Question 1

HOW DO I KEEP MY TEETH CLEAN DURING ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT?

Accepted Answer

• Get started: Remove any elastics and discard them (you’ll replace them with new ones after you’re done brushing). If you're using Invisalign remove those as well (obviously :)
 • Floss in between each contact point, and be sure to wipe the floss along each side of the teeth.
 • Rinse, and then check your teeth: Rinse thoroughly. Examine teeth and braces in the mirror and remember to look for any remaining food particles or plaque.
 • Brush each wire: Move top to bottom, and all the way around upper and lower teeth.

• Be gentle, and brush the braces or attachments, teeth, and gum line: We recommend brushing your teeth for at least two minutes, twice daily. That means each quadrant of your mouth gets 30 seconds. Electric Toothbrushes typically have a built-in timer that pulses or beeps every 30 seconds to let you know when to switch areas of the mouth. As you’re brushing, make sure to clean all areas of the tooth. Some people find they get the best clean going tooth by tooth. Keep in mind this time is just a guide, and it might be necessary to brush your teeth for longer than 2 minutes to ensure proper oral hygiene… especially with braces.
 • However, brushing often throughout the day really ensures you're minimizing the risk of cavities, decal, and gum disease. So, don't hesitate to brush more than twice a day!
 • Fluoride concentration: If the dentist or orthodontist feels you are at greater risk of tooth decay, they may increase the fluoride concentration by 
    • (i) prescribing a stronger toothpaste, 
    • (ii) applying fluoride varnish to their teeth two to four times a year when they visit them or 
    • (iii) asking them to use a fluoride mouthwash at a different time than tooth brushing.

• Spit, but do not rinse after brushing: Rinsing after brushing will wash away the fluoride toothpaste which is needed to strengthen your teeth. This dilution effect is why even a mouthwash straight after brushing reduces effectiveness, as it dilutes the fluoride around your teeth.
 • Keep up regular visits: Staying on track with your treatment means that while you see us regularly for orthodontic adjustments, you also need to maintain appointments with YOUR REGULAR DENTIST FOR CLEANINGS.

You can also visit "Videos and Simulations" at the top of this section to review our many videos on taking care of your braces.

Question 2

DO BRACES HURT? WHAT ABOUT INVISALIGN

Accepted Answer

Getting braces put on should not hurt during the actual visit. However, the afternoon or evening after your first appointment will have your teeth and jaws uncomfortable for a few days. Your teeth may also be sore after certain visits or adjustments. In these situations, over the counter pain medications, such as Advil or Tylenol, will ease the discomfort.

Invisalign clear aligners are much more comfortable. Most people report no discomfort at all, although there are a few people who do have some soreness with new aligners. Regardless, Invisalign is a much more comfortable treatment option compared to braces.

Question 3

HOW DO I TAKE CARE OF MY BRACES AND ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCES?

Accepted Answer

It is important to avoid damaging your teeth and braces during treatment.  Chewing on ice and inedible things (like pens, pencils, shirts, sports mouth guards, and fingernails) should be avoided. When eating raw fruits and vegetables it is important to cut them into small pieces. To prevent damaging your braces certain foods should be avoided, including but not limited to the following:
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·         Hard foods such as pizza crust, hard rolls, pretzels, bagels, nuts, chips, croutons, hard candies.
·         Tough meats such as beef jerky and Slim Jims.
·         Sticky foods such as gum, licorice, Sugar Daddies, Tootsie Rolls, caramels, jellybeans and Starburst.
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In addition to taking care of your braces, we expect every patient to have clean teeth. That is why every orthodontic patient who starts comprehensive treatment receives a comprehensive Oral-B Embrace It hygiene kit, which includes an Oral-B Professional Series electric toothbrush.

We have some videos to help you get through your treatment below. You can learn about brushing, what foods to avoid, and how to deal with emergencies by searching the FAQ for the videos or movies.

Question 4

HOW LONG WILL TREATMENT TAKE?

Accepted Answer

Treatment time depends on each patient's specific orthodontic problem. In general, treatment times range from 6 to 30 months, while the typical time frame a person is in braces is approximately 22 months. However, Propel Orthodontics can shorten that treatment time.

Question 5

WHAT IS PROPEL?

Accepted Answer

If the standard treatment time appears to be too long or daunting to you, we offer Propel Orthodontics to speed up treatment by up to 60% (based on the literature). That means your 22 month orthodontic treatment plan could be as short as 10 months!

