Welcome

Is a referral necessary?
What is an orthodontist?
Why should I see an orthodontic specialist?
How do I choose an orthodontist?
What age should my child first seen an orthodontist?
What are the benefits of early treatment?
Why are so many young children in braces today?
How can the cosmetic changes of orthodontic treatment affect you?
Am I too old for orthodontic treatment?
How do I know if I really need braces?
How much do braces cost?
Will my insurance cover the cost of braces?
How long does orthodontic treatment take?
Do braces hurt?
Can I still play sports?
Will my braces interfere with playing musical instruments?
What is TMJ?
What is a retainer?
Do wisdom teeth cause crowding?

Is a referral necessary?   
No. If you think you have an orthodontic problem, you may contact us directly. We do require that patients have a current dental cleaning before beginning orthodontic treatment. As well, we require you to have regular biannual cleanings and dental check-ups by your dentist throughout orthodontic treatment.

What is an orthodontist?   
To be a certified licensed specialist in orthodontics, strict criteria must be met. First, a degree in general dentistry is completed (4 years in length). After which, a two to three year university graduate Masters program in the specialty of orthodontics is undertaken, certified by the American Dental Association. Orthodontist’s have a minimum of a 10 years of overall university education to qualify for there specialty status! It's important to note that any general dentist can limit his or her practice activity to orthodontics and even advertise his preference of practice to the public. Only orthodontists are certified specialists by law!

Why should I see an orthodontic specialist?   
Orthodontists have two or three years of highly specialized training above and beyond that of a general dentist in correcting jaw and bite irregularities. An orthodontic specialist does only orthodontics. Other types of dentists can offer braces to their patients, but lack the intensive training and specialized experience of an orthodontist. Just as we seek the opinions of medical specialists, such as cardiologists and dermatologists, for specific medical problems, it is important to choose the proper dental specialist for cosmetic smile and bite correction.

How do I choose an orthodontist?    
There are many factors that should be considered when deciding on an orthodontic specialist. Most importantly, you should be provided with a thorough explanation of what is involved and be informed throughout your orthodontic treatment. You should feel comfortable asking as many questions as you would like. We truly care about each and every patient and will make every effort to insure their comfort throughout treatment.

Why age should my child first see an orthodontist?    
The American Associations of Orthodontists recommend that every child have an orthodontic screening by the age of seven. By age 7, enough permanent teeth have come in and jaw growth has occurred that the orthodontist can identify current problems, anticipate future problems and alleviate parents' concerns. For example:

Crowding, misplaced or blocked out teeth
Early or late loss of baby teeth
Any ongoing finger sucking, mouth breathing, speech difficulty or other oral habits can be assessed
Jaws and teeth are out of proportion to the rest of the face.
Teeth that meet abnormally or not at all.

Even if treatment is not indicated at that age, this appointment will serve as a baseline from which we can monitor future growth and development.

What are the benefits of early treatment?   
Early treatment presents the opportunity to:

Influence jaw growth in a positive manner
Harmonize width of the dental arches
Improve eruption patterns
Lower risk of trauma to protruded upper front teeth
Correcting harmful oral habits
Reducing or eliminate abnormal swallowing, or speech problems
Improve self-esteem and esthetics
Simplify and/or shorten treatment time for later corrective orthodontics
Reduce likelihood of impacted permanent teeth
Preserve or gain space for erupting permanent teeth

Why are so many young children in braces today?   
Initiating early interceptive treatment in children who do not yet have all of their permanent teeth often enables us to utilize their growth, allowing a better long-term result. Interceptive orthodontics is geared towards children ages 6 to 9, when teeth and jaw bones are most successfully influenced during this period of rapid growth. Not all children need interceptive treatment. Typical problems which can be addressed include: over-crowded teeth, cross bite, overbite, under bite, and thumb sucking habits. These problems can affect the function of the teeth and face and can cause difficulty chewing, speaking, or swallowing.
Some common goals of early treatment include creating enough space for all of the permanent teeth to erupt, and correcting an imbalance in growth between the upper and lower jaws. Children who have had early treatment generally will need to wear braces again when all of their permanent teeth are in. This second phase of treatment with full braces is generally shorter and far easier than treatment would have been if the patient had not had the benefit of early intervention. More importantly, we are able to achieve the best end result for these children. Early interceptive treatment often prevents the need to extract permanent teeth and/or surgery of the jaws during later adolescent comprehensive orthodontic treatment.

