Orthodontics is the field of dentistry that diagnoses, prevents and/or treats dental and facial irregularities, which can take the form of a bad bite, poor smile aesthetics and/or an imbalance of facial features.

Preventing and alleviating oral health problems is the most important reason for orthodontic treatment. Orthodontic correction of bite problems can prevent tooth decay, gum disease, chewing and digestive difficulties, speech impairment and increased tooth wear. A beautiful smile and the improved self-image that go along with improved appearance is just a great benefit of orthodontic treatment.

No. Orthodontic treatment does much more than just improve a smile. It also improves the alignment and fit of your teeth and jaws. This makes your teeth easier to clean and prevents chewing problems and/or temporomandibular joint problems (TMJ/TMD).

Braces use gentle, directed pressure to guide the teeth into an improved position. Brace brackets are bonded to each tooth like little handles, and an archwire is run through the brackets to provide the gentle force that causes the teeth to move into the desired position. Elastics, headgears, expanders and other appliances are also used to move teeth. We use light forces whenever possible to reduce the discomfort involved in treatment. Also, teeth move faster with lighter forces because a better blood supply is maintained to the teeth.

Yes. Orthodontic treatment is not a substitute for regular dental checkups and cleanings. Regular dental care is very important during orthodontic treatment. We may even suggest that you see your dentist more frequently for cleanings during our treatment.

There are many things that determine how long your or your child’s treatment will take. Bite problems, how quickly your mouth and body respond to treatment, and most important of all, how well you follow our instructions. Your treatment may take as much as two years, or using technology such as the SureSmile process, as little as six months.

Not as much as you probably think they will. Most patients experience some discomfort with the spacers and during the first few days after their braces are put on, or after an adjustment, but some patients say they experience no discomfort at all. After some visits, your teeth may be sore or tender for a few days. Pain medications such as ibuprofen (Advil) or Tylenol will help. Orthodontic treatment doesn’t have to hurt to work!

The cost for braces and orthodontic treatment is determined by the severity of the orthodontic problem and the length and complexity of treatment required to correct it. We fully explain our fees and payment plans at the initial appointment, and we’re always available to answer your questions about your financial arrangements.

Absolutely not! To achieve the best result, we believe that you or your child should have your own, brand new appliances.

Sorry, but there will be a few limitations on what you can eat. We’ll give you complete instructions after your treatment has begun, but in general, we’ll ask you to avoid anything hard, crunchy, sticky, chewy or sugary…in other words, anything that might break or bend your appliances or pull them loose.

We want you to brush after every meal and before bed every night.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child have an orthodontic examination by the age of 7 or earlier if bite problems are seen. Your child may not need treatment at this age, but early detection of some orthodontic problems can help us take advantage of your child’s growth and help your child avoid more difficult treatment later. In many cases, early treatment reduces the need for permanent removal of teeth or future jaw surgery.

No. You may see us at any time you wish. However, we will work with your dentist and provide a report of our orthodontic findings and recommendations. It’s possible we already have a working relationship with your dentist.

Our staff will give you a tour of our office, and you will be seen by Dr. Ingraham. You will be given an examination and, if necessary, photographs and X-rays will be taken. For more information, see our First Visit page.

Phase I Treatment is also called Early Interceptive Treatment. The goal of Phase I treatment is to intercept and treat a moderate or severe orthodontic problem early. The objectives of early treatment may include…

• Correction of skeletal jaw imbalances
• Management of crowding to reduce the necessity for tooth extraction
• Prevention of injury to protruded front teeth
• Elimination of damaging oral habits
• Improvement of your smile and self confidence

No. Some patients require early intervention, but many can wait until most or all of their permanent teeth have erupted. We’ll be glad to set up a complimentary initial examination to determine whether your child would be a candidate for early treatment.

Phase I Treatment may take from 6-16 months, based on the severity of the problem, the degree of correction needed and your child’s cooperation.

In most cases, yes. Early treatment is for moderate to severe problems that are most easily corrected at an early age. Phase II Treatment is often needed once all the permanent teeth have erupted to place the teeth in positions of optimal function, comfort, aesthetics and long-term stability.

We can’t determine this until your child has been examined by Dr. Ingraham. After your child’s initial examination, we’ll be able to answer this question.

Absolutely! About 30% of our patients are adults, and this is true of most orthodontic practices. We commonly treat patients in their 20s, 30s and 40s, but we’ve also had patients in their 50s and 60s. Today, many adults are taking the opportunity to correct orthodontic problems they didn’t have the chance to correct when they were younger. With today’s technology and low visibility braces and aligners, it’s easier than ever for an adult to undergo orthodontic treatment.

