Litchfield Park Orthodontist

5220 N. Dysart Rd #150
Litchfield Park, AZ 85340
(623) 536-4939

 

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions (2)

Who should we bring to our initial consultation?
It is best to bring all decision makers to the initial consultation.  This gives everyone the opportunity to ask questions and fully understand the treatment plan.  We can also better explain our treatment findings and solutions by using visual aids.  If everyone cannot come, we are always available to answer questions via telephone.

What type of information will I receive at the consultation?
During the first appointment Drs. Courtney and Matthew Dunn will:
Welcome you to the office
Review your health history
Do a complete orthodontic exam
Summarize your specific orthodontic problems
Explain possibilities for correction
Identify the best time to start treatment
Estimate how long treatment will last
Tell you how much treatment will cost and how much your insurance will cover

We strive for a very open, friendly and caring environment in the office.  So, we encourage you to ask questions throughout the exam.  We want you to feel confident and informed when you leave the office. 

What are the benefits of early treatment?
Some advantages of early treatment include:
Stop harmful habits
Lower risk of trauma to protruded front teeth
Improve appearance and self-esteem
Correction of problems that cause unfavorable growth issues
Guide eruption of permanent teeth.

For each patient who needs treatment, there is an ideal time for it to begin in order to achieve the best result.  Dunn Orthodontics would love to help you determine when the treatment is right for your child.

How do braces give me straight teeth?
Braces use gentle pressure to move the teeth into the ideal position.  The braces have a prescription built into the bracket that has the ideal torque, tip and position for each tooth.  The wire that we use has the “ideal” form of where your teeth should be.  By threading the wire into the brackets, the prescription is expressed and the wire tries to return to its original shape.  Both of these pressures cause the tooth to move in the bone.

Bone is a very dynamic living tissue.  The pressure from the braces causes the bone to resorb to make room for the tooth in the correct position.  It concurrently fills in bone where the tooth was before.

It sounds very complicated, but with new wires and technology it is more comfortable than ever.

Can I straighten my teeth without braces and wires?
Absolutely.  There are many people that are candidates for Invisalign.  Drs. Matthew and Courtney Dunn are Invisalign certified and have been studying and using this technology since their orthodontic residency.  This is a way to use a series of removable invisible aligners to straighten the teeth without brackets or wires.  This advanced technology does not correct bite problems and candidates for Invisalign should screened carefully.

We urge you to choose a provider with a formal orthodontic education who can adjust your treatment accordingly if things do not go as planned.  Many patients can complete treatment with just aligners.  Some patients will receive a superior result with a combination of a short period of traditional braces to correct problems that are difficult for aligners and the majority of treatment with invisible aligners undetectable to the human eye.  An orthodontist has the armamentarium to offer you many options for your optimal result.

If you are not a candidate for Invisalign, we offer clear braces which are much less noticeable and a popular choice for adults and teens alike!

I’m not a candidate for Invisalign – what can I do?
We offer ceramic (clear) braces that are much less noticeable.  From a distance, people may not notice them or think you are just wearing a retainer.  The technology is advancing at a great pace to make wires less noticeable as well.  Many celebrities (Tom Cruise, Fantasia, Dakota Fanning) are wearing or have worn the clear braces instead of Invisalign.

What are Damon braces?
Damon braces otherwise known as the Damon System is one of a number of brands of self-ligating brackets (braces).  Other brands of self-ligating brackets include In-Ovation, Smart Clip, Time2, and Speed.  Unlike traditional braces, these brackets have a built-in mechanism to hold the wire in place.  Since elastic ties are not used, you cannot choose different colors with these brackets.  In an attempt to promote their product, the company that produces the Damon bracket has made a number of extraordinary claims regarding their product, most of which remain unproven.  There is some conflicting evidence on whether these brackets may slightly decrease treatment time.

If you are interested in self-ligating brackets and feel they are right for you, we do have them available.  Click here if you would like to read about a clinical trial comparing self-ligating brackets with traditional brackets.

What is “instant orthodontics”?
“Instant orthodontics” has absolutely nothing to do with orthodontics since no teeth are actually moved.  “Instant orthodontics” is the process of placing crowns and veneers over the crooked teeth to make them look straight from the front.  The actual teeth and roots are never actually straightened.  This process is not performed by an orthodontist but rather by a general/ cosmetic dentist.  Given that “instant orthodontics” irreversibly damages the teeth and may prevent you from ever having real orthodontic treatment in the future, it is not a decision to be made lightly.  While it is universally agreed that these procedures are not advised for children, leading cosmetic dentists have even started to question the ethical implications of performing such procedures in adults given the necessity of replacing veneers and crowns every 5-10 years resulting in removal of even more tooth structure.
In addition, be careful of the dentist you choose for such a procedure.  Cosmetic dentistry is not a specialty recognized by the American Dental Association and therefore a dentist does not need any special training to call themselves a cosmetic dentist.

Can I get my teeth bleached/ whitened with braces?
No.  You can, however, whiten your teeth before you get braces or when you are finished with braces. While we do not offer tooth whitening directly, we can refer you to a general/ cosmetic dentist that will be glad to provide such services.

 

 

Dunn Orthodontics is Phoenix, Arizona's premier orthodontist/dentist in the West Valley providing braces, clear braces and Invisalign (Invisible braces) to Phoenix, AZ.

Copyright© 2007. All rights reserved dunn-orthodontics.com (Phoenix, AZ)
Dr. Matthew Dunn - Phoenix orthodontist (Matthew Dunn, DDS, MS)
Dr. Courtney Dunn – Phoenix orthodontist (Courtney Dunn, DDS, MS)

Website created by Matthew Dunn, DDS, MS (Phoenix West Valley orthodontist) and Courtney Dunn, DDS, MS (West Valley Phoenix Braces) for Dunn Orthodontics providing braces, clear braces, Invisalign (invisible braces) to Phoenix’s West Valley including Litchfield Park, Goodyear, Avondale, Surprise, Buckeye, Verrado, Estrella Mountain Ranch, Glendale, and Tolleson.

Contact: dunn-orthodontics@hotmail.com