I hear great things about you, your staff and your results. I want to be clear; I do not want my daughter to get extractions, screws in her bone or an expander that rips her bone apart. I have already gone for a consult elsewhere and do not agree with any of these methods. Can you accomplish treatment without using these devices or removing teeth?

The answer is yes. I do not use screws in the bone or palatal expanders. I rarely take out any teeth and especially do not want healthy teeth extracted unnecessarily. I have patients here every day with mothers like you who want a second opinion. I listen to what my patients want, and I find your request for less invasive treatment a reasonable goal. Our reputation is well deserved, and I look forward to talking with you. Please call 1-400-4Braces to schedule a complimentary consultation.

I have noticed that my son has bleeding gums from poor brushing. He has braces and has a year of treatment remaining. His orthodontist seems concerned. Should I should end treatment and try later when my son's oral hygiene improves?

It is a difficult decision for me to discontinue active treatment due to poor dental hygiene. I want to get you the finished result as does the parent and child. At my office, my team and I would have frank conversation with you about your son's poor home care. My recommendation could be to continue treatment but leave the wires out for two to four weeks for better cleaning. I would place your son on an antimicrobial mouth rinse to help reduce bacteria levels and high fluoride prescription toothpaste to help prevent white spots. If these measures fail to get the gingivitis under control, then I would recommend temporarily suspending active treatment by removing braces.

I lost my job and can't afford to continue my orthodontic treatment. I want my braces off, but I was told at another office I had to pay to get them removed. I can't afford that fee either. Can you help?

Yes, please call my office at 1-800-4BRACES and I will remove your braces at no charge. I realize that we all sign contracts with good intentions of getting services and outcomes for a fee. Sometimes our financial situation takes a turn for the worse or our priorities change. When this happens, I won't hold a patient in a state of suspended treatment. It is best to temporarily end treatment by removing braces. I advise the patient or parent that since they have already partially paid for my services, they are more than welcome to return to finish treatment once their financial situation improves.

I was a patient of yours 5 years ago and now my son is ready for braces. It’s been a while since I was a patient. Is there still a family discount I can use for my son?

Yes! We reward loyal patients with our “Smile Miles” program. Any patient that I’ve ever treated gets a credit toward future treatment that can be used on other family members. It is a straight forward program focused on affordable care. No prizes or contests here – just lower monthly payments for you! Call Riiana at 1-800-4Braces to see how many Smile Miles you have waiting for you and how they can be used on a family member or yourself!

My son just had his braces removed. He has removable retainers, but I do not think he is wearing them as much as he was instructed to wear them. What should I do?

Your concern is justified. A recent study found that the average patient wears his or her retainers an average of just 7 hours per day, not the 12 to 24 hours recommended. Often, patients do not wear retainers for days. To help prevent relapse of teeth, I provide all of my patients with glued-on wire retainers on the backs of their front teeth in addition to the removable retainers. This means that my patients get double retainers for both upper and lower teeth. These glued-on wire retainers are an extra benefit that I provide my patients in the Four Corners area.

I looked at my teeth in a magnifying mirror, and I noticed some lines on my front teeth. I went to my dentist, and he said they were "craze lines" and are normal for my age. He said no treatment was needed. Should I get a second opinion?

While you are always entitled to a second opinion, your dentist's recommendation of no treatment is supported by research. Most craze lines are not noticeable except under bright light and some magnification. Craze lines are not cracked or chipped teeth. They are shallow changes in a person's enamel. As people age, most get some craze lines. Treatment would be considered too invasive by most dentists because treatment would be caps (crowns) or veneers. I agree with your dentist in recommending what is best for you and your teeth.