My son has crooked front teeth. Does he need to lose all his baby teeth before he visits an orthodontist?

No, but I do recommend patients lose their lower first baby tooth molars before beginning orthodontic treatment. These teeth usually fall out between ages 8-10 with girls losing them before boys. They are the teeth behind the canines, and the teeth that replace them are called first premolars. I try to have most of my patients’ orthodontic treatment completed in two years or less. I find that in most cases, waiting until the lower primary first molar falls out helps me achieve this time period. I always offer free consultations, regardless of age or number of baby teeth remaining. Please call 1-800-4BRACES to discuss how orthodontic treatment can improve your son’s smile.

My daughter plays softball and recently got hit in the face with a ball. While she is ok, I think she needs to wear a mouth guard to protect her from future injuries that may occur. What do you recommend?

I see a large number of patients with chipped, broken or lost teeth from sports accidents. The American Dental Association recently reported that about 3 million teeth are knocked out each year during sporting events. The report found that 67% of the parents surveyed said that their child does not wear a mouth guard when participating in sports. The report also showed that athletes who do not wear mouth guards are 60 times more likely to damage their teeth than athletes that wear mouth guards. I advise parents to insist that their children wear proper safety equipment while playing sports to prevent potentially painful injuries.

Someone told me that if my child gets braces as a young teenager, he will need braces again as an adult. Is this true?

Retreatment is only needed when retainers are not worn as instructed and teeth shift. If a person’s teeth move too much, a tune-up would be recommended to get them back to the finished result. I provide tune-ups at a reduced fee. Most of my patients who have tune-up treatment only need to wear braces for a year or less. When I finish treatment, I place a double retainer to ensure the most stable result-- a wired retainer glued on the back of both upper and lower front teeth, as well as clear, removable aligner retainers. If you need an orthodontic tune-up, call 1-800-4Braces today for your free consultation.

I had an overbite that was corrected with braces at age 12. My 6 year old daughter looks like she will also have an overbite. What causes an overbite?

The main cause of an overbite is heredity, so if a parent had an overbite, there is a good chance a child will also have an overbite. Another common cause is a prolonged finger sucking habit. A recent study found that 20-30% of the U.S. population has a mild to severe overbite. Overbites are a result of either the front teeth sticking out too far, the lower jaw being too small and too far back, or a combination of both. I have achieved good results on patients with an overbite without removing any teeth. In cases when the overbite is caused by the lower jaw being too small or too far back, I do not recommend extracting upper teeth. While this plan fixes the overbite, it can create a very flat facial profile. For a free consultation, please call 1-800-4Braces.

I went to another orthodontist for a consultation and told him I was concerned about having teeth pulled. He told me that he extracted teeth only when absolutely necessary and that orthodontists who rarely remove teeth are treating all patients all the same. Is this true?

I am an orthodontist who rarely removes teeth, and I can assure you that all patients I treat have an individualized plan for treatment. If an orthodontist wants to extract teeth from you or your child, I always recommend that you get a second opinion from an orthodontist known for not removing healthy teeth so you can make the decision that is best for you or your child. Call 1-800-4Braces for a free consultation.

If I don't wear my retainers for a couple of days my teeth start to move. My friend never wears her retainers and her teeth have not moved. Why is that?

Orthodontists and researchers have tried for years to explain this stability issue and the answer remains the same. We cannot predict with any degree of certainty how stable a person's result with be over a long period of time. We can say that if you wear your retainer for a certain amount of time, your result will be pretty much remain stable. Our bodies are constantly changing, and the forces on teeth are constantly changing, which cause teeth to shift. Teeth shift even if you never wore braces. Orthodontic patients should always wear retainers as instructed to ensure the most stable result possible.

How is it that you treat almost all of your patients without taking out teeth?

