FAQs

Having a great smile with healthy teeth, gums and jaw is an investment that will reward you for the rest of your life! At Fresh Smiles Advanced Orthodontics and Dental Care Clinic Family Dental we strive to make orthodontic services accessible to anyone, whether or not orthodontic treatment is covered by insurance. We offer very competitive pricing. Contact us to schedule your complimentary consultation today! Fresh Smiles Advanced Orthodontics and Dental Care Clinic Family Dental is also able to offer several options to help patients make their orthodontic treatment affordable for any budget. We offer interest-free monthly payment plans that are spread over the treatment time.

Getting braces can be a big step for someone. It is truly an INVESTMENT that will last you for the rest of your life! Braces do more than just make your teeth straight. Do you find yourself or your loved one hiding your smile because you’re not happy with how your teeth look? Braces can can give you a beautiful smile that will boost your self-confidence. You’ll never have to worry about your smile during that important interview or meeting, or for that first date. Go with confidence! Is brushing and flossing sometimes difficult because your teeth overlap, are crooked or have gaps? Orthodontics and braces can improve your dental health by improving regular oral hygiene.

Having straight and properly aligned teeth means that more of the tooth surface can be reached during regular brushing and flossing. This means that braces, combined with good oral hygeine, can result in fewer cavities and overall improved dental health for life! Do you experience pain or clicking in the jaw, or difficulty chewing? Braces can help to fix the alignment of the jaw, which can, for some patients, reduce or eliminate pain and headaches relating to jaw problems, as well as improve digestive health by making the chewing process easier and more efficient.

Well… sometimes. After all, your teeth are moving to a different place! Your teeth might feel sore for up to a few days after adjustments are made. Pain is usually mild and does not interfere with your daily life activities. Your orthodontist can recommend an over-the-counter pain reducer to help after adjustment appointments.

Maintaining good oral hygiene is extremely important throughout orthodontic treatment, and requires a little more attention and time. It’s important to make sure to prevent the buildup of plaque and to keep gums healthy during treatment, with regular brushing with a soft toothbrush. Orthodontists recommend brushing after each meal. There are all kinds of fun gadgets and tricks to help with regular brushing and flossing between brackets and around the gum line. Braces brackets and wires can sometimes break, and must be cared for as well. See our helpful guide on how to brush and floss with braces.

Braces is a name that commonly refers to all appliances that are used for orthodontic treatment. Braces include brackets, wires and other accessories. Braces and their accessories are the most common methods used to help straighten and align teeth and jaws. There are several different types of braces.

An orthodontist is a specialist in orthodontics who received 2-3 years of specialty education after graduating from dental school. Orthodontists are very special people – helping to straighten and align teeth and jaws is both an art and a science, and requires great attention to detail as well as a lot of special skill. At Fresh Smiles Advanced Orthodontics and Dental Care Clinic Family Dental we are proud to have Board-Certified orthodontists on staff at Fresh Smiles Advanced Orthodontics and Dental Care Clinic Family Dental.

Orthodontics is the dental specialty concerned with the supervision, guidance and correction of the teeth and jaws. Dental health involves a lot more than just regular cleanings – it also means that the teeth and jaws must be aligned properly. This affects speaking, eating and chewing, oral hygeine, as well as self-confidence!

Yes. Radiation comes from many sources, including the sun and even riding on an airplane. It is important to limit exposure to radiation over ones lifetime. Fortunately, the dose of radiation you are exposed to during the taking of dental X-rays is extremely small, and even smaller at Fresh Smiles Advanced Orthodontics and Dental Care Clinic Family Dental because we use digital x-rays. We take precautions during x-rays and will provide you with an apron and cervical collar to protect you or your loved one during x-rays. If you have any questions about the safety or need for dental x-rays, feel free to speak with your dentist for more information.

Yes! Flossing is the single best way, other than combined with regular dental checkups, to prevent gum disease. Gum disease affects nearly 50% of adults 30 and over in the U.S. and is very preventable. Flossing regularly will also help your regular checkup visits to feel more comfortable, as your gums tend to be sore and may bleed if you haven’t flossed them in a while. Brushing twice each day for two minutes and flossing at least once per day is part of an effective home care routine that can help you keep a healthy smile for the rest of your life.

