Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Orthodontics?
2. Why choose an orthodontist to straighten my teeth? 
3. What is a board certified orthodontist?  Aren’t all orthodontists board certified?
4. Do I need a referral to see an orthodontist?
5. Are braces necessary?
6. When should I look for orthodontic problems in my children?
7. When is the best time to see the orthodontist?  Do all the permanent teeth need to be in?
8. Who should we bring to our initial consultation?
9. What type of information will I receive at the consultation?
10. What are the benefits of early treatment?
11. How do braces give me straight teeth?
12. Can I straighten my teeth without braces and wires?
13. I’m not a candidate for Invisalign – what can I do?
14. What are Damon braces?
15. What is “instant orthodontics”?
16. Can I get my teeth bleached/ whitened with braces?
17. What are rubber bands?
18. I have TMJ/TMD and am hoping orthodontics will cure me…
19. Am I too old?  Nobody my age has braces.
20. What foods should I avoid with braces?
21. How do I clean the braces?  Do I need a special toothbrush?
22. How long will I be in braces?
23. If my child has Phase I – is there a Phase II?
24. Do I need to have teeth pulled?
25. How long do I have to wear my retainers?
26. What types of retainers are there?
27. Are braces expensive?
28. How does insurance work?
29. What about sterilization?

1. What is Orthodontics?
Orthodontics is a division of dentistry that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of dental and facial irregularities. 

2. Why choose an orthodontist to straighten my teeth? 
Just as there are specialists in medicine (such as anesthesiologists, ophthalmologists, neurologists etc.), there are specialists in dentistry.  There is a difference between an orthodontist and a dentist who does a few orthodontic procedures.
Orthodontists are trained dentists, who after graduating from dental school, continue on in additional full-time university-based education in an accredited orthodontic residency program supervised by orthodontists. That rigorous training lasts 2-3 years and is exclusively focused on orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics.  By learning about tooth movement (orthodontics) and guidance of facial development (dentofacial orthopedics), orthodontists are the uniquely educated experts in dentistry to align teeth and align jaws.

3. What is a board certified orthodontist?  Aren’t all orthodontists board certified?
A board certified orthodontist has completed a graduate program in the specialty of orthodontics that is accredited by the American Dental Association. Completion of an accredited orthodontic specialty program makes the orthodontist eligible to become board certified through the voluntary testing procedure of The American Board of Orthodontics (ABO).  The ABO is the only certifying board recognized by the American Association of Orthodontists and the American Dental Association.  Involvement in the certification process is a demonstration of the orthodontist's pursuit of continued proficiency and excellence.

4. Do I need a referral to see an orthodontist?
Absolutely not!!  Unlike medical insurance, a referral from your general dentist is not necessary to see an orthodontist.  You can make an appointment for a free consultation without any worries.  We love to meet new patients.  If you are new to the area and looking for a dentist, we would also be happy to give you recommendations.

5. Are braces necessary?
No.  But, straight teeth help an individual to effectively bite, chew and speak.  Straight teeth contribute to healthy gums and teeth.  Straight jaws and teeth may alleviate or prevent physical health problems.  Teeth that work better also tend to look better.  An attractive smile is a pleasant “side effect” of orthodontic treatment.  An attractive smile is a wonderful asset.  It contributes to self-esteem, self-image and self-confidence—important qualities at any age.  A pleasing appearance is a important part of self-confidence. A person's confidence often gets better as orthodontic treatment brings teeth, lips and face into proportion. In this way, orthodontic treatment can benefit social and career success, as well as improve a person’s general attitude toward life.

6. When should I look for orthodontic problems in my children?
As soon as their permanent teeth begin to come in, you can start to look for emerging orthodontic problems.  Here are some signs that may be a sign of the need for an orthodontic evaluation:
Early or late loss of baby teeth
Trouble chewing or biting
Crowded or blocked out teeth
Teeth that do not meet at all
Jaws and teeth that are out of proportion with the rest of the face
Habits (like thumb sucking) continued after the permanent incisors come in
Upper teeth that “stick out”
If your child is particularly self-conscious of his/her smile

7. When is the best time to see the orthodontist?  Do all the permanent teeth need to be in?
The American Association of Orthodontists advocates that all children have their first orthodontic screening by age seven.  Drs. Matthew and Courtney Dunn are trained to spot subtle problems with jaw growth and emerging teeth even while baby teeth are present.  The benefit of early detection is that some orthodontic problems may be simpler to correct if found and treated early.  85-90% of the time, we will just supervise the development and growth of your child every 9-12 months until he/she is ready for full orthodontic treatment.

8. Who should we bring to our initial consultation?
It is best to bring all decision makers to the initial consultation.  This provides everybody the opportunity to ask questions and fully understand the orthodontic treatment plan.  We can also better explain our treatment findings and solutions by using visual aids.  If everyone cannot come, we are always available to answer questions via telephone.

