Treatment Options - Sullivan Bastian Orthodontics
Damon Metal Braces
Damon metal braces are the most common type of braces yet most orthodontic treatment involves tying archwires into braces with colored elastics or small stainless steel wires. This is a slower form of treatment and requires much heavier forces to overcome inherent friction. At Sullivan Bastian Orthodontics, we use technology that is more advanced than your typical traditional bracket system. We use self-ligating braces which has a built in sliding door that holds the wire allowing it to move more freely. This speeds up your results and is a much more comfortable experience for you or your child. We strive for fewer appointments, shorter treatment time, better results!
Damon Clear Braces
Damon clear ceramic braces are made of clear materials and are therefore less visible on your teeth than metal braces. For this reason, ceramic braces are used mainly on older teenagers and adult patients who have cosmetic concerns. While they are visually less prominent, they do require more attention to oral hygiene as ceramic braces are larger and are more brittle than their metal counterparts. For these reasons, ceramic braces tend to be used more on upper front teeth than on lower teeth.
Clear Aligners
Clear aligners are a series of invisible, removable, and comfortable acrylic trays that straighten your teeth like braces. Not only are the aligners invisible, they are removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment, plus brushing and flossing are less of a hassle. The aligners are comfortable and have no metal to cause mouth abrasions during treatment.
Orthodontic Treatments
The consultation typically lasts about 45 minutes.
The first 15 minutes of the consultation is dedicated to taking full orthodontic records including photos and x-rays at no charge which will assist our orthodontists in planning you or your child’s treatment.
During the next 30 minutes you will meet our orthodontist and have a 1-on-1 discussion with our treatment coordinator about possible orthodontic treatments. During this time, you will have the opportunity to discuss any orthodontic and dental problems you may be concerned about.
There are 5 essential questions that we will cover during the consultation:
- Is there an orthodontic problem, and if so, what is it?
- What treatment options are available to you to correct the problem? (i.e. braces, Invisalign, expander, etc.)
- What is the estimated length of treatment?
- What is the total cost of treatment?
- What payment options are available?
No, the consultation is completely FREE. This includes an examination, all photos and x-rays (orthodontic records), and a 30 minute consultation with our treatment coordinators and orthodontists.
We want you to be completely comfortable and well-informed in your decision making process.
There are no hidden fees. The entire consultation, including all photos, x-rays and the assessment by our orthodontist are completely free.
Yes! Kindly give us a call and we will try our best to accommodate you. If our schedule permits, we may be able see multiple family members back to back.
Of course! Second opinions are welcome! We hope that at the end of the consultation, you are educated, informed and able to make the best decision for you and your family.
Our services are provided by orthodontists. Orthodontists are dentists who, after finishing 4 years of dental school, then went to orthodontic school for another 3 years for extensive training with braces, Invisalign, expanders, bite correction appliances, etc. The only thing our doctors do – all day, every day – is straighten teeth! Our orthodontists will straighten teeth on hundreds of patients per year and thousands of patients in their lifetime.
On the contrary, most general dentists don’t do any orthodontics. The few that do treat only a handful of cases per year, and usually these cases are very simple cases (ie. retreatment of a patient who previously had braces but stopped wearing their retainers and teeth shifted slightly).
Orthodontics is something you only want to go through and pay for once, so trust your smile to a specialist 🙂
If you are in need of treatment, an orthodontist will recommend an appliance specific to your dental needs. Some of the treatment options available include: traditional braces, clear braces and Invisalign.
Treatment times vary depending on your specific course of treatment, but with the new cutting-edge technology, the average treatment time is 18-24 months.
Brush your teeth by using a regular soft toothbrush. Brush down from the top and then up from the bottom on each tooth; always brushing away from your gums. Use a gentle sawing motion to work the floss on each side of the two teeth the floss is between. Be careful not to pull with too much force around the archwire.
That varies per patient but there is new technology that uses memory shape, heat activated wires that work without needing painful adjustments, decreasing the amount of office visits necessary to complete treatment. The average time between visits can range from 8-10 weeks. As you come close to finishing treatment, Dr. Fowler may want to see you more often, typically between 4-6 weeks during your last few months, to fine tune your final tooth movements.
The cost of your treatment will vary depending on your specific dental requirements. Once we complete a new patient exam and create a treatment plan for you, you will meet with a treatment coordinator to discuss the costs and payment plans available to you. We will work with you to create a payment plan that is tailored to your needs and budget.
