Treatment

What Does Treatment Involve?

First and foremost, orthodontic treatment involves the patient. To achieve the desired results, the patient must diligently follow our instructions about wearing orthodontic appliances and practice good dental hygiene. With braces, certain foods, like peanut brittle, caramels and bubble gum are off limits - as is chewing ice.

We provide custom-made braces, retainers or other corrective appliances, according to the problem being treated. Whether they're removable or fixed into the mouth, whether they're made of metal or ceramic, all orthodontic appliances have a common purpose-to use gentle pressure to move teeth and jaws into their proper positions. Today's patients benefit from techniques and materials that enhance the comfort of orthodontic treatment.

How Long Does Treatment Take?

Although every case is different, generally speaking, patients wear braces from one to three years. Treatment times vary with factors that include the severity of the problem being corrected and how well the patient follows our instructions.

Patients who brush and floss thoroughly and regularly; avoid hard and sticky foods; wear rubber bands and/or headgear as instructed; and keep their appointments usually finish treatment on-time with good results.

After the braces are removed, most patients wear a retainer for some time to keep or "retain" the teeth in their new positions. We will determine how long the retainer needs to be worn. Most patients remain under our supervision during the retention phase to ensure that the teeth stay properly aligned.