An orthodontist is a dentist specializing in orthodontics to diagnose, treat, and prevent improperly aligned teeth and jaws. Our doctors have completed many years of medical schooling to practice orthodontics.
After schooling, a dentist can receive either a DDS or DMD degree. DDS stands for Doctor of Dental Surgery, and DMD stands for Doctor of Dental Medicine. There are other specializations that a dentist may go to school for:
- Oral and maxillofacial (includes pathology, radiology, and surgery)
- Endodontics (field in root canals)
- Periodontics (specialization in gum disease)
- Prosthodontics (specialization in dental implants)
Orthodontics is a dentistry specialty that diagnoses, prevents, and corrects improperly aligned teeth and jaws.
Orthodontic treatment makes permanent changes to your teeth and sometimes even the shape of your face, so only an orthodontist must address these changes. They have the education, training, and experience to provide their patients with great care for the right results.
While general dentists often refer their patients to a trusted orthodontist, you do not need a dentist referral to schedule your initial consultation with us.
If you are interested in high-quality orthodontics in New Jersey for yourself or your teenager, find one of our state-of-the-art practices closest to you and either call or send us an email:
- Bayonne, NJ
- Cherry Hill, NJ
- Cliffside Park, NJ
- Deptford, NJ
- Lawrenceville, NJ
- Paterson, NJ
- Toms River, NJ
- West New York, NJ
- West Orange, NJ
- Langhorne, PA
Our friendly staff will happily schedule an appointment time and ask for some basic information from you.
An initial orthodontic consultation is a fact-finding appointment. You will fill out some light paperwork to help the orthodontist understand your oral health history and get a good idea of your treatment goals. We will take x-rays to get a complete picture of what’s going on in the patient’s mouth unless the patient can provide recent x-rays from the general dentist. The orthodontist will then examine the mouth to see how the teeth align and perform.
Once all the information has been gathered, it will be time to start discussing the treatment plan options, including an estimation of how long the treatment will take and a quote of the cost of treatment. A parent or legal guardian must be present if the appointment is for a minor child.
Unfortunately, no. Teeth tend to grow more crooked with age, not less. Biting down with poorly aligned teeth can encourage them to shift even farther from their ideal position.
The length of treatment depends on each patient’s orthodontic problems, but it typically ranges from eight months to two and a half years. The best way to have the shortest possible treatment time is to follow the orthodontist’s instructions to a T.
Appointments vary depending on the patient’s needs, but most patients with braces will come every eight to ten weeks.
After orthodontic visits, particularly ones involving adjustments to braces, your teeth may be sore for a few days as they get used to the change. Advil or Tylenol can ease the discomfort. Wires and brackets may sometimes rub against the inside of the cheeks and create soreness, but we can trim wires when necessary, and orthodontic wax is also a great solution.
At My Orthodontist, we base treatment for children on the simple but essential philosophy of what is best for the child. Unfortunately, many practices consistently treat orthodontic issues with two-phase treatment when one phase would suffice.
At times, two-phase treatment can be detrimental to the patient. Detriments include:
- Extended treatment time
- No different results compared to single phase
- It doesn’t prevent the need for future extractions or surgery
- Greater risk of tooth decay, decalcification, and root resorption
Our years of experience and training show:
- 90% of cases can be treated effectively in one phase
- 84% of crowding cases resolve with one treatment phase or space maintenance
- Some early treatment can relapse, making phase two a duplication of treatment
- There are times when early treatment or two-phase treatment is necessary. Please schedule a consultation with us so we can develop the appropriate treatment option for your child.
No patient is too old to wear braces! A quarter of all orthodontic patients are out of their teens, so don’t feel like you missed your chance for a beautiful smile just because you didn’t get braces in high school!
The only difference between brushing with braces and without is that there are many more nooks and crannies for food to get stuck and plaque to build up. We highly recommend being thorough as you brush, and don’t forget to floss!
The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that a child’s first orthodontist appointment be at the age of 7. For most patients, this isn’t the beginning of treatment. Still, it does allow the orthodontist to set a baseline to monitor growth and development and plan for the absolute best time to begin treatment (if needed).
If a bracket breaks, you should call our office immediately to schedule an emergency appointment. We can usually reattach or replace the bracket quickly. Be sure to do something about a broken bracket before your next regular appointment, as this could harm your treatment.
Some foods you should avoid while your braces are on include ice, hard candy, raw vegetables, and all sticky foods (such as caramel and taffy). Instead of eating apples and corn on the cob, you’ll have to stick to apple slices and kernel corn. Eating banned foods is the easiest way to break a bracket, which can also harm your teeth.
Absolutely! Regular orthodontic care and dental checkups are always necessary, especially with braces. Your dentist will tell you how often to come in during orthodontic treatment.
Here at My Orthodontist, we accept most insurance and PPO plans but check with us to ensure yours is included. Call our office at (855) 776-9678 for more insurance information. Make sure you have your insurance information handy when you call. Also, plan to pay your co-pay or deductible portion at the time of service.
For your convenience, here at My Orthodontist, we accept checks, cashier’s checks, Visa, Master Card, AmEx, and Discover. If none of these payment methods suits your needs, we also provide payment plans through our office or third-party financing through Care Credit. We also offer discounts for those able to pay in full at the time of service. If you have any more questions regarding payment methods, please call us at (855) 776-9678, and we’ll do our best to find the right solution.
