Orthodontic Services in Pennsylvania

What Does an Orthodontist Do?

Orthodontists diagnose and treat misaligned teeth and jaws. After completing four years of dental school, orthodontists must complete a residency program. All orthodontists are dentists, but they specialize in aligning teeth and jaws. Orthodontics is one of the nine specialties the American Dental Association recognizes. If you need orthodontic treatment, you can count on orthodontists to have the training and expertise to handle your treatment.

Our orthodontist in Pennsylvania treats patients of all ages. If you would like to schedule a consultation, please contact our office. You’ll learn the best approach for solving your problem and how long you can expect your treatment to last. While most of our patients are referred to us by their family dentist, you don’t have to have a referral.

Why Do People Need Braces in Pennsylvania?

People mostly get orthodontic treatment to straighten crooked teeth. People often assume it is for cosmetic reasons; however, straight teeth can improve your dental hygiene. When teeth are even and properly spaced, it’s easy to brush and floss them. Better dental hygiene means fewer cavities and less risk of developing gum disease.

When people get dental appliances to correct a misaligned bite, they often stop grinding their teeth. They have fewer jaw aches and do less damage to their teeth. If a person has an open bite, where the top and bottom teeth don’t meet, correcting it can make a person’s speech clearer.

While there are numerous oral health benefits from getting orthodontics, it is the beautiful new smile emerging that gets patients excited about their treatment. We love to see patients beam as their appliance comes off and they can see the results after many months of wearing their appliance.

What Different Types of Braces Can I Choose From?

Your orthodontist may recommend one type of appliance, but you usually will have a choice. There are bracket types of braces made from metal or ceramic. The brackets are glued on your teeth and use wires to move your teeth into position. There are invisible appliances where the brackets are on the back of your tooth instead of the front. People won’t know you are wearing them.

Custom clear aligner trays also move teeth. The trays are removable so you can take them out when you eat and to brush your teeth; they won’t trap food and plaque between your teeth like metal braces. Every two weeks, you’ll receive a new aligner tray to wear.

What Should I Know About Kid’s Braces?

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends you bring your child in for an orthodontic evaluation by age seven. This surprises most parents, but there are certain conditions that are far easier to treat at a young age.

If your child needs braces, they will probably get them between the ages of 10 and 14. Many kids don’t mind once they get used to wearing them. Children usually accept dental appliances because so many of their friends are wearing them so there’s no stigma attached to wearing them anymore. Besides, today’s metal appliances are small and less obtrusive than the ones you wore. Your child won’t have to stop playing his or her favorite sports either, as long as they wear a mouth guard.

What Are Adult Braces?

There no difference between children’s orthodontic appliances and adult’s, except treatment takes slightly longer. More and more adults are requesting orthodontic work now that there are discreet options. Orthodontists see patients whose parents couldn’t afford orthodontic treatment when they were children or adults who wore a dental appliance and then didn’t follow through with wearing their retainer and their teeth didn’t remain aligned.

Adults have just as much success with their orthodontic treatment as their younger counterparts. They tend to follow their orthodontist’s instructions and practice good oral hygiene which contributes to their high success rate.

What’s the Average Braces Cost?

There’s no average cost since each patient is unique. Factors that influence your cost include the type of appliance you choose and the anticipated length of your treatment. For our patient’s convenience, we accept most major dental insurance. We also offer financing for our patients who want to spread out the cost of their treatment. If you call our office and request a consultation, we can give you an estimate of your cost for orthodontic treatment after reviewing your needs.

Where Can I Go for Braces in Pennsylvania?

If you have been searching for an orthodontist near me and you would like more information about our orthodontic services, please call our office. We can schedule a consultation for you with our orthodontist in Pennsylvania and answer your questions. Call us today at or book an appointment online.