An orthodontist is a dentist who has completed two to three years of additional advanced training to earn a certificate to practice orthodontics as a specialist. Orthodontists are also required to undertake continuing education courses to stay up to date on advancements in the field.
Dr. Bronsky and his associate doctors have all completed accredited orthodontic residency programs and have performed original research in the field.
Dentists (also known as general dentists) are skilled and knowledgeable in the area of crowns, veneers, and overall oral health. However, they have not completed orthodontic residency programs or gained any form of orthodontic accreditation.
Orthodontists have specialty training in tooth movement, surgical orthodontic treatment, dentofacial deformities, and more. Additionally, orthodontists take a comprehensive approach by evaluating not only the teeth, but the jaw bones and joints, gums, facial esthetics, and all surrounding oral and facial structures.
An orthodontist is specifically trained to determine which orthodontic treatment will work most effectively and provide a level of care that optimally ensures long-term dental health and dental facial esthetics.
The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that children have an initial orthodontic evaluation by the age of seven.
The AAO says “By age 7, your child has enough permanent teeth that an orthodontist can spot a problem before it becomes … well, a bigger problem.”
In the evaluation, we determine whether the patient’s growth needs to be modified to eliminate jaw growth discrepancies, prevent the potential for impacted teeth, and optimize long-term health and stability.
Two-Phase treatment is a modern, evidence-based, orthodontic treatment method that involves utilizing two separate periods of orthodontic treatment: one during childhood (Phase I) and one during adolescence (Phase II), in order to optimize the patient’s growth potential.
In Phase I, orthodontists are able to modify the growth of the skeletal foundations while the child’s bones are growing and malleable. The timing of this modification is critical as there is only a specific window of time when it can occur to avoid corrective jaw surgeries, jaw bone discrepancies, tooth extractions, and tooth impactions later in life.
Phase II focuses on aligning the teeth with braces or clear aligner therapy (commonly called Invisalign®) to establish a functional, healthy, esthetic, and stable bite and smile.
When the bite, teeth, bones, and gums work in harmony, the results will last a lifetime.
No. Some growing patients may only require Phase II treatment because their skeletal foundations are properly proportional. Every patient is unique and we tailor treatments to each person’s individual needs.
Most often no. There is no scientific evidence that suggests that the third molars (wisdom teeth) cause crowding or orthodontic relapse.
There are other reasons why a patient may need their wisdom teeth removed. Often, wisdom teeth do not have the space to properly erupt which can cause the impaction of teeth, partial eruption, and occasionally crowding.
In these scenarios, an orthodontist will refer the patient to an oral surgeon for wisdom tooth evaluations and/ or extractions to decrease the risk of infection or damage to adjacent teeth.
You may be! There are many reasons why people of all ages and walks of life may seek orthodontic care:
All in all, orthodontic treatment can improve long-term oral health and overall physical health.
No! Many people think orthodontics is only for children, but about half of our patients are adults. With healthy bone support, teeth can be successfully moved at any point in life.
Also, with advancements in technology, metal brackets are no longer the only means to move teeth, leading more adults to seek orthodontic treatment.
The fee for orthodontic treatment varies depending on the severity of the problem, treatment duration, and complexity of the case. We are pleased to offer several payment options commensurate with individual needs.
It depends upon your insurance policy. We will do everything possible to help our patients receive due benefits from their respective insurance carrier or benefits program.
Patients are mostly comfortable throughout orthodontic treatment. However, there are times when patients can expect to experience some discomfort.
When treatment begins, it takes time for the bones and teeth to respond to the initial force placed to the teeth. Patients can expect to be in slight discomfort for about 3-5 days following the initial application of orthodontic appliances and after periodic wire adjustment appointments.
Eating a soft diet and alternating between Advil® and Tylenol® as needed should help to relieve the discomfort. Additionally, orthodontic wax will be provided to prevent soft tissue abrasions.
Orthodontic appliances will not drastically affect your lifestyle, but there will be a short adjustment period while you get used to your new appliances.
