10 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE GETTING ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT

1. What is an orthodontist? An orthodontist is a dentist who, after graduating from dental school, completes an additional 2-3 years of full-time training specializing in orthodontics. They are the most well qualified experts in dentistry for straightening teeth and correcting bites.

   Orthodontists limit their practices to orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics. This means that orthodontic treatment is all they do. Selecting an orthodontist who is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) (www.braces.org) is your assurance that you have chosen an orthodontist.

2. What does it mean to be board certified? A board certified orthodontist is a dentist who has completed an American Dental Association accredited graduate program in the specialty of orthodontics and continues to qualify his/her credentials by successfully completing a rigorous certification process. After completing a comprehensive written examination, the orthodontist must select cases that will be presented to and evaluated by a board of expert examiners within a 5 year timeframe.

   Dr. Darvish is a board certified orthodontist who received her specialty training at Harvard University and has practiced orthodontics for nearly a decade. Dr. Darvish’s experience includes early treatment for younger kids, treatment with braces for adults and adolescents, and Invisalign treatment for adults.

3. Why is orthodontic treatment important? Besides enjoying the increased confidence that comes with a beautiful new smile, straighter teeth are easier to keep clean and healthy.  Crooked and crowded teeth may contribute to conditions that not only cause tooth decay, but also eventual gum disease and tooth loss. Other orthodontic problems can contribute to abnormal wear on tooth surfaces, inefficient chewing function, excessive stress on gum tissue, or misalignment of jaw joints. Obtaining orthodontic treatment to address these problems can not only help avoid unnecessary pain and discomfort, but it can also be much less costly than treating the various problems that can result down the road.
4. Is there a “right time” for treatment? Although orthodontic treatment is possible at any age, there is an ideal time when the most conservative techniques will produce the best results. Dr. Darvish is specifically trained to determine this ideal time. Skeletal (jaw size) discrepancy treatment must be initiated while there is enough growth remaining. Otherwise, compromises and compensations will be needed. For example, patients with narrow upper jaws should seek early treatment to undergo orthopedic expansion to create more room for tooth alignment and a broader smile. Expansion has to happen at the right time and will not be successful if initiated too late. This is one of the reasons why Dr. Darvish recommends early evaluation.
5. Can adults benefit from orthodontic treatment? Absolutely! Orthodontics is not just for children any more. Adults have many treatment options available from Invisalign® to full comprehensive treatment. In fact, about 20% of Dr. Darvish’s patients are adults. Many adult patients are finding out that it’s not too late to obtain a healthy and attractive smile.
6. What is Invisalign®? Invisalign® is a clear alternative to metal braces that is a popular treatment option among Dr. Darvish’s adult patients. Invisalign® straightens your teeth with a series of clear, virtually invisible custom-molded aligners. They are comfortable to wear and remove easily when you eat, brush, and floss.
7. Does Invisalign® work as well as traditional braces? Invisalign® works well for certain cases. If your bite is correct and you have minor crowding or spacing, then Invisalign® works very well. Since Invisalign® is a relatively new technology, there’s a wide variance in the treatment outcome depending on the practitioner’s experience with Invisalign®. So if you are interested in getting Invisalign®, be sure to go with someone who has lots of experience treating patients with Invisalign®. Dr. Darvish has had the privilege of treating hundreds of patients with Invisalign®.
8. How long does treatment take? Due to the many technological advances available today in the orthodontic field, such as Invisalign® and Speed brackets, many patients are enjoying significantly shorter treatment times. While treatment times vary from case to case, many of Dr. Darvish’s patients’ cases are completed in just 12-18 months.
9. How much does it cost to get an evaluation? Dr. Darvish offers complimentary examinations for new patients. Children should be evaluated by age 7 to find out if they would benefit from early treatment or if treatment is needed at a later time. Dr. Darvish has a complimentary observation program, where the eruption of teeth in young patients is monitored until the ideal start time is determined.
10. How much does treatment cost? ND Orthodontics makes orthodontic care affordable for your family. In addition to our complimentary examinations, we offer flexible, interest-free payment plans, generous family discounts, and we accept most major insurance plans. We are experts at helping our patients maximize their available insurance benefits. We also pride ourselves in assisting our patients plan in advance to maximize the benefits of their Flex Spending Accounts. We also gladly accept all major credit cards-Visa, Mastercard, and American Express.

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