Select a question below
The goal of orthodontic treatment is a beautiful smile and a good bite—meaning straight teeth that contact well with the teeth in the opposite jaw and look great. A good bite makes it easier for you to bite, chew and speak. Many people find a beautiful smile adds to self-esteem, self-confidence and leads toward career advancement. We live in a competitive world and a great smile can give you the edge.
Orthodontic treatment is often part of a comprehensive dental health care plan. With good care, including orthodontic treatment when necessary, teeth can last a lifetime.
Treatment in children or teenagers who are still growing may yield results that may not be possible once the face and jaws have completed their growth.
A healthy bite and good looking smile is as important at age 60 as it is at age 16. Even though adults are no longer growing, they can also enjoy improvements that come from orthodontic treatment. Your age is not a consideration for orthodontic treatment. Healthy teeth can be moved at any age.
Orthodontic treatment is a smart investment in your family, your smile, as well as your dental, physical and emotional health.
Everyone is unique, and each course of treatment has a unique duration. Most patients are treated in around a year to a year and a half. There are certain treatment options that Dr. Guiga is experienced in that can bring a two-year treatment time down to around six months. Feel free to ask about these during your exam.
Treatment costs can vary widely, depending on the patient and case. All treatment plans are customized for each individual and associated costs depend on the severity of necessary treatment,as such we really need to do a full examination before we can tell you the price of the treatment.We have several financing options available which are affordable and convenient.
Our goal is to never let financial constraints get in the way of excellent orthodontic treatment.
Pain is relative. Falling and spraining your ankle? That HURTS! Braces? Not really. The first few days you might feel some soreness, but soon after that there is little to no pain at all. The days of “tightening” braces are over if you are lucky enough to have an orthodontist that uses self-ligating braces or Invisalign.
Absolutely, and often this is the best time to start! So many times we see teens or adults and we say to ourselves “wow, if we could have only treated you before your teens you wouldn’t need extractions, or surgery”. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child be evaluated BEFORE the age of seven for this very reason. Many times, we can just observe the child and treat them once when all of their permanent teeth erupt. However, in many cases we can avoid long treatment times, surgery and extractions by doing an early, “interceptive” phase of orthodontics. This phase focuses on making room for teeth, correcting early bite problems, and improving facial profiles.
Most likely no. For years, most orthodontists extracted four bicuspid teeth as a routine part of their treatment. Dr.Guiga very rarely extracts permanent teeth due to her treatment approach and philosophy of “Face Driven Orthodontics” and “Anti-Aging Smile Treatment”
Generally, your appointments will be about every six to eight weeks.
We have many patients, and they would all like to have their appointments after school or after work. We will try our best to schedule the most convenient appointment times possible. However, occasionally we will need to schedule the longer appointments during school and work hours.
Orthodontists have 2-3 years additional training after dental school that enables them to provide their patients with professional, personalized treatments. Since teeth, and in many cases the entire facial complex, are permanently changed by orthodontic treatment, it is important that the diagnosis be appropriate and that the treatment be properly completed. The difference is in the results.
We request our patients to call us as soon as possible if a change in schedules arises. If the office is closed, you can always text or email us.You can then call back to reschedule or request the office to call you at your convenience. If appointments are canceled in adequate time, patients requesting sooner visits can often be accommodated. The sooner an appointment is rescheduled, the sooner a new appointment can be made which will keep treatment progressing at the rate necessary for a speedy finish.One of the largest causes for extended treatment times is missing appointments.
Are you experiencing EXTREME pain? Is some part of your appliance, or bracket damaged?If so, give us a call right away.
Sometimes brackets come loose – this is not an emergency and often can wait until the next appointment
If you’ve recently had your braces tightened and you’re experiencing some soreness — that is most likely not an emergency. We recommend you take a pain reliever such as Paracetamol.
It will not be easy at first and in the beginning, foods you can eat will be limited. You’ll want have foods that are soft and easily mashed up.
Some foods have a tendency to break appliances and cause a lot of problems during the course of our treatment.
Avoid these items:
Sticky – gum, caramel, peanut butter, toffee, granola bars, frozen candy bars Hard – apples, carrots and other raw vegetables, chewing ice, nuts Crunchy – popcorn, chips, celery Tough – bagels, corn on the cob, sandwiches, steak, ribs
You can cook your vegetables to make them softer, cut your corn off the cob, and slice apples and sandwiches into small, bite-sized pieces
Part of the process of creating your new, beautiful smile is moving your teeth; to move them, they need to loosen up first. “Loose teeth” are a natural part of the process. Once your teeth are in the right place, they will settle into their new position.
It is always important to brush and floss your teeth to keep them clean and healthy – with braces, it’s more important than ever. Consistent brushing and flossing will ensure that your gums and teeth remain healthy throughout your treatment.
You will need an orthodontic toothbrush, a water flosser, interdental brushes and a high fluoride content toothpaste and mouthwash.
Dr.Guiga always recommends her patients to have a professional hygiene every 3 months in order to never have demineralization of the enamel,decay and swollen gums.
You can continue to participate in any sport if you have braces. When playing sports where there is a possibility of getting hit in the mouth, a specially designed mouthguard will need to be worn. The mouthguard, made of durable plastic, is designed to fit comfortably over braces and will protect the soft tissues inside the mouth.
YES!! ALWAYS!
Teeth have a “mind” of their own
Even with the best orthodontic treatment, your teeth will want to move and return to their original place after orthodontic treatment. This is in no way a failure of your orthodontic treatment, but a result of the natural biology of our teeth, bones and gums.
Send us an email