Depending on which orthodontic appliance is chosen for your treatment plan, there can be different lifestyle considerations and/or adaptations:
Yes. Regular visits with your dentist are essential and may need to occur more frequently. It is important for your teeth and periodontal health (bone and gums) to be monitored throughout orthodontic treatment.
It depends on the individual. Although minor tooth movement may be resolved in a year or less, complex cases may take two or more years.
No. Retainers are designed to keep teeth in their new positions after active orthodontic treatment. They are not meant to move teeth.
Typically, patients wear a retainer full-time for three months following active orthodontic treatment. Thereafter, patients wear retainers nightly and at home for nine additional months. After the first year following treatment, retainers will be worn during sleep hours indefinitely.
We also suggest that retainers are worn while exercising, playing sports, and weight lifting. Full-contact sports, however, may require a molded mouthguard.
Clear aligner orthodontic appliances (commonly called Invisalign®) are smooth and comfortable to wear. Some adjustment time may be necessary after appliance activation. Tylenol® and/or Advil® are usually sufficient to relieve any discomfort.
Depending on the complexity of the case and the patient’s compliance, clear aligner orthodontic treatment can be an option for some teens and growing patients. Please contact our office to see if you are a good candidate for orthodontic clear aligner therapy.
X-rays are crucial to accurately diagnose and treat patients. Without X-rays, orthodontists only see what is on the surface, which is only ~⅓ of the tooth. We must see what is within the bone to safely move the teeth and modify growth accordingly.
X-rays are used to:
We are happy to explain to patients why we are taking x-rays for their specific case and answer any questions for those with apprehensions.
For most patients, attachments are needed. Attachments (tiny bumps of composite resin that are placed onto teeth during clear alignment therapy) allow us to rotate, torque, and bodily move teeth in a more controlled manner. Without attachments, orthodontic tooth movement is not controlled and/or predictable. However, we often can individually design the attachments to account for patient preferences without compromising care.
Orthodontic elastics (rubber bands) are not always needed, but can be utilized to create an ideal bite.
Having a stable, healthy bite has been shown to help to prevent Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMD) and symptom flare-ups.
However, orthodontic tooth movement has not been proven to cure, alleviate, or cause TMD.
TMD is a complicated disorder that can wax and wane throughout life and has many etiologies. We recommend seeking care from a board certified orofacial pain specialist (TMJ) specialist if you are experiencing TMD pain or symptoms.
Orthodontists should not begin treating a patient until the TMJ is stable and a TMJ specialist clears the patient for treatment.
Maybe – it depends on your skeletal foundations, treatment goals, and preferences.
We’ve treated many patients with jaw and bite issues without the need for orthognathic (jaw) surgery. Certain movements and changes can occur with orthodontic tooth movement alone.
Additionally, with the development of the Two-Phase orthodontic treatment approach for children, many issues that were previously treated surgically are able to be prevented with early intervention while the child is still growing.
However, if there is a discrepancy in the jaw position that cannot be solved by dental movement alone and/or growth modification as a child, treatment may include jaw surgery. We are proud to have a trusted community of skilled surgeons we work with regularly.
We understand this can be a scary and overwhelming commitment, and we will be there to guide our patients every step of the way on their surgical journey if that is what their treatment entails.
We recommend waiting 3 months after orthodontic treatment and all orthodontic appliances are removed before whitening teeth. If whitening is performed while orthodontic appliances remain, teeth will appear darker in the areas where the orthodontic appliances/attachments were positioned.
If a child or teen requires tooth replacement with an implant restoration, then the implant cannot/ should not be placed until the patient has reached full physical maturity.
However, if you are an adult with no future growth potential, then implants may be placed during orthodontic therapy to allow for osseointegration and reduce overall treatment time.
We strive to create the most functional, healthy, and esthetic smile possible. To move teeth in a healthy and safe manner, it is essential to place light and continuous force on teeth. Additionally, it takes bones approximately 3 months to remodel to ensure stability over the long term.
As a result of these factors, it often takes longer than 3-6 months to move teeth safely while preventing relapse in the future. We are always honest and open with our patients about their treatment timelines, and happy to answer any questions about why their specific treatment is a certain length of time.
