FAQs

The answer will vary because no two cases are alike.

Shorter cases in younger patients can take 6-9 months, most intermediate cases can take 9-15 months, and comprehensive treatment lasts from 18-24 months. We finish many cases in less than 18 months, however, certain cases may take significantly longer.

This refers to orthodontic treatment when all permanent teeth are erupted (all of your adult teeth have come in and you no longer have any baby teeth). It is more commonly used when a Phase I treatment was not performed.

Two-phase treatment is not a clever way for orthodontists to get you into two sets of braces, we promise.

Two-phase treatment simply means that there will be two separate parts to your orthodontic treatment. Though slightly more funds and time are involved, we assure you that this does not double the cost and treatment time for you. Though we try to avoid this when possible, in many cases, it is needed for the best end result.

Phase I treatment is aimed at intercepting a moderate or severe orthodontic problem early in order to reduce the severity or eliminate it. These problems most often include crossbites (of the front or back teeth) and crowding. Phase I treatment takes advantage of the early growth spurt and turns a difficult orthodontic problem into a more manageable one. This can also greatly help self-confidence in a young child who is being teased or embarrassed by the position of his or her teeth. This phase of treatment usually begins while the permanent front teeth are erupting (typically around the age of 8-9). We usually recommend this treatment when waiting could cause orthodontic problems or social problems to worsen.

Phase II treatment will occur after all permanent teeth have completed eruption (no more baby teeth are present). This serves to complete proper alignment which cannot be achieved with baby teeth present. In our office, this phase of treatment is significantly discounted due to the expense of Phase I treatment.

Does everyone need Phase 1 treatment?
Absolutely not! Only certain orthodontic problems require early intervention. In fact, most of our patients are able to wait until most if not all of their permanent teeth erupt to begin their orthodontic treatment.

If Phase 1 treatment is recommended, can I wait until my child is older?
This is not recommended. If your child needs Phase I treatment, this usually means that they have a difficult problem that requires attention now. If no orthodontic action is taken, treatment options become limited, more difficult, and the long-term stability may be compromised. In addition, it may lead to extractions, jaw surgery and increased costs.

NEVER! While adult teeth sometimes move a little slower than children’s teeth, you are never too old to benefit from braces.

A large portion of Dr. Chad Carver’s practice is devoted to adult orthodontic care. In fact, he has several patients in their 50s, 60s, and even 70s!

Extraction treatment means that permanent teeth need to be removed. The two most common reasons are to relieve severe crowding and to allow the front teeth to be pulled back if a patient’s teeth and profile are too protrusive.

Non-extraction treatment is accomplished by expanding the arches in order to make room for all of the permanent teeth. It is less common to have permanent teeth extracted with today’s orthodontic techniques, but still may be an option in your treatment. Our first choice is to not extract permanent teeth, but our greater purpose is to give you the best result possible.

We will carefully evaluate your case and recommend the decision that gives you the smile you deserve!

Absolutely! When teeth are missing, the teeth on each side of the space will tend to drift into the empty space creating a number of problems.

These open spaces between the teeth are unattractive and can detract from your smile. Additionally, tipping of the teeth can lead to problems with function and recession of the gum tissue. Orthodontic treatment will correct and prevent these problems and will also provide proper alignment for your dentist to replace the missing teeth.

Even if their front teeth are straight, there may still be underlying bite issues that need to be determined by an orthodontist.

Conversely, there are some problems that look intimidating and complex which will resolve on their own. Our initial exam is complimentary and we would be more than happy to offer our honest recommendations.

• Do you feel embarrassed when smiling or laughing?
• Do you have trouble chewing or biting your cheek?
• Is it difficult to clean between your teeth or do you frequently get food caught between your teeth?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then orthodontic treatment can help.

No. Treatment with Invisalign® is almost always the same as the cost would be for comparable treatment with braces – and sometimes even less! In addition to Invisalign®, we offer other types of clear aligners that can be used for more limited tooth movement. These cost even less than Invisalign®.

No. Your treatment fee will include any retainers that are needed to hold your teeth in their new position. It will also include one additional set if needed. Afterwards, there is a small charge to repair or replace a broken or lost retainer.

Yes. We know you will be so happy with your smile that you will want your immediate family members to have one too. For each additional immediate family member, we will provide a discount.