9. What type of information will I receive at the consultation?
During the first appointment Drs. Courtney and Matthew Dunn will:
Welcome you to the office
Review your health history
Do a complete orthodontic examination
Summarize your unique orthodontic problems
Explain the options for improvement
Identify the best time to start treatment
Approximate the length of treatment and how much your insurance will cover

10. What are the benefits of early treatment?
Some benefits of early treatment include:
Prevent damaging habits
Lessen possibility of trauma to protruded front teeth
Improve appearance and self-esteem
Correction of issues that lead to unfavorable growth issues
Direct eruption of adult teeth.

11. How do braces give me straight teeth?
Braces use gentle pressure to move the teeth into the optimal place.  The braces have a prescription built into the bracket that has the optimal torque, tip and location for each tooth.  The wire that we use has the “optimum” form of where your teeth should be.  By threading the wire into the brackets, the prescription is expressed and the wire tries to go back to its original form.  Both of these pressures cause the tooth to move in the bone.

Bone is a very dynamic living tissue.  The pressure from the braces causes the bone to resorb to create room for the tooth in the correct position.  At the same time it fills in bone where the tooth was before.
The whole process sounds very complex, but with new wires and technology it is more comfortable than ever.

12. Can I straighten my teeth without braces and wires?
Absolutely.  There are numerous people that are candidates for Invisalign.  Drs. Matthew and Courtney Dunn are Invisalign certified and have been learning about and utilizing this technology since their orthodontic residency.  This is a way to use a series of removable invisible aligners to straighten the teeth without brackets or wires.  This sophisticated technology does not fix all bite problems and candidates for Invisalign should be selected carefully.
We recommend you to pick a provider with formal orthodontic training who can adjust your Invisalign treatment accordingly if things do not go as intended.  Many patients can conclude treatment with only aligners.  Some patients will obtain a better outcome with a combination of a short period of traditional braces to address issues that are difficult for aligners and the bulk of treatment with clear aligners undetectable to the human eye.  An orthodontist has the armamentarium to recommend to you many options for your optimal result.

13. I’m not a candidate for Invisalign – what can I do?
We offer clear (ceramic) brackets that are much less noticeable.  From a distance, people may not notice them or think you are just wearing a retainer.  The technology is advancing at a great pace to make wires less noticeable as well.  Many celebrities such as Fantasia have worn the ceramic braces instead of Invisalign.

14. What are Damon braces?
Damon braces otherwise known as the Damon System is simply one of 30+ brands of self-ligating braces.  Other commonly used brands of self-ligating braces include In-Ovation, Smart Clip, Time3, Vision LP, and Speed.  Unlike conventional braces, these brackets have a built-in mechanism to hold the archwire in place.  Since elastic ties are not used, you cannot select different colors with these brackets.  Years ago it was believed that self-ligating brackets resulted in less pain and decreased treatment times (less time in braces). Unfortunately, recent findings have shown this to simply NOT be true. While self-ligating brackets are still used by many orthodontists for a variety of reasons, studies have shown them to work no better or worse than conventional braces.

15. What is “instant orthodontics”?
“Instant orthodontics” has utterly nothing to do with orthodontics since no teeth are in fact moved.  “Instant orthodontics” is the practice of placing veneers and crowns over the crooked teeth to make them look aligned from the front.  The actual teeth and roots are never actually straightened.  This process is not carried out by an orthodontist but rather by a general/ cosmetic dentist.  Considering that “instant orthodontics” irreversibly damages the teeth and may prevent you from ever having real orthodontic treatment in the future; it is not a decision to be made lightly.  While it is universally well established that these procedures are not advised for kids, leading cosmetic dentists have even begun to question the ethical implications of performing such procedures in adults given the necessity of replacing crowns and veneers every 5-10 years resulting in removal of even more tooth structure.
In addition, be careful of the dentist you pick for such a procedure.  Cosmetic dentistry is not a specialty recognized by the American Dental Association and therefore a dentist does not need any special training to call themselves a cosmetic dentist.

16. Can I get my teeth bleached/ whitened with braces?
No.  You can, however, bleach your teeth before you get braces or when you are completed with braces.

17. What are rubber bands?
Rubber bands are an extremely important part of orthodontic treatment.  Rubber bands are removable elastics that help get the upper and lower teeth to fit in an optimal place.  Brackets alone cannot move your teeth without the steady force of the rubber bands guiding them into place.  It is very important you wear your elastics as directed.  If you don’t wear the rubber bands, orthodontic treatment will take longer and you will probably end up with a compromised outcome.  Most patients only need to wear elastics for 6 months of their overall treatment time.  Isn’t it worth it for the smile of your dreams?

18. I have TMJ/TMD and am hoping orthodontics will cure me…
There is no evidence to demonstrate that orthodontic treatment will alleviate or initiate TMJ/TMD (temporomandibular joint disorders).  It is essential to have your jaw evaluated by a TMJ/TMD specialist first.  After your jaw problems are under control, we would be happy to work on your smile and bite.

19. Am I too old?  Nobody my age has braces.
You are never too old to start orthodontic treatment.  As long as your teeth, gingival and adjacent bone are healthy there is nothing stopping you!  You might be astonished to know that 20% of orthodontic patients are adults.  There are roughly one million adults in orthodontic treatment right now. 