Yes. A crowned tooth will move just like an untreated tooth or a tooth with a filling. If you have a missing tooth, or teeth, orthodontic treatment will improve the alignment of your remaining teeth.

Also known as a malocclusion, bad bites are either inherited or acquired.

Inherited (genetic) problems include:

• Discrepancies between the size of the jaws and teeth, resulting in crowding and spacing problems
• Extra or missing teeth
• Jaw growth imbalances (one jaw is longer or shorter in relation to the other)

Problems acquired after birth include:

• Premature loss of primary or permanent teeth resulting in space loss and/or drifting teeth
• Thumb or finger sucking, tongue thrusting and other harmful habits
• Breathing problems caused by enlarged tonsils, adenoids or an airway restriction

We won’t know until Dr. Ingraham examines you, but sometimes teeth do have to be extracted. We don’t like to do this, however, so we’ll do everything we can to avoid extractions and save your teeth. Especially with today’s technology, extractions are not as common as they once were in orthodontic treatment.

Orthodontic problems usually become worse as a person ages, rather than getting better. Rarely, bite problems will correct themselves, but usually they don’t without treatment. The jaws grow from the back to allow for the eruption of the 12-year molars and wisdom teeth, but they don’t grow or widen in the front on their own. In most children, available space grows less as larger permanent teeth erupt.

That will depend on your or your child’s individual needs. Most often, we see patients in braces every 5-10 weeks, but there can be specific situations that require more frequent monitoring. We tailor your treatment to meet your needs, so all we give you are general ideas about treatment until Dr. Ingraham has examined you and determined your treatment needs.

Probably not. We’ll work with you to accommodate your or your child’s schedule as much as possible, but there will probably be times when your appointment will conflict with school or work times. However, since appointments are usually every 5-10 weeks, you won’t have to miss much school or work time.

Yes. We know you’re busy, and we’re happy to help. However, we do ask that you check in with us. There may be occasions when we need to speak with you about your child’s treatment.

Yes. There’s no reason to miss school (or work) after an orthodontic appointment.

Yes, however, please talk to us about your or your child’s activities. For sports, we’ll ask that you wear a mouth guard to protect both your braces and your mouth. We can also provide a plastic lip protector for those who play wind instruments that will cushion your lips from your braces.

Perhaps. If you have a dental plan that also has orthodontic benefits, then your plan will cover some of your costs. Your employer makes the decision as to the extent of dental coverage they offer employees. Not all dental insurance provides orthodontic coverage. Generally, orthodontic insurance has a lifetime maximum benefit. This benefit is paid as a percentage of orthodontic fees until the maximum has been reached.

You can check with your insurance company, or with the benefits manager of your employer, for specific information, or you may request that we do this for you. We’re glad to help you with your insurance questions.

No. Shots are not needed in orthodontic treatment.

Your treatment schedule and appointments will be based on your unique needs and your orthodontic conditions. Most often, we see patients are every 5-10 weeks after the placement appointment. Your case may require more frequent monitoring, and we’ll make appointments accordingly.

Estimated treatment times are based on the average rate of tooth movement for your or your child’s age and orthodontic needs. Please keep in mind that all patients are unique and different. Some patients’ teeth will move at faster rate than others, and all patients respond differently to orthodontic forces.

The single most important factor is determining treatment length is your cooperation! Patients who follow our instructions carefully, who are on time for and keep appointments, who take care of their appliances through excellent hygiene and by avoiding harmful foods and habits, and who wear the elastics or other appliances as prescribed will usually finish on time with excellent results.

After braces come off, some patients’ teeth tend to move back to their original positions. Since we can’t tell which patient will tend towards relapse and who will not, we want you to wear your retainers as per our instructions. Retainers provide stabilization. A permanent lower retainer wire cemented behind the lower front teeth is often used to prevent lower tooth movement. Think of wearing your retainers as insurance for your new smile.

Throughout a person’s lifetime, even if they don’t have braces, their teeth are always moving. For some people, teeth shift more than for others. We can’t predict whether you’ll be one of those patients whose teeth tend to shift, so we recommend that all our patients wear their retainers for as long as possible. After your teeth are stabilized, you may generally wear your retainers only at night.

To protect our patients and ourselves, Dr. Ingraham and our staff wear gloves and masks when we treat patients. Our reusable instruments are sterilized between patients, and our disposable items are thrown away after one use. Our sterilization equipment is tested by an independent service to make sure it performing as it should, and we follow all safety and sterilization guidelines set by the CDC, OSHA and the state.