Frequently Asked Questions

An orthodontist is a doctor who specializes in teeth and jaw alignment. Misaligned teeth (also called malocclusion) can lead to different health problems, including dental issues, tooth decay, gum disease, and difficult or painful chewing. Orthodontists specialize in using both permanent and removable dental devices—such as braces, retainers, and bands—to change the position of teeth in the mouth.

Every treatment plan is different. We work with patients on a case-by-case basis to determine how long their treatment will take. However, the average time of treatment is one to two years. If your treatment requires a severe correction, your treatment time may be longer.

In addition, your adherence to your treatment plan also impacts the length of time. For this reason, it is extremely important to maintain good oral hygiene and come to all your regularly scheduled appointments.

Even if you are seeing an orthodontist, you should still continue to see your dentist every six months for cleanings and dental checkups.

Invisalign and braces are techniques that orthodontists may use to straighten the teeth of their patients. Both braces and Invisalign straighten teeth to give them an ideal position, improve their look, and promote proper function. While Invisalign uses a set of clear plastic trays as a means of achieving the proper position of the teeth, braces make use of metal wires to get the most ideal movement or position for the teeth.

One of the benefits of Invisalign treatment is that the plastic trays are clear. Invisalign may be a good choice for you if you don’t want anyone to know you are fixing your smile.

If you don't want to be responsible for remembering to wear your appliances enough each day to be effective, braces might be the better option for you.

Orthodontic treatment can be started at any age. If an issue is detected at a young age—before jaw growth has either slowed or stopped—it may be easier to correct. We prefer to start seeing our patients as early as age two or three so we can help with the development of their jaws and tongue position.

Myofunctional therapy uses physical therapy exercises to improve the bite, breathing, and facial posture of patients with orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs). OMDs occur when a patient has an abnormal lip, jaw, or tongue position that interferes with their orofacial structure’s development and function. OMDs can impact breastfeeding, chewing, swallowing, and talking.

Myofunctional therapy targets the face, neck, and mouth's soft tissues to reach optimal tongue position and oral rest posture.

Incorrect myofunctional habits, such as nasal breathing or an abnormal tongue position, can lead to incorrect dental and facial development. Sometimes, crowded teeth and underdeveloped jaws are the result of the tongue and lips not functioning correctly.

While new technology has made orthodontic treatment more comfortable, patients typically experience soreness for a few days after braces are placed on your teeth and connected with the archwires. It may also take your lips and cheeks a couple of weeks to get used to the braces. However, the initial placement of bands and brackets on your teeth does not hurt. If you experience any pain or discomfort, it can be alleviated by using over-the-counter analgesics.

The cost of braces varies depending on the complexity of your orthodontic treatment and the length of time your received treatment. Before you begin your treatment, our office will discuss all of the costs involved at your initial consultation appointment. As a result of our convenient payment plans, the majority of our patients find the cost of braces to be affordable. We also accept orthodontic benefits from most dental insurance providers. In addition, if your employer offers a flexible savings account (FSA) or other type of health savings account, you can set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for your orthodontic treatment.

We treat both adults and kids.