Some of our patients choose to pay in full for orthodontic treatment and can receive a large discount. However, most patients choose to finance their orthodontic treatment over the course of several months or even years. We will help customize a solution for your financial needs.

Yes. Orthodontic treatment almost always qualifies for FSA reimbursement. If your employer offers an FSA, let us know and we will verify your eligibility and help you get started.

No. The price you pay for your orthodontic treatment covers everything we do to complete your treatment. It even covers your retainer adjustments for a year after your treatment is complete.

1. Removable:
Trays can be removed so that it’s easy to eat, brush, and floss during treatment

2. Comfort:
They are much smaller, smoother, and more comfortable than traditional metal braces so patients experience less gum and cheek irritation

3. Gentle tooth movement:
Invisalign® exerts less force on teeth so patients experience less pain after each adjustment

4. Aesthetic:
Invisalign® braces are clear and almost totally invisible so most people will not even know you are wearing them (unless you tell them, of course!)

5. Effective:
While traditional braces work wonderfully to straighten teeth, Invisalign® technology is rapidly evolving and can effectively treat a large number of orthodontic problems. Approximately 70% of all orthodontic patients can be treated with Invisalign® instead of traditional braces. There are even some situations where Invisalign® is an even more effective option than traditional braces, such as open bite cases.

See actual patient’s Invisalign® stories.

6. Fewer office visits:
Invisalign® patients are seen approximately half as many times as patients undergoing traditional braces. In fact, the average Invisalign® patient is seen approximately 8-10 times in total versus 14-16 times for regular braces. This is really great for busy teens and working adults who find it difficult to take time off.

7. Shorter office visits and evening appointments:
Invisalign® appointments are approximately 25 minutes versus 45 minutes for traditional braces. As the appointments are shorter, it is easier to schedule these appointments in the evening during the school or work day.

8. No dietary restrictions:
Eat what you want when you want. Unlike traditional braces that cannot be removed, you can remove the Invisalign® trays when you eat and thus do not have to avoid certain trouble foods like popcorn, gum, nuts, apples, or even sticky candies!

9. Fewer emergency appointments:
Traditional braces have brackets that can break, wires that can poke, and elastics that can come off. Invisalign® is not permanently glued into your mouth and does not have any small, fragile components that can break off.

10. Digital smile simulation:
At Stellar Family Orthodontics, we can take a 3D scan of your teeth and provide you with a digital smile simulation of what your teeth will look like with Invisalign®.

11. Dedicated Invisalign® Center:
Stellar Family Orthodontics has dedicated Invisalign® treatment rooms where adults can get treatment in comfort and privacy.

1. Successful Invisalign® treatment is dependent on wearing the trays for at least 22 hours a day. Simply put, if you don’t wear the trays, then Invisalign® won’t work. It’s not like traditional braces where the braces are glued onto your teeth and are at work 24 hours a day from the moment you get them on to the moment they are taken off. If you do not think that you will remember to wear the aligners, then Invisalign® may not be the right fit for you.

2. Not everyone is an Invisalign® candidate. Certain types of tooth movements which are easy in traditional braces can be complicated with Invisalign®. The opposite is also true – certain cases are treated more effectively and faster with Invisalign® compared to traditional braces. A consultation with our providers is the best way to find out if Invisalign® is right for you.

The first step in getting started with Invisalign® is to book a free orthodontic consultation. At this appointment, we will assess whether you are a good candidate for Invisalign®. We may take a 3D iTero scan of your teeth and show you a simulation of how your teeth will look after your completed Invisalign® treatment. At this appointment, we will also explain each step of the process to you and answer any questions you may have.

Are you curious about Invisalign®? We can guide you through the process from start to finish. Give us a call to schedule a FREE Invisalign® consultation. We look forward to meeting you!

Invisalign® First is used for making various corrections in the positioning of a growing jaw with unique features for dental arch expansion and creating room for incoming teeth.

Invisalign® First can be used to address various orthodontic conditions, such as:

• Arch development
• Expansion
• Spacing/crowding
• Aesthetic alignment and crossbite correction
• Overbite, tooth protrusions or interferences

Invisalign® First works by expanding and contouring your child’s jawline through what is known as dental arch expansion. Dental arch expansion involves pushing your child’s teeth over time to increase the width of their dental arch.