I use the H4 passive self-ligation system of braces. This system allows me to use light physiologic force to move the teeth and develop the bony arch that holds the teeth in ways that a decade ago we never dreamed was possible. When a patient has moderate, or even severe teeth crowding, I am able to reshape the anatomy of the bone and make room for all of your teeth so no extractions are necessary. If you have been told that you or your child needs teeth removed for braces, call 1-800-4Braces for a free second opinion and non-extraction option.

I visited another orthodontist who wanted to put screws into my bone to fix my bite and said that a narrow smile was more stable than a wide smile. I like the look of a wide smile. He also told me I would need to wear retainers after braces to keep my teeth straight. If a narrow smile is more stable, then why do I need retainers?

There are no studies that show narrow smiles are more stable than wide smiles. Most patients prefer a wide smile because of the positive impact it can have on their overall appearance. Retainers are always required after braces are removed to ensure stability, no matter the width of the smile. I use the high-tech H4 system of braces to create wide beautiful smiles. I do not use screws or unnecessary appliances and offer straight-forward treatment plans. Call 1-800-4braces for a second opinion and free consultation.

My 7 year old son is getting bullied at school because his front teeth stick out. Should I start braces early to help reduce the bullying?

I am asked your question frequently. Bullying behavior about dentofacial features is widespread and has been for years. Before making a decision about early treatment, I recommend you ask yourself these questions: How bad is the dentofacial problem? How much is the bullying affecting the child? How much is the bullying worrying you as the parent? I do recommend early treatment for psycho-social reasons. When I do this treatment the goal is very specific: align the four front teeth, place a wired retainer behind the teeth, then let the child grow another year or two and reevaluate if further treatment is required.

I’m a parent that always likes to verify the facts. I’ve seen orthodontists advertise that they are board certified or are a provider of Damon braces. How can I find out if this is true?

As both an orthodontist and parent, I believe that doing some fact checking to ensure that a business or service is providing truthful information to the public is a good idea. It’s actually quite simple to check whether an orthodontist is board certified. Just visit americanboardortho.com use the “Find a Board Certified Orthodontist” feature. To check if an orthodontist is qualified as Damon System trained, just go to damonbraces.com and click on find a Damon Braces provider.

I took my child to an orthodontist for a consultation. Before my son saw the doctor he had two x-rays taken, a panoramic x-ray and a cone beam x-ray. I didn’t think this was necessary. Is that typical?

As a parent, I would also express concern with two x-rays during an initial consultation. I understand the need for a recent panoramic x-ray, as that is typically needed for exams. My concern is unnecessary exposure to radiation. I believe a cone beam x-ray or a cephalometric x-ray should only be taken after the initial exam if the doctor feels it is necessary. There should be a difference between protocol for an initial exam and protocol for final diagnosis records. The latter is done after the doctor determines there is a need for additional records and has discussed it with the parent.

I have obstructive sleep apnea. My doctor told me my tongue is too big for my mouth and is causing the obstruction when I sleep. Can this be a result of having four teeth removed when I had braces as a teen?

Yes. Extracting four permanent teeth does reduce the volume of your mouth. In other words, your tongue had to move toward the back of the throat, reducing the airway space. The extractions can be responsible for you now having sleep apnea. Instead of extracting teeth to relieve crowding, I widen the arch of the mouth using the high-tech H4 system of braces. This increases the volume of the mouth and decreases the chances of obstructive sleep apnea. If you want to correct crowding problems without extractions, call 1-800-4BRACES for your free consultation.

My son has a palatal expander to help make room for his teeth and to fix a cross bite. Tonight I turned the expander as instructed and I heard a pretty loud pop. What was that pop?

What you heard was most likely the sound of the palate splitting down the middle. The split also occurs in other bones of the face as well. This is not dangerous and is the purpose of the expander. However, it is not the only way to fix a cross bite. Today, there are much gentler and less invasive means to gain space and fix cross bites. I have not used an expander in almost a decade. If an expander is part of your child's treatment plan, please call 1-800-4braces for a free second opinion.

I am looking for a job, and I feel that my crooked teeth are affecting my chances of getting the jobs that I want. Have you found this to be true?

