FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Whitening is safe once the roots of teeth fully develop. We recommend waiting until you are 15 to whiten your teeth. The pros are that it whitens your teeth and can blend any imperfections in your enamel. The cons are that it can cause short term sensitivity. Ask our doctors how to bleach properly!

The best way to clean your retainers is with a soft toothbrush, toothpaste, and cold water. If possible, brush them with non-abrasive toothpaste. Additionally, if you soak them in denture cleaner, it cleans all of the germs. Make sure you soak them in cold water! Hot water can distort your retainers.

Orthodontics works by applying light pressure to a tooth in a certain way to move it. Everyone’s treatment is different! Most of our treatments take 18-24 months. Some can take more than that, and some can take less. At your first complimentary appointment, your doctor can tell you the range of time it will take to complete your treatment.

You should keep your retainers for your entire life! If one breaks, please call us to make a replacement retainer. Teeth shift over time, and making a new retainer can save you lots of money and re-treatment

Everyone is different! When you come for your free consultation, we will give you an accurate estimate of how long it will take. Typically, a moderate problem takes 18-24 months to correct. If it is easier, it is faster than that and if it is harder, it is longer in some (but not many) cases.

You should brush for 2 minutes every time you brush, which at a minimum is 2 minutes a day

Each appointment has a specific amount of time associated with it. While some appointments are longer and some are shorter depending on the procedure, we aim for 30 minute visits.

With or without braces, at a minimum you should brush 2 minutes in the morning and 2 minutes in the evening. Brushing after lunch is recommended with braces.

Yes, definitely. Please continue to see your general dentist or dental specialist every 6 months, or as prescribed by your dentist. We recommend more frequent cleanings while in braces.

White marks are caused from leaving plaque on your teeth for too long. Plaque forms naturally, but has harmful bacteria that cause scarring if it is not brushed away. Flossing at night and brushing above, below, and the sides of your teeth are the best ways to make sure you do not get white spots. White spots are permanent marks on your teeth, which is why we take brushing so seriously!

There are many benefits, not just cosmetic. Having a corrected bite means that you do not grind or wear out your teeth, preventing teeth from potentially cracking later on. It makes it easier to floss, preventing any gum recession from overcrowding. It can also widen your airway, eliminating headaches and also help with attention deficit disorder in some children. Having straight teeth can also help to balance your facial muscles, joint pressures, and help protect your gums so that they are healthy for a lifetime.

No, you do not. We are happy to see everyone for a free evaluation. It is recommended to see an orthodontic specialist by age 7.

We definitely treat adults with braces and Invisalign or clear aligners depending on wishes of the patient and severity of the condition.

Orthodontics works by applying light pressure to a tooth in a certain way to move it. Everyone’s treatment is different! Most of our treatments take 18-24 months. Some can take more than that, and some can take less. At your first complimentary appointment, your doctor can tell you the range of time it will take to complete your treatment.

Everyone is different! When you come for your free consultation, we will give you an accurate estimate of how long it will take. Typically, a moderate problem takes 18-24 months to correct. If it is easier, it is faster than that and if it is harder, it is longer in some (but not many) cases.

Each appointment has a specific amount of time associated with it. While some appointments are longer and some are shorter depending on the procedure, we aim for 30 minute visits.

We encourage you to bring your child in for a free consultation at the age of 7! We can prevent many, many problems such as impacted teeth, crossbites, and overcrowding, often saving you a surgery or extractions if we can see you earlier. We do not treat everyone early: the first appointment is to make a plan for when the timing is right.

Our team assists the doctors in making your treatment work the way that it should work. The doctors make the decisions about your treatment, and the assistants help to carry out the prescribed work.

An orthodontist must first become a dentist, going to dental school to learn how to do everything a dentist does. To become an orthodontist, you must go to an extra residency program to learn how to move teeth and jaws, which is called dente-facial orthopedics. It typically takes 10 years to become an orthodontist and is a very challenging academic and laboratory program. In short, orthodontists are dentist who specialize n the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of dental and facial irregularities.

Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that works in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of dental and facial irregularities. An orthodontist aligns the teeth and the bite, preventing later problems that can happen with teeth. Typically, an orthodontist uses braces or clear aligners to straighten teeth and other appliances to align jaws. The end result is a great smile and corrected bite.

There are many, many benefits! Everyone wants to look and feel their best: a great smile is key to great communication and many happy life events. Ease with flossing, creating space if you need an implant, balancing your bite to help clenching, grinding, or cracking your teeth, preventing tooth loss, helping gum health, and lessening tension are just some of the many benefits of adult orthodontics.