Frequently Asked Questions

All orthodontists are also dentists who have spent 2 to 3 years after dental school focusing on the art and science teeth and jaw alignment and how to move teeth to achieve these goals. An orthodontist will be able to discuss your dental and facial concerns to develop treatment options that will help you achieve your goals. At Strickland Orthodontics, we not only look at how to give you the best smile today but also plan your care to give you the best life long benefits of your orthodontic care. Creating beautiful and healthy smiles is not just something we do, it is all that we do…and we are the best at it!

While we are very fortunate to be able to work hand-in-hand with the very best dentists to help provide you with the best orthodontic care, a referral to our office is not necessary. Please call our office for your complimentary initial exam and we would love the opportunity to discuss the ways we can help you achieve your perfect smile!

The American Association of Orthodontics recommends that all children receive an orthodontic evaluation around 7 years old. In our practice, we have found that seeing children between 7 and 9 years gives us the opportunity to identify any significant jaw growth or dental developmental problems. Some of these concerns are easily corrected at a younger age. Most patients will not need active orthodontic treatment at this age and we are here to offer peace of mind and be able to help plan the best timing for orthodontic treatment, if needed, to reduce the overall treatment time.

Orthodontic treatment is a partnership between the orthodontist and the patient. The doctor will develop an individualized treatment plan that will allow you to achieve your goals, but your compliance will greatly affect the final outcome. Maintaining proper oral hygiene, keeping regular appointments and following the doctor’s instructions can greatly increase the efficiency and quality of your final outcome!

Orthodontic treatment has many benefits including improving facial esthetics, self-confidence and self-esteem and it also greatly improves the fit and function of your teeth. Having a beautiful and confident smile is extremely important in today’s society but also having a healthy bite will help you maintain your beautiful smile for a lifetime! Orthodontic treatment is an incredible investment and can have a lifetime of benefits!

Poorly aligned and positioned teeth can be difficult to clean and a bad bite can cause excess wear, difficulty eating and speaking, and can cause abnormal stress to the supporting gum, bone and jaw joint. Timely correction of these problems allows them to be corrected before long-term and permanent damage has occurred.

The total time of your orthodontic care greatly depends on the severity of your malocclusion and your goals of treatment. Orthodontic treatment can take anywhere from a few months to a few years. Technology has advanced so much that we are continually being able to offer better outcomes in shorter times with less discomfort!

While aligning the front teeth may be an option for some patients, this could also have significant negative effects on the long-term health of your teeth. We would love the opportunity to discuss any concerns you have with your teeth at your initial complimentary exam. At this appointment, we can help develop the best plan for your concerns and goals.

While orthodontic treatment is not likely a matter of life or death, postponing treatment could potentially cause a problem to progress. Your orthodontic concerns will likely still be able to be corrected whenever the timing is better, but your treatment might change a little if your problem progresses. Please discuss any concerns with the doctor during your initial exam and he will give you any information you may need to be able to make the best decision.

The treatment fee for orthodontic treatment varies greatly depending on the specific treatment needs of each patient. We will present you with the treatment fees of the various treatment options that would help you achieve your goals after your initial exam. We offer various no-interest financing options to help accommodate your needs.

Your appointments will be every 5–10 weeks depending on the movements that are being performed and the individual treatment.

Phase One treatment is an interventional orthodontic care that occurs in younger children. These treatments have a very specific goal and are designed to address and correct an acute problem. Once the immediate concern is corrected, retainers are made and the child’s growth and development will be monitored to determine if and when a second phase of braces are needed once the remaining adult teeth erupt. Most Phase One treatments take 3 to 12 months to correct.

Research suggests that wisdom teeth are not necessarily the cause of teeth moving after braces. Early removal of wisdom teeth is usually suggested for your dental health reasons rather than orthodontic reasons.

Yes! It is absolutely imperative that you maintain proper dental health during your orthodontic care and maintaining your dental cleanings will greatly increase your ability to do so. You should have your teeth cleaned every 4–6 months during your orthodontic treatment.