that with my own dentist? The answer, very easily. I made an appointment with Dr. LaVacca, who is Dr. Ibrahim’s husband, right down the hall. How convenient for me! Dr. LaVacca made the whole process so easy and I was so pleased with the results.

To say that my teeth were a run of the mill case was a huge understatement. But with Dr. Ibrahim’s and Dr. LaVacca’s expert care and well thought out plan for me, I cannot tell you how happy I am with my results.

I would highly recommend Dr. Ibrahim and Dr. LaVacca for any of your orthodontic and dental needs. Thank you, Dr. Ibrahim and Dr. LaVacca and your great staff for giving me my smile back!

I had Invisalign treatment with Dr. Ibrahim for a year and a half. I wore aligners including rubber bands religiously with one goal in mind, to have beautiful straight teeth for life and for my wedding. Thanks to Dr. Ibrahim and Innovative Orthodontic Centers I could not stop smiling on my big day!

I had traditional braces over 20 years ago. I was recommended a night guard to prevent grinding by a dentist. It had completely opened my bite and ruined my smile. I developed a lisp and it was even hard to eat normally. I was told by two different dentists that I would need jaw surgery until I met Dr. Manal Ibrahim. She was a guest of mine at the salon I work in and had noticed my lisp and open bite immediately. She kindly recommended I come in for a consultation. At the consult she created a computer image of my mouth and showed me what my end result would look like, achievable with Invisalign.

I was skeptical, but also desperate since I did not want to have to have jaw surgery. I have to say that Invisalign was the best thing I could ever have done for myself. Just a few months in I started to notice my smile changing for the better. In only a short time my smile was back. I get so many compliments now. I am forever grateful to Dr. Manal Ibrahim and her entire staff. I would recommend her as well as Invisalign to anyone. I’m an extremely happy patient.

Not a single picture taken on my wedding day or the day my children were born show a big toothy grin—happiest days of my life—but still no big toothy grin. Why? Because I learned years ago to hide my smile and my teeth; they were ugly and embarrassing. I would periodically look into orthodontics but was told I’d need jaw surgery, years in braces, who knows how much money spent and even then, a positive outcome could not be promised. As my dental problems worsened, my dentist, Dr. Piazza, suggested a consultation with Dr. Ibrahim, just to see what could be done with current technology.

My initial consultation had my misaligned jaw on the floor. Two years with Invisalign and Acceledent and I could have a beautiful and more importantly healthy smile? Sign me up! Six weeks later and I was picking up my first set of trays. Wearing my “chompers,” as my kids dubbed my Invisalign trays, quickly became my new normal. All of my family and friends saw my ClinCheck and went on this journey with me. And what a journey it has been!

I had no idea what to expect as I went in to Dr. Ibrahim’s office to get my first set of trays and I began to second guess my decision…I was 42 years old and clearly older than most patients and even some of the staff…what was I thinking? I must have looked like a flight risk because the staff quickly stepped in and put my mind at rest and began explaining the trays and how to use the Acceledent to me. The first month was a breeze…trays and Acceledent…I got this! Every night I had an excuse to sit quietly by myself for 20 minutes, the kids quickly figured out mom doesn’t talk with that contraption in her mouth. Ahhhh…..peace every night!! (I miss that!)

Over the next two years, my attachments changed and rubber band configurations changed in more ways than I can count. I had days when my teeth hurt and days when I forgot about just how awful my teeth had been in light of how much they had already improved. I became an expert at putting my rubber bands on with one hand in traffic and perfected the ability to remove my trays in front of others without making a big scene. I got to know Dr. Ibrahim’s staff well, always greeted by name and with a smile whenever I walked in. Everyone was vested in my treatment—new hires would be shown my original pictures to compare to where I was at in treatment. It was the closest I’ve ever been to being a celebrity! Even better, within a few months of starting treatment more than just my teeth were changing…my smile was starting to show up in pictures here and there. People were commenting on how awesome my teeth looked. Now, at the end of treatment, you’d be hard pressed to find a current picture of me that doesn’t feature that big toothy grin. My jaw pain is gone, my gums are healthy and my smile is gorgeous.

Oftentimes, a business will donate an item of value to an institution in an effort to support a good cause, and perhaps, to help generate some “much needed” money or resources for that institution. Little do they realize that sometimes that sponsorship can transform someone’s life.

As an original staff member of All Saints Catholic Academy, I have had the distinct pleasure of attending some 15 annual dinner dance auctions – All Saints’ largest fundraiser. It is always exciting to look at the auction catalog, and to see which items being offered pique my interest. It is even more fun the night of the auction, to see if we can win the desired items in the heat of the bidding.

This past spring, my daughter Lauren shared something with me about my son Christopher that literally broke this mother’s heart. I found out that my son never wanted to smile because he didn’t like the way his teeth looked. Chris is a man of 32 years of age, and is a musician and music educator. It was difficult to find a time for orthodontia when he was younger, because of the time involved in wearing braces, as well as the pain endured in playing his instrument with braces.

When I heard that, it was a done deal that I would be bidding on a braces package donated by one of our amazing Cornerstone sponsors, Innovative Orthodontic Centers. It is never too late to have a smile that you are proud of.

If I wasn’t as social as I usually am at the event, it was because I was determined to win this auction item on this night. To whoever was bidding against me (you know who you are); I am so sorry because……………….I WON!!!

Chris began his treatment in July; and we just can’t sing enough praises of Dr. Manal Ibrahim and the staff at Innovative. In this time of Covid, Chris has been able to safely navigate his treatment with online and periodic in-person appointments. He is just completing his 14th set of trays, with only 34 more to go; but I can tell you that he is smiling, and he is happy, which is all that a mother wants for her child(ren).

We were thrilled that Dr. Ibrahim was able to join us at this year’s Dinner Dance Auction. I hope that you enjoyed your time with our All Saints school community. We are certainly grateful (and me personally) for this partnership and friendship that we have formed. Thank you for being such a faithful sponsor at our highest level, and for your generosity in donating an item that was so impactful to my family.

Please consider supporting Innovative Orthodontic Centers with your business – especially for that special child or adult in your life that wants to love their smile!