The answer to this question is: "it depends." . Each person and situation is different. If you are not currently experiencing pain or crowding, your dentist may recommend removing your wisdom teeth to avoid those types of problems in the future, based on what they see on your x-rays, as well as their professional and clinical experience. Wisdom teeth can move very slowly, so problems can sometimes take years to develop. Also, as we get older, wisdom tooth extraction can become more complicated and painful, and may require the services of an oral surgeon. Your dentist may recommend removing your wisdom teeth before they become a problem or even a dental emergency in the future.

It’s true, not everyone is blessed with all 4 wisdom teeth, and some people do not get any at all! This does not mean they are any less wise, however. One current theory to explain the lack of wisdom teeth in some adults, as well as why so many of us have trouble with ours, is evolution. Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania discovered a chromosomal mutation called MYH16. This mutation is explained as an evolutionary tactic which has allowed modern humans to grow larger brains, and also means humans have less need of, and room for, wisdom teeth.

Yes. Many times patients will feel a great amount of relief from swelling or pain following the first part of the root canal treatment has been completed. However, the second step of the root canal is critical to allow your dentist to make sure the infection has cleared, to ensure the tooth is clean and sealed to prevent any openings which may allow food particles, debris or bacteria to enter the tooth and cause further damage. The placement and [cementing] of the permanent crown is the final step to help protect the tooth and prevent future damage or even tooth loss. Completing the root canal process fully is the best way to prevent future, more costly dental emergencies and keep your smile as healthy and strong as possible.

Your dentist may have recommended a night guard based on their exam and a discussion with you about possible bruxism which is clenching or grinding of the teeth, or possible TMJ disorder concerns. Either way, a night guard will help to prevent grinding, tooth damage and associated pain, and position the jaw to facilitate proper breathing, which may even relieve symptoms such as persistent snoring. Night guards are a great investment to protect your smile, prevent damage and the need for future dental treatment.

The answer to this question is different for each individual. In some cases, these last molars can fit perfectly into a person’s mouth when they are properly aligned. However, in many individuals, the wisdom teeth are not properly aligned and may require extraction. Your dentist will review your x-rays and the positioning of your wisdom teeth at your regular checkup visits. He or she may recommend to remove some or all of your wisdom teeth to help alleviate any pain, swelling or infection you may currently have, or to avoid future problems. Additionally, your dentist may recommend removing wisdom teeth earlier rather than later, because extractions may become more painful or complicated, or even result in a dental emergency as you age.

Fresh Smiles Advanced Orthodontics and Dental Care Clinic Family Dental recommends only replacing fillings of any kind when there is an issue such as wear, decay, pain, cracking or breaking of the tooth or filling. If you notice any of the issues listed above, we recommend you see your dentist as soon as possible for an exam. Tiny cracks and wear in fillings can often be detected during regular exams and x-rays at a dental checkup.

Amalgam is most commonly referred to as “metal”. or “silver”. fillings, which contain a mix of metals including mercury. Composite fillings are known as white or tooth-colored fillings. Note: Fresh Smiles Advanced Orthodontics and Dental Care Clinic Family Dental does not use amalgam material for fillings and dental restorations. Instead, we use composite resin material at all of our locations for fillings and restorations. We made this choice because we believe composite material, also known as “white”. or “tooth colored”. fillings, to be an effective treatment option for our patients

Some pain, swelling and bleeding are to be expected after most extractions. Each extraction is different and everyone experiences pain and recovers differently. Your dentist or our staff may have provided you a post-extraction instruction guide after your procedure. This guide contains helpful information to make your recovery as speedy and complete as possible and avoid common issues such as dry socket or pulled sutures or stitches. Your dentist will also explain what signs to look for that may tell you it’s time to call our office. If you had a surgical extraction, we may give you a post-op courtesy call a day or two after your procedure to see how you are feeling or if you have any questions. We are happy to answer questions any time at your local Fresh Smiles Advanced Orthodontics and Dental Care Clinic Family Dental office, and our 24-hour on-call dentist is always available for a phone consultation.