Getting Started

Orthodontists are dental specialists who focus their practice on the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of dentofacial irregularities. In order to become an orthodontist, a dentist must complete a two or three-year residency in orthodontics after four years of graduate dental school. To be accepted into orthodontic residency a dentist must typically graduate in the top 10% of their class and score highly on their national board exams. Both of our orthodontists graduated in the top 10% of their class.

Choosing an orthodontist is the smart choice because orthodontic treatment is not just one thing we do, its the ONLY thing we do.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that your child be evaluated by age seven. An orthodontic screening no later than age seven enables the orthodontist to detect and evaluate problems that exist, advise if treatment will be necessary, and determine the best time for the treatment. Early detection of any orthodontic problems is important in order to take early corrective action and avoid more difficult treatment later.

It is usually difficult for you to determine if treatment is necessary because there are many problems that can occur even though the front teeth look straight. Also, there are some problems that look intimidating and complex which will resolve on their own. Asking your general dentist is a good reference, but we are your best resource since orthodontics is all we do. Our initial exam is comprehensive and informative, and we would be more than happy to see your child and make any recommendations necessary.

Age is not a factor in considering orthodontic treatment for adults. Any adult in good general health with healthy gums and good bone support for the teeth is a candidate for orthodontic treatment. About 25% of our orthodontic patients are adults, and that number is still growing!

Often times, after their children have successfully completed orthodontic treatment, many parents opt to complete orthodontic treatment, too.

The goal of Phase I treatment is to intercept a moderate or severe orthodontic problem early in order to reduce or eliminate it. These problems include skeletal discrepancies, cross bites, and severe crowding.

Phase I treatment takes advantage of the early growth spurt and turns a difficult orthodontic problem into a more manageable one. This often helps reduce the need for extraction or surgery and delivers better long-term stability. Most Phase I patients require a second phase of treatment in order to achieve an ideal final bite.

Phase II treatment usually occurs a number of years later. Usually, we are waiting for the remaining permanent teeth to erupt, including second molars, before Phase II begins. This most commonly occurs at the age of 12 or 13. The goal of Phase II treatment is to achieve an ideal bite with all of the permanent teeth.

Not every child needs a Phase I treatment. Only some children with certain bites require early intervention. All others can wait until most, if not all, of their permanent teeth erupt. However, it is still important that every child be evaluated by age seven.

Most of our patients are in braces or Invisalign for 6-24 months. Treatment time depends on the development of the dentition, the severity of the problem, patient cooperation, and the degree of tooth movement required. In rare instances, usually due to a very difficult case or a non-compliant patient, the treatment may take longer than 24 months.

The cost of orthodontic treatment varies greatly depending on the severity of the problem and the desired treatment modality. The good news is that braces are more affordable today than ever, as the cost has not increased as fast as many other consumer products or services. Our office also accepts most insurances and has flexible payment options to meet your family’s budget.

Appointments range in time from 15 minutes (i.e. retainer check, adjustment) to an hour or so for our longer appointments (i.e. initial consultation, bonding or removal of braces).

Each treatment is a way to address crowding of the teeth. Extraction therapy is a technique where one or more permanent teeth are removed to make room for the other teeth in the mouth. This is in contrast to non-extraction therapy where one expands a patient’s jaw and/or adjusts the size and shape of some teeth to make them fit within the jaw. Our office’s treatment philosophy is very conservative, and we do make every effort to avoid extraction. However, for severe crowding and severe jaw discrepancy, the extraction approach may be required.

Research suggests that the actual force from wisdom teeth growing into the mouth is not sufficient to cause crowding. However, continued jaw growth as the body makes room for the wisdom teeth may put pressure on lower anterior teeth that can cause shifting. Often, there are several other reasons why wisdom tooth extraction is indicated. Our doctors can help refer you to oral surgeons that can evaluate if extraction is necessary.

Nighttime for lifetime. Think of retainers as your insurance policy that protects your investment in a beautiful smile. However, the type of retainer indicated may vary as the health and condition of your teeth and bones change throughout your lifetime. We recommend following-up with periodic retainer checks as needed when there is a change in your dental health.