How can the cosmetic changes of orthodontic treatment affect you?   
How one feels about his/her looks has an impact on self-esteem and career success. Orthodontic treatment can make a tremendous life-long change in the appearance of a persons smile, teeth, face and overall well being.

Am I too old for orthodontic treatment?   
More and more adults are seeking orthodontic treatment in order to make cosmetic improvements to their smile. Adults comprise over 30% of patients in orthodontic practices today. Moving teeth with braces is not limited by age. The teeth and bones of adult patients respond to orthodontic movement in a similar fashion to younger patients. Technological advances in orthodontic materials allow us to offer cosmetic alternatives such as clear braces or invisible removable ‘aligners.’ Occasionally adults require a combination of orthodontic and jaw surgery treatment to correct severe bite problems. The surgical treatment positions the jaw in the proper position utilizing the expertise of an oral surgeon in partnership with the orthodontist.

How do I know if I really need braces?    
Patients generally require orthodontic treatment for three different reasons.
1) They do not like the way their smile looks.
2) Their bite is incorrect and is putting extra pressure on the gums, teeth, and joints.
3) Their dentist needs to perform some restorative work and needs the teeth to be moved beforehand.

How much do braces cost?    
Our fees are based upon treatment time and the severity of the case. Because there is such a wide range in individual treatment complexity, we cannot quote a fee without first examining a patient. We do try to provide payment options that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate most financial situations.

Will my insurance cover the cost of braces?   
Some dental insurance plans will assist with a portion of the fee. If you would like to call our office with your insurance information, we will be happy to call your company and let you know what your policy covers.

How long does orthodontic treatment take?    
The length of treatment varies from 3 months to 3 years depending on complexity with the average treatment time being approximately 24 months. Before you start treatment, we will let you know the length of time your treatment should take.

Do braces hurt?    
Technological advances in orthodontic materials have led to new wires that generate a light consistent force for tooth movement. Generally, patients experience little or no pain. The greatest period of adjustment occurs during the first week of braces while the cheeks, lips, and tongue become accustomed to the braces.

Can I still play sports?    
Yes, however we ask patients to wear a protective mouth guard while playing any contact sports. We recommend a specific mouth guard for braces.

Will my braces interfere with playing musical instruments?   
Playing wind or brass instruments, such as the trumpet, will require some adaptation to braces. With practice and a period of adjustment, braces typically do not interfere with the playing of musical instruments.

What is TMJ?    
TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint. It is the joint which attaches your lower jaw to the base of the skull and is used for chewing. Like any other joint in the body, some people develop problems with there TMJ such as clenching, grinding, locking, cracking noises, and associated muscle or headache pain. We use splints and braces to improve or relieve problems associated with the jaw joints.

What is a retainer?   
A retainer is a removable appliance that is fitted to your teeth to hold them in their new, corrected position after your braces are removed. We use retainers that, depending on the patient's preference, are highly colorful with different designs or are made of clear plastic that are virtually invisible. Typically, retainers are worn full-time for 12 months and gradually reduced to bedtime wear 2-3 nights a week.

Do wisdom teeth cause crowding?   
Wisdom teeth do not directly cause crowding of the front teeth, however, they sometimes push the 2nd molars out of line causing instability in the bite which can lead to shifting of the teeth. Also, impacted wisdom teeth can lead to infection and damage of the surrounding healthy teeth. Therefore, in consultation with your dentist, we often suggest having wisdom teeth removed at approximately 15-18 years of age. In most cases, this is a couple of years after we have finished your orthodontic treatment.