Orthodontic FAQ

Orthodontics is a specialty in dentistry that focuses on the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of malocclusion (alignment and relationship of the teeth and jaws), TMJ (jaw joint) disorders, and facial aesthetics and balance.

Orthdontists are dentists who have completed additional years of training beyond dental school in their field of expertise. This training focuses on the correction of misaligned teeth and jaw structures, and improving the beauty and function of your smile.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children visit the orthodontist for the first time at about age 7. However, orthodontic care is available to patients of all ages.

Braces are an orthodontic treatment consisting of wires and brackets that gently move your teeth into the proper alignment to improve your smile. There are several types of braces available to meet your needs. Treatment lengths vary depending on individual patient needs.

If you experience an orthodontic emergency, such as a traumatic injury to your teeth or jaws, we urge you to call our office immediately. We will provide you with any needed instructions on what to do and whether or not you need to be seen as soon as possible by one of our orthodontists.

If a bracket or wire is loosened, please call our office at your earliest convenience. If it is after normal business hours and you have an irritating or poking wire, we recommend using fingernail clippers that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol to clip the end of the irritating wire. You can also use an appropriately cleansed pencil eraser to push a poking wire into a more comfortable position or you can cover the poking wire with wax. Please call our office on the next business day so we can schedule an appointment for you.

Many patients have separators placed between their teeth either at the beginning or over the course of their treatment. If you lose a separator, please call our office during normal business hours to see if it needs to be replaced.

When you first get your braces and sometimes after routine adjustments, you may feel some soreness or discomfort. This is normal and you do not need to worry. You may want to take acetaminophen or another non-aspirin pain reliever if your teeth are sore after adjustment appointments. You may also wish to use a warm washcloth or heating pad to reduce soreness in the jaws.