20. What foods should I avoid with braces?
We request that you keep away from crunchy, sticky, chewy, hard and high sugar foods.  These foods tend to catch on the brackets, bend archwires, pull off braces and bands and cause permanent white marks on your teeth.  You can still eat a lot of the same foods, but you may need to alter the way you eat them.  Cutting things up into small pieces and primarily using your back teeth is a good strategy.

21. How do I clean the braces?  Do I need a special toothbrush?
Our motto is “the best toothbrush is the one that gets used”.  For the most part, there is no need to use a special toothbrush, but you do need to spend more time brushing your teeth, brackets and gums.  We also recommend that every patient applies a fluoride based mouth rinse before bed.  We will discuss brushing and flossing when you get your braces and we will always be available for tips and suggestions when needed.

22. How long will I be in braces?
Treatment time will vary from patient to patient and the orthodontist’s treatment estimate is exactly that – an estimate.  The national average is about 2 years, but orthodontic treatment can continue anywhere from 9-36 months depending on the difficulty of the issue and the compliance of the patient.  One should not choose an orthodontic specialist based on the number of months they estimate treatment to take.  Many orthodontists will underestimate orthodontic treatment times just to get you as a patient. 

23. If my child has Phase I – is there a Phase II?
Almost all (~90%) children who go through a Phase I treatment require a 2nd phase of orthodontic treatment.  Research has demonstrated that children who have Phase I treatment do not have a shorter or less complicated second phase of orthodontic treatment.  There will be situations where Phase I treatment is needed to help prevent more serious problems.  If there is any question, bring your child in for a consultation.

24. Do I need to have teeth pulled?
With advances in technology, the need for removal of permanent teeth has been significantly reduced.  In certain situations, however, removal of permanent teeth is still needed to provide the most ideal dental and facial results.  In situations where removing teeth is necessary the spaces will be closed and no one will ever know you had them out.   

25. How long do I have to wear my retainers?
Studies have demonstrated that teeth shift over time with or without braces.  No treatment is absolutely stable.  That is why retainers are a lifetime commitment.  We will ask you to wear your retainers all of the time (24/7) for the first half year, every night for two years and then at least three nights a week for life.

26. What types of retainers are there?
There are many sorts of retainers.  It is important for Drs. Courtney and Matthew Dunn to look at your situation and give you their advice for what is best for you.  Of course, we also want your input.  In general there are 4 styles of retainers:
Invisible retainers (clear trays that cover the teeth)
Hawley retainers (plastic and wire retainers)
Permanent retainers (glued to the inside of the teeth)
Positioners (looks like an upper and lower mouthguard glued together)

27. Are braces expensive?
Orthodontic prices have not increased as quickly as many other consumer products.  The orthodontic treatment fee will vary depending on the severity of the case.  Drs. Courtney and Matthew Dunn will work with you to create a financial arrangement that works best for you.  Dunn Orthodontics offers interest free financing as well as sibling and military discounts.  The average monthly payments may be lower than you think.  We do not want money to get in the way of the smile of your dreams.

28. How does insurance work?
We accept nearly all orthodontic insurances – we can file with any PPO plan.  Do not be fooled by outdated internet provider lists.  Call our office and we can review your insurance benefits before your first appointment.  Usually your insurance will cover a portion of the fee and you will be responsible for the balance.  We are glad to work with your insurance companies to maximize your benefit.

29. What about sterilization?
Our patient’s peace of mind, health and safety are very important to us.  Therefore, we use state-of-the-art sterilization techniques for all of our equipment and surfaces.  Our employees are OSHA educated and follows all guidelines.  If you have any questions about our procedures, please ask.

If you have any other questions about our office or orthodontics in general, call the Dunn Orthodontics office near you and schedule your orthodontic exam and consultation today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dunn Orthodontics is Phoenix, Arizona's preferred Invisalign orthodontist providing Invisalign braces and invisible braces (not the Damon System) to Phoenix, AZ.

Copyright© 2010. All rights reserved phoenix-invisalign.com
Dr. Matthew Dunn - Phoenix Invisalign orthodontist (Matthew Dunn, DDS, MS)
Dr. Courtney Dunn – Phoenix Invisalign dentist (Courtney Dunn, DDS, MS)

Orthodontist website marketing by Prodigy Web Solutions, LLC for Matthew Dunn, DDS, MS (Invisalign dentist in Phoenix, AZ) and Courtney Dunn, DDS, MS (Invisalign orthodontist in Phoenix, Arizona) for Dunn Orthodontics providing invisible braces and Invisalign braces (not Damon braces) to Phoenix, Arizona.

Contact: info@phoenix-invisalign.com

 

 

 

 

 

Litchfield Park Office
5220 N. Dysart Rd #150
Litchfield Park, AZ 85340
TEL: 623.536.4939
FAX: 623.536.4877

Phoenix Office
7550 N. 19th Ave #101
Phoenix, AZ 85021
TEL: 602.864.0004
FAX: 602.864.0070