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 dentist said I had a suspicious looking area on the chewing surface of my tooth that may be a cavity. What is the chance of this spot turning into a cavity?

A recent study on this question shows that the chance of this spot turning into a cavity is rare. However, this assumes that the patient has reasonably good oral hygiene habits and is not overloading his or her diet with sugared food or drink. My recommendation is to always monitor suspicious looking areas and concentrate efforts on preventing this spot from turning into a cavity by stressing the importance of good home care and reducing a person's exposure to sugar.

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 just got a mail advertisement from an orthodontist. It features a patient who says she got braces at age 7 to correct her cross bite. Is age seven too early?

It is best to correct a cross bite early. There are two types of cross bites: anterior cross bite, better known as an under bite, and a posterior cross bite. A posterior cross bite is when the upper back teeth bite inside of the lower back teeth. It can be on just one side or on both sides. The goal is to correct the cross bite in a year or less through braces, take off the braces, and let the child resume growth for another year or two. I find that most cross bites can be corrected with upper braces only. I correct almost all cross bites without using invasive palatal expanders. If you think your child has a cross bite call 1-800-4Braces for a free consultation.

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.