The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children be seen for an initial orthodontic consultation at seven years of age. At this appointment, we begin to evaluate eruption and development to see if treatment is necessary. Although this may be the recommendation, you can visit the orthodontist at any age!

You do not need a direct referral from you dentist to be seen for an initial consultation at Hallmark Orthodontics. We are more than happy to discuss your dental history with your dentist to help produce the best outcome. However, scheduling an initial consultation is as easy as calling our office or scheduling online!

Absolutely! It is important that your teeth are monitored and regularly cleaned by your general dentist while in active orthodontic treatment.

A virtual consultation provides us with the opportunity to meet you and learn about your concerns and treatment goal without scheduling a visit in the office. We can have a general idea of our treatment goals and we are also able to become acquainted with one another. To initiate active orthodontic treatment, we will require an in-person exam to verify our findings.

Our office offers convenient after school appointments as well as Saturday appointments. We will` always do our best to make sure your appointments work well with your schedule although sometimes your visit may coincide with school or work hours.

The cost of orthodontic treatment varies based on your personal treatment needs as well as insurance benefits. Our office offers flexible down payments as well as payment plans to make sure that the cost of orthodontic treatment is not a barrier. Our financial coordinator will work with you every step of the way!

Prior to initiating orthodontic treatment, we will discuss how long your treatment plan is expected to take. Treatment time will vary based on the complexity or severity of your case.

The process of having braces placed on your teeth does not cause any pain. In fact, it is much easier than you may imagine! Some patients may experience some mild soreness or tenderness in the teeth approximately 24-48 hours after their initial visit. If the pain is bothersome, an aspirin or ibuprofen should take care of the concern. Many patients do not require this at all!

Invisalign is a great tool that we love to use! Determining whether your case can be treated with Invisalign requires our doctors to evaluate your photographs and x-rays. At your initial consultation, we can discuss your treatment options and review the pros and cons of each approach!

Orthodontists may recommend extractions for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to: crowding, decay, bite discrepancies, dental impactions, and many more. We typically recommend extractions when it is necessary and will create an improved esthetic and stable outcome.

Retainers are an important part of your overall treatment. Many of our patients have both permanent and removable retainers. Permanent retainers will be bonded to the backside of your teeth. You will want to be sure you do not bite into anything hard or crunchy with your front teeth and that you are brushing and flossing the retainers twice per day. Removable retainers must be kept in a case away from pets and heat when not in your mouth. If you lose your removable retainer, be sure to call our office right away to ensure that your teeth do not shift!

Poking Wire

Use a Q-Tip or Pencil Eraser to push the wire into a comfortable position. If you can not do this, you can place wax over the wire or attempt to cut the end of the wire with fingernail clippers.

Loose Bracket, Band, or Wire

If a bracket is loose but still tied to the wire with the color tie you can choose to rotate it flat onto the tooth until you are seen in the office or cut the color tie with fingernail clippers and remove the bracket from the wire.

If a wire is loose you may utilize wax or fingernail clippers to alleviate the pain.

Loose Appliance

Do not try to adjust the appliance on your own. Please contact our office and we will walk you through steps of managing your specific appliance at home.

If your forsus springs arms have separated, you should be able to open and reinsert the rod and spring components into one another.

General Soreness/Tenderness/Irritation

Your lips, cheeks, tongue, and other tissues may become irritated when first getting appliances. Utilizing wax in soft spots is the best way to allow your mouth time to adjust.  If you have sensitive spots, be sure to rinse with salt water to alleviate any tenderness.

You may take aspirin or ibuprofen if you have general soreness, however many patients do not require this.

All orthodontists and dentists attend dental school after their general undergraduate educations. Orthodontists complete a residency program after dental school focused on orthodontics alone which makes them specialists in aligning your teeth!

It is usually recommended to wait until the completion of your treatment to whiten your teeth. Patients who are being treated with removable orthodontic appliances may be able to whiten their teeth while they are in treatment. Feel free to ask our office about your specific appliances at your next visit!

It may be possible to initiate treatment while you are pregnant, but it will be important to discuss this with both your orthodontist and OBGYN. Pregnancy can bring changes that may affect your mouth, schedule, and ability to take x-rays.

You can still participate in your extracurricular activities with braces on your teeth! There may be an adjustment period associated with your new appliances however they will not prevent you from participating. Remember to ask our office for a mouthguard to protect your lips and teeth from being injured if you participate in a sport where this would be beneficial!