The procedure for dental arch expansion starts with a consultation to determine if your child is an appropriate candidate for Invisalign® First. If approved, we can begin taking pictures, x-rays, and impressions of your child’s smile that same day. Information from the imaging, x-rays, and impressions will go to an Invisalign® laboratory where custom Invisalign® First aligners (trays) will be made for your child.

It will take a few weeks until the custom aligners are created. Once the aligners are ready, your child will be scheduled to come back to Stellar Family Orthodontics so we can custom fit the aligners to their smile. Over time, the trays will improve your child’s tooth position and help the growth of their jaw.

Depending on your child’s needs, they may require a full pair of aligners or just one arch alignment. Certain teeth may require attachments to be placed on their surface. Attachments will help direct forces from the aligners to the necessary teeth.

Invisalign® First provides various benefits to meet the needs of growing children.

Benefits of Invisalign® First include:

• Allowing younger children to receive a similar Invisalign® experience to adults and teens.
• Customized planning around your child’s unique dental needs.
• Treatment for a broad range of orthodontic issues.
• Providing room for incoming teeth without removing surrounding teeth.
• Supporting teeth and jawline formation with preferred aesthetics vs. traditional braces.
• Your child can remove the tray to maintain comfort while eating, drinking, brushing their teeth, or other activities.

Drawbacks include:

• You have to remember to wear your aligners. They will not work unless worn for a minimum of 22 hours per day.
• The clear trays can be lost which will increase treatment time.
• Excellent compliance is required.

In most cases, the costs are about the same. We have found that one of the reasons many parents decide on metal braces instead of Invisalign® is the misconception that Invisalign® is more expensive than other treatments. If your insurance covers Invisalign®, you'll find that traditional braces and Invisalign® treatments cost relatively the same.

In general, you can simply get a replacement by contacting us and letting us know that the aligners have gone missing. Depending on how close your teen was to swapping out those aligners for the next set, we might just move on to the next set and not worry about a replacement.

In order for treatment to be as effective as possible, your teen needs to wear their aligners for a minimum of 22 hours every day. This gives them plenty of time to take them out for eating and oral hygiene, otherwise they should be worn at all times. Sometimes, your teen might have extracurricular activities that require them to remove those aligners, like band or sports, but Invisalign® aligners are designed to be discreet enough that they can be worn at all other times without disrupting your teen’s life.

With metal braces, there are lots of diet restrictions and it can be very difficult to determine whether or not your teen is actually following those restrictions. With Invisalign® for teens, there are no dietary restrictions. In fact, because your teen can remove the aligners completely from his or her mouth when it is time to eat, they can eat whatever they like, whenever they’d like.

The biggest issue we see with Invisalign® for teen patients is that they simply do not wear their aligners enough, especially in the beginning. There is an initial adjustment period during which your teen might speak with a little bit of a lisp or notice increased saliva production as their mouth adjusts to something new. This can be very discouraging to a teen but if they keep wearing their aligners, those issues will go away. It’s a commitment that both the parent and teen have to agree to fulfill.

We will be able to tell whether or not they have been wearing their aligners when your teen comes in for checkups. If things are progressing at the right rate, it will be obvious that they have been diligent about wearing those aligners as much as possible. If things are lagging behind a little bit, this could be an indication that they have not been wearing them as often as they should have been. If they are far behind on their treatment, we can attribute this to not wearing their aligners as prescribed.

If your teen is not compliant with Invisalign®, we can always switch to regular braces. However, there may be an additional charge.

Retainers stabilize your teeth and surrounding bones after active orthodontic treatment, ensuring that your smile stays healthy and straight. After teen and adult orthodontics, we typically recommend you wear your retainer full time for the first 4-6 months after treatment is completed, then at nights indefinitely to maintain your beautiful smile. Retention after Phase I orthodontics can vary from no retainer to a full time fixed retainer. So, the exact duration of retainer wear is dependent on the type of orthodontic correction you have received.

It's important to remember that retainers are meant to help teeth hold their position after orthodontic treatment. They don't exert the same force that aligners or braces do to move teeth. Still, if it's only been a few days since you remembered your retainer, you shouldn't worry. Simply start wearing it again as soon as possible and maintain your wearing schedule.

If you've gone weeks or months without wearing your retainer, try it on for size. If it's uncomfortable or feels too tight, your teeth have shifted and you'll need to give us a call. We might suggest braces, clear aligners or other methods to help realign your teeth again.