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Orthodontic
FAQs
Phase I treatment is an early orthodontic intervention designed for children around the ages of 7 to 10. It focuses on catching and correcting issues like crowding, spacing, or bite alignment problems before they become more severe during adolescence.
Early intervention provides critical benefits beyond just cosmetics; it helps guide proper jaw development, assists with easier permanent tooth eruption, and helps create a healthy bite for your child.
Depending on your child’s needs, Dr. Cusack may utilize traditional braces, functional appliances (like expanders or headgear) to realign the jaw, undercover lingual braces, or space maintainers to hold open spots for adult teeth. Learn more about these appliances on our types of braces page.
Space maintainers are used when a child loses a baby tooth too early. They act as placeholders to prevent surrounding teeth from shifting, saving the correct spot so the permanent adult tooth can grow properly.
If your child’s teeth are crowded or their bite seems misaligned, it is best to visit a board-certified orthodontist. You can easily book an appointment by visiting our contact us page.
Adolescence is an ideal window because most permanent teeth are already in place, which makes tooth adjustments and jaw tracking highly predictable and efficient.
Teens can choose from classic traditional metal braces, discreet clear braces, self-ligating braces, or stealthy Invisalign Teen clear aligners.
Self-ligating braces use specialized brackets that do not require elastic bands. This streamlined design makes them much easier to clean and often results in shorter overall treatment times.
Straight teeth provide a major confidence boost, improve chewing and digestion, and are significantly easier to brush and floss. This reduces your teen’s long-term risk for cavities, bad breath, and gum issues.
Once the active alignment phase is complete, teens will transition to wearing custom-made retainers to ensure their teeth stay locked into their beautiful, new positions.
Absolutely not! Tooth alignment can be successfully changed at any stage of life, provided that your underlying gums and bone structures are healthy.
Leaving crooked teeth or a bad bite untreated can contribute to progressive bone and gum loss, accelerated tooth decay, abnormal enamel wear, chronic headaches, and severe jaw joint (TMJ/TMD) pain.
We understand adults prioritize discretion. We offer translucent ceramic braces, smaller self-ligating brackets, and completely transparent clear aligners to seamlessly fit your professional and social lifestyle. Learn more about your options on our types of braces page.
Modern techniques and advanced appliances significantly reduce discomfort levels, cut down the frequency of required office visits, and noticeably shorten your overall time in treatment.
Dr. Cusack evaluates the health of your gums and bone structure during your initial visit. To schedule your exam, head over to our сontact us page.
Invisalign Teen® aligners are made of smooth, virtually invisible clear plastic. This allows teenagers to confidently straighten their teeth without metal brackets or wires interfering with school, sports, dating, or playing musical instruments.
Yes! Because the clear aligners are completely removable, you can eat all of your favorite foods without restriction. It also means you can brush and floss normally to maintain excellent oral hygiene.
As part of your customized treatment plan, you will move forward by wearing a brand-new set of custom-made aligners every two weeks to gradually shift your teeth into place.
The iTero scanner uses advanced laser technology to capture a highly accurate digital replica of your bite. This entirely eliminates messy, uncomfortable traditional impressions, reduces gagging, and translates to 7 times fewer aligner fit issues on average.
Yes! Thanks to our state-of-the-art iTero scanning technology, we can generate a virtual “before and after” simulation so you can see your projected results ahead of time. Learn more about this technology on our main treatments page.
Modern traditional metal braces are sleeker and more comfortable than ever before. They are constructed from high-grade stainless steel and use brackets and archwires to steadily align your teeth.
Yes! Patients have the fun option of adding colored elastics (rubber bands) at their adjustment appointments to create a unique, colorful smile that matches their personal style.
Ceramic braces are made from clear, translucent materials that blend right in with your teeth, making them a popular cosmetic choice for older teens and adults. However, they are larger and more brittle than metal, requiring extra attention to oral hygiene.
Self-ligating systems feature lower-friction brackets and lighter wires that utilize a sliding mechanism to accelerate tooth movement. This can shorten treatment times, reduce tenderness, and make them much more hygienic to clean.
Unlike braces, Invisalign® clear aligners are completely removable and have no metal components, which eliminates the risk of brackets or wires causing uncomfortable mouth abrasions during your treatment.