A recent study asked large companies this question. The companies were asked to look at 100 photos of individuals with all types of smiles and select the ones they were most likely to hire. People with more ideal smiles were selected as being the most likely to be hired. One of the most common reasons is the companies believed they looked more intelligent. Having a good-looking smile can change a person’s perception of you. If you would like to improve your smile and overall appearance, call 1-800-4BRACES for your free consultation.

How do braces move teeth?

The human body is constantly responding to external stimuli. Just like pupils contracting with bright light, braces place an external stimuli, pressure, on teeth. When pressure is placed on a tooth, the bone around it to reacts and reshapes. Bone is resorbed on the side of pressure and added on the side opposite the pressure. This process is called osteogenesis. Teeth move faster and with far less pain if the pressure on the tooth is light. Heavy pressure, like that found in traditional braces, causes more pain and produces slower movement of teeth. In general, the body typically does not respond well to heavy pressure. I use the high-tech H4 system of braces, which allows for gentle tooth movement. Call 1-800-4Braces to find out all of the benefits of H4 braces.

My child needs braces. I had braces for three years as a teen and had a palatal expander and teeth removed. I was disappointed when an orthodontist presented a treatment plan for my child that was almost the same plan I had 20 years ago. Has orthodontic technology changed at all?

I can assure you that technology has improved. You do not need expanders, tooth extractions or prolonged years in treatment. I use new technology, the high-tech H4 system of braces, which allows me to get great results while being far less invasive. My goal is to make the process of orthodontic care as easy for the patient as possible and completed as fast as possible. Not all orthodontic care is the same. Call 1-800-4Braces to find out for yourself how the high-tech H4 system of braces can improve your child’s orthodontic treatment.

I’ve heard that you very rarely remove teeth to correct crowding. Why?

Many orthodontists remove teeth to make room for crowding because it is a relatively easy way to make space. After years of observing this practice, I agree with many other orthodontists that it negatively impacts the profile of the face. You may have noticed this yourself in adults who had teeth removed during orthodontic treatment. Their faces can seem sunken in, their noses can seem longer, their lips can look thinner, and the chin sticks out more. I believe in using a high-tech braces that allow me to create space without removing teeth and give my patients wide beautiful smiles. If you visit an orthodontist who wants to remove teeth, please call 1-800-4Braces and schedule a free consultation for a non-extraction option.

A friend told me I needed to get my top braces and bottom braces on at different times so it’s easier for me to get used to the braces. Is this necessary?

No, there is no need for you to come in twice to get your top and bottom braces placed. Some offices require two appointments for the braces to be placed. There are also additional fees charged at these appointments making your total down payment for braces more than expected. At my office, you can get top and bottom braces the same day as your free consultation! During the month of October, you can start the high-tech H4 System of Braces for just $143 with monthly payments of $189 or less! For a free consultation, please call 1-800-4Braces.

How do I know everything that was promised to me will be kept once I start braces?

Researching the orthodontic office by visiting its website is a good start. I understand that parents are busy and can’t spend a lot of time on the phone, so everything is available on our website. We list information about our fees, payment structure, what to expect at your first visit, how long it will take, etc. Word of mouth from current patients is also a great source of information – your friends will be sure to tell you if there were any hidden fees or surprises along the way. Trust is another element to choosing an orthodontist—it’s important for patients and parents to feel comfortable that their child will have a positive treatment experience.

I am 27 years old and have really crooked teeth and an overbite. What will happen over the next 10 years or so if I do not get my teeth straightened and bite fixed?

If you choose not to get your teeth straightened you will have an increased risk for periodontal (gum) disease because crooked teeth make oral hygiene much more difficult. It is much easier to keep straight teeth clean than crooked teeth. Crooked teeth also have unbalanced forces placed upon them when you bite. This can wear down your teeth and increase the risk of gum disease. A wide, beautiful smile with straight teeth helps people with their self-confidence—especially when meeting people for the first time! Getting straight teeth is easy and affordable. Call 1-800-4braces for a free consultation.