Question 6

DO YOU OFFER CLEAR BRACES?

Accepted Answer

We want to be the aesthetic alternative to your orthodontic needs, and primarily use ceramic (clear) braces as well as Invisalign clear aligners. Please feel free to set up a consultation to learn more about aesthetic orthodontic treatment.

Question 7

WHAT IS INVISALIGN OR CLEAR ALIGNERS?

Accepted Answer

We offer Invisalign clear aligners for patients who prefer to treat their smile without braces. These teeth-straightening system uses clear aligners that are made out of nearly invisible plastic and, unlike traditional braces, can be inserted and removed for special occasions, eating, and your daily cleaning routines. The aligners are BPA free and so smooth that they don’t irritate your cheeks and gums. If it is determined that clear aligners are available to treat your smile Dr. Phan will digitally scan your teeth and bite so that a series of custom-made aligners can be designed and fabricated. In order for clear aligners to work, patients need to wear them between 18-22 hours a day while balancing their removal for all meals, most beverages, and brushing your teeth. That said, the comfort, esthetics, and level of freedom clear aligners offer makes them a wonderful treatment option for teens and adults.

Question 8

WHAT IS AN INTRAORAL OR DIGITAL SCANNER?

Accepted Answer

Impressions (or molds) of your teeth are a necessary part of your orthodontic treatment and treatment planning, and the traditional way we obtain these impressions is by using a putty or paste that sits in your mouth for a couple minutes. With advances in digital technology we've been able to use a digital intraoral scanner to capture a 3D image of your teeth and jaws. Our iTero ditigal scanner has been able to provide a very comfortable alternative to obtaining the most accurate digital impression of your teeth.

Question 9

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO SEE AN ORTHODONTIST?

Accepted Answer

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that the initial orthodontic evaluation should occur by the time your child is 7 years old. Most children receive orthodontic treatment around their adolescent growth spurt. However, it is important to recognize certain tooth and jaw discrepancies before it's too late. At 7 years old we may be able to correct an underbite, stop thumb-sucking effects, reduce the likelihood of fracturing protruded front teeth, eliminate abnormal swallowing or speech problems and also guide the growth of the jaw and regulate the width of the upper and lower dental arches. Early treatment (or Phase I Orthodontics) may simplify later orthodontic treatment and/or prevent surgery or the need for tooth extractions. Please be aware the Phase I and Phase II/Comprehensive/Adolescent orthodontic treatment address completely different issues, and initiating Phase I treatment does not eliminate the need for Phase II/Comprehensive treatment.

If you're older than 7 years old, then the next best time to visit an orthodontist is now. Contact our office to schedule a consultation with Dr. Phan.

Question 10

DO YOU TREAT ADULTS? AM I TOO OLD FOR BRACES OR INVISALIGN?

Accepted Answer

Adult orthodontics is just as important to Dr. Phan as child and adolescent treatment. We take pride in offering a treatment plan that is tailored to the individual, and that means anyone at any age can obtain the smile they deserve. Don't worry that it's too late to give yourself the smile you deserve. Dr. Phan will consult and detail a simple or comprehensive treatment plan to meet your goals. Don't forget that we are an aesthetic orthodontic office, so you have plenty of clear options whether you wish to use ceramic (clear) braces or Invisalign.

Question 11

WHY DO SOME PEOPLE NEED JAW SURGERY?

Accepted Answer

Orthognathic surgery (also known as surgical orthodontics) is the method of treatment when braces alone cannot correct your specific skeletal problem. Whether the jaws didn't grow enough, or they grew too much, orthognathic surgery is recommended in these extreme cases.

Question 12

WHY IS BOARD CERTIFICATION IMPORTANT?

Accepted Answer

Orthodontics is a specialty field of dentistry that requires an additional 2-3 years of specific training beyond dental school.  Obtaining board-certification through the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) demonstrates that an orthodontist has exceptional expertise in the specialty practice of orthodontics.  The process to become board-certified by the ABO involves a demanding process of multiple levels of elective clinical testing and peer evaluation.  
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Dr. Phan is proud to be a Board Certified Orthodontist and feels the rigorous process made him a significantly better clinician and allows him to provide the absolute best care possible to his patients.

Board Certified Orthodontist, Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics
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