Orthodontic care is a long-term investment in your health and well-being. Yet its cost hasn’t increased as fast as many other consumer prices, and many financing options are available that make orthodontic care affordable. Weighed against the true cost of living with problem teeth, however, orthodontic treatment can be a wise investment indeed.

The answer is yes for every orthodontic patient. If you don’t wear a retainer, your teeth can rapidly move out of position and then all the effort put into your treatment is lost! Your retainer helps you maintain that good-looking smile for a lifetime.

It is more important than ever to keep regular appointment with your dentist. Maintaining teeth free of plaque (and potentially, decay) can be challenging when you are wearing braces. Your dentist can help you avoid these problems with frequent cleanings and exams.

Yes, you will. We recommend you wear a mouthguard when playing most sports. Musicians are generally able to play their instruments just as they did before, but they may need a short adjustment period after getting braces.

Yes — you should avoid the food that could damage or become trapped in your braces. Some of these include raw vegetables, hard candy, caramel, taffy and ice cubes (fortunately, ice cream is OK). We will give you a list of foods to avoid.

If your teeth are severely crowded (because your mouth is too small to properly accommodate all of them) — or if you have impacted teeth (teeth that are trapped beneath the gum line) — then extraction may be necessary. In the case of younger patients, early treatment may make extraction unnecessary.

It depends on what’s being done, and how often you need to be monitored. During active treatment, you’ll typically come in to our office once every 4 to 8 weeks.

It is different for each person, but generally the active stage of treatment (that is, wearing braces or other appliances) may take from 6-30 months. After that, a retainer is worn for at least several months more

Orthodontic therapy uses appliances to move the teeth with gentle pressure. When braces are placed, or when adjustments are made, your teeth and gums may feel tender initially. The amount of discomfort varies from patient to patient, but usually does not last for more than two or three days. Nonprescription pain medication can be used during this adjustment period, but are usually unnecessary.

Teeth that are protruding, overlapping or erupting out of position are clear signs that treatment is needed (View Examples here). Abnormal or disordered function such as mouth breathing, frequent biting of the cheek or palate, speech difficulties, and thumb sucking that goes past 3-4 years of age. If teeth don’t meet properly on closure of the mouth may also indicate an orthodontic problem.

You’re never too old to begin orthodontic treatment — but it is better to start at an earlier age, as your problems may be easier to treat. It is recommended that children should be evaluated for possible orthodontic problems at around age 7.

Orthodontic treatment is about making the best of your teeth; it’s about improving the aesthetics and function of your mouth and jaws. Once you can bite together correctly, you can eat more comfortably and care for your teeth and gums more easily. And your smile will benefit immensely!

Orthodontists are dental specialists who diagnose and treat problems with the position, alignment or spacing of the teeth, and related irregularities in the face and the jaw. We use a number of special treatments, including braces and other oral appliances, to correct these problems.