Having straight teeth help ensure the proper function of teeth and healthy smiles. It makes it easier to brush and floss teeth, keeping cavities and gum disease at bay. It also helps you chew food properly and prevents developing TMJ problems in the long run.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children see an orthodontist for an evaluation around the age of 7 years old. This is the best time to detect early signs of bite problems, dental crowding, and skeletal growth patterns. Early treatment may be recommended to prevent or minimize the need for complex orthodontic treatment and tooth extractions in the future.

Most dental insurances cover orthodontic treatment. Our team will gladly help check your insurance coverage and do the paperwork for you.

It is recommended to wear your aligners for 20-22 hours daily for maximum efficiency. Your aligners will only do the work if you're wearing them.

Absolutely! There are no food restrictions while you're on Invisalign treatment. Just remember to remove your aligners before eating to prevent damage.

You may use a soft-bristled toothbrush with lukewarm water to clean your aligners. Never use toothpaste, as it may cause abrasions to your aligners. It is also important that you brush your teeth after each meal before re-inserting your aligners.

Flossing may be more challenging with braces, but you can use oral hygiene aids like interdental floss, floss threader, and water flossers to help remove plaque between teeth and brackets. During your visit to our office, we will guide you on cleaning your teeth with braces efficiently.

Avoid eating sticky (caramel, gums), chewy (bagels, steak), and hard food (whole fruit, nuts) that can cause damage to your teeth or deform the metal components of your braces. Cut fruits that require biting them into small bites.

You may experience poking wires as your teeth shift, and this is totally normal. However, if it causes discomfort, please do not do any DIY fixes. Simply roll a small ball of orthodontic wax and place it on the poking wire until your next appointment at our office.

The duration of how long you should wear retainers varies for every person. In general, you will have to wear retainers all day for 4-6 months, and some will have to wear them during nighttime only. Dr. Hunter will provide instructions about retainer wear on the day your braces come off.

If your retainers aren't fitting, do not force them to fit. If this happens, contact our office immediately. We can adjust your retainers or provide you with new retainers.

If you have lost your retainers, please call our office to schedule an appointment to have some new retainers made to avoid your teeth and/or bite from relapsing (going back to the way they used to be). There is a replacement cost for each retainer that is to be replaced.