Orthodontics

General orthodontics is the treatment option we build most of our care around, and it simply means correcting the position of the teeth and the way the upper and lower jaws fit together. That covers crowding, gaps, overbites, underbites, crossbites, open bites, and teeth that have drifted after a baby tooth was lost too early. It is comprehensive care rather than a single product — we look at the whole bite, not just the teeth that show when you smile.

We treat both children and adults, and the right approach changes with age. For younger patients, growth is an advantage, and appliances like expanders, the Herbst, or the Carriere Motion Appliance can guide jaw development or correct a bite relationship before or alongside braces. Space maintainers hold room for permanent teeth when a baby tooth is lost early, which often reduces how much correction is needed later. Teens and adults typically move straight into braces or aligners. Adult treatment is common in our offices, and the mechanics are the same — teeth move at any age, as long as the supporting gums and bone are healthy.

Most people come to us deciding between fixed appliances and removable ones. Traditional metal braces are the workhorse: durable, effective across nearly every kind of case, and never dependent on remembering to put something back in. Ceramic braces work the same way with tooth-colored brackets that blend in, which appeals to adults and older teens who want a lower-profile option but still need fixed appliances.

Clear aligners, including Invisalign, move teeth with a series of removable trays. They come out for meals and brushing, which many patients prefer, but they only work when they're worn consistently — usually 20 to 22 hours a day. That tradeoff matters. During your consultation, a board-certified orthodontist will look at your specific bite and tell you honestly which options can achieve the result you want, rather than steering you toward one system.

A few things worth knowing before you start:

• Treatment time varies with the complexity of the case, and we'll give you a realistic estimate at your consultation rather than a generic number.
• Sore teeth for a day or two after adjustments or a new set of aligners is normal and manageable.
• Braces call for more careful brushing and flossing, and for avoiding hard and sticky foods that can damage brackets.
• We accept orthodontic transfer patients, so an unfinished case from another practice doesn't have to start over.
• If you play sports, a sports mouth guard protects both your teeth and your appliances.
• Broken brackets, poking wires, and lost appliances happen; we handle orthodontic emergencies so small problems don't stall your progress.

Insurance, Payment, and Financing

We file insurance claims as a specialist, which matters because orthodontic benefits are often handled separately from general dental coverage. We accept all major PPO plans and will help you understand what your policy covers before treatment begins.

If you're paying on your own, we welcome self-pay and cash patients and offer flexible financing and affordable payment plans so treatment can be spread out over time. We also accept HSA and FSA funds, which many families use to cover a meaningful share of their cost.