Orthodontist

Magic Smiles Dental offers comprehensive orthodontic therapy to patients of all ages. There’s no need to visit a 3rd party orthodontist when we can provide braces for your entire family right here in our two Phoenix offices! Our existing patients find this especially helpful, as we can work around their personal dental needs and include cleaning appointments as needed.

When should my child get dental braces?

We recommend waiting until all or most of the adult teeth have erupted before beginning orthodontic treatment. This is usually around age 12 but varies from child to child. Thankfully, we can also implement interceptive orthodontics and space maintainers when children come to see us earlier, reducing the complexity of their treatment needs as adult teeth begin to erupt.

How much do braces cost?

we offer affordable plans, we will judge the extent of the treatment needed which will determine the overall cost.

Magic Smiles Dental accepts private insurance, AHCCCS plans, CareCredit®, and in-house financing!

How long will you have to wear braces?

The amount of time it takes to treat your smile with braces depends on 3 factors:

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Early treatment

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What needs correction

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Your lifestyle and hygiene habits

Follow your care schedule closely and your orthodontic treatment will be completed before you know it!

In the meantime, you or your child will be offered all the latest COLORS for your braces – from fun team colors to festive holiday colors!

Below is a list of our most frequently asked questions regarding orthodontic treatment that we’ve received from patients at our Phoenix dental office. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact our office.

What is orthodontics?

Orthodontics (also referred to as dentofacial orthopedics) is a specialized form of dentistry focusing on the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of dental and facial abnormalities.

What is an orthodontist?

An orthodontist is a dental specialist who has received two to three years of additional training and experience. Your orthodontist is able to straighten teeth, correct misaligned jaw structure, and improve the function of your smile.

What is the best age to visit the orthodontist?

If you want to improve the look and feel of your smile, then any age can be a great age to see the orthodontist. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children first visit an orthodontist around the age of seven; however, orthodontic treatment is not exclusive to children and teens, with about one in every five orthodontic patients being over the age of 21. Whether you’re considering treatment for yourself or for a child, any time is a good time to visit the orthodontist.

How can I take care of my teeth if I am wearing braces or a retainer?

ALWAYS remember to brush your teeth after every meal and floss at least once a day.
Make sure to use toothpaste that contains fluoride, and ask your orthodontist or family dentist if you need a fluoride rinse. This will help prevent cavities!
If you take out your retainer to eat, make sure you brush your teeth, floss, and remember to keep it safe in its container so that it does not get lost or broken.
Keep your retainer clean, too, by brushing it gently with a toothbrush and toothpaste. You may also soak it in denture cleaner as instructed by your orthodontist. Do not put your retainer in boiling water or in the dishwasher!
During your treatment, try to avoid foods with a lot of sugar (sugar increases the amount of bacteria that grows in your mouth, causing more plaque and possibly cavities).
Avoid sticky and chewy foods (caramel, chewing gum, gummy bears), hard foods (hard candy, nuts, ice cubes), or any foods that could possibly get stuck in your braces (corn on the cob, soft bagels, ribs, taffy, etc.).
Be sure to schedule your routine checkups with your family dentist. It is recommended that you continue to visit the dentist every six months.

If I get braces, how long do I have to wear them?

The amount of time spent in braces will vary depending on the individual patient, because every smile responds differently to treatment. Treatment times can take anywhere between six and 30 months, but most standard treatments take about 22 months.

Do braces hurt?

Braces do not often hurt, though you may feel a small amount of discomfort for a couple days as your teeth, gums, cheeks, and mouth get used to your new braces.

Do I need to brush my teeth more often if I have braces?

With braces, you should brush your teeth at least three times a day to keep your teeth, gums, and mouth healthy and clean. Brushing regularly will help remove any food that may be caught between the braces.

You should also floss daily to get in between your braces where your brush isn’t able to reach. Your orthodontist can show you how to properly brush and floss once your braces are placed.

If I have braces, do I still need dental checkups every six months?

Yes! In fact, it’s even more important that patients receiving orthodontic treatment visit their dentist regularly. With braces, food may be caught in places that your toothbrush can’t reach. This causes bacteria to build up that can lead to cavities, gingivitis, and gum disease. Your dentist will work closely with your orthodontist to make sure that your teeth stay clean and healthy while wearing braces.

Will my braces interfere with my school activities like sports, playing an instrument, or singing?

Playing an instrument or a contact sport may require some adjustment when you first get your braces, but wearing braces will not stop you from participating in any of your school activities. If you play a contact sport, it is recommended that you wear a mouthguard to protect your braces or appliance.

Here are some examples of what the most common orthodontic problems look like:

Crossbite of Front Teeth

Crossbite of Back Teeth

Crowding of Teeth

Open Bite

Protrusion

Deep Bite

Under Bite

Spacing

Unhealthy Oral Habits

True orthodontic emergencies are rare, but when they occur, Magic Smiles is here for you! As a general rule, you should call our office when you experience severe pain or have a painful appliance problem you can’t take care of yourself. With same day emergency appointments, it’s no wonder we’re the most trusted emergency orthodontist in Phoenix!

You might be surprised to learn that you could solve many problems yourself temporarily until you can get to our office!

If there is a loose piece from your braces that you can remove, put it in a plastic bag or envelope and bring it with you to your next appointment. If your braces are poking you, put soft wax on the piece that’s sticking out. If the wire has slid to one side, you can pull it back to the other side with needle-nosed pliers, replacing it in the tube on the back tooth.

After alleviating your discomfort, it is very important that you still call our office as soon as possible to schedule a time to meet with one of our expert orthodontists to repair the problem. Allowing your appliance to remain damaged for an extended period of time may result in disruptions to your treatment plan.

General Soreness

When you get your braces on, you may feel general soreness in your mouth, and your teeth may be tender to biting pressures for three to five days.

Stick to a soft diet until your teeth do not hurt to chewing. Irritated gums and other sore spots can be relieved by rinsing your mouth with a warm salt-water mouthwash. Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in eight ounces of warm water, and rinse your mouth vigorously. An alternative (better tasting) mouthwash is the Healthy Gums Rinse by The Natural Dentist! Placing Orabase on the affected area may also help relieve discomfort; Orabase can be found in a pharmacy.

If the tenderness is severe, take Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or whatever you normally take for headache or similar pain. Aspirin, Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) and Naproxen Sodium (Naprosyn, Anaprox) actually slow the tooth movement, so it is not advisable to use them frequently while wearing braces.

Loose Appliance

The lips, cheeks, and tongue may become irritated for one to two weeks as they learn a new posture and become accustomed to the surface of the braces. You can put wax on the braces to lessen this. We’ll show you how!

If your appliance is poking you, place wax on the offending part.

Loose Bracket

If your bracket or band is still attached to the wire, you should leave it in place and put wax on it if needed for comfort.

If the bracket or band can be removed easily, place it in an envelope and save it to bring to your next appointment.

Loose Wire

Using a pair of tweezers or needle nose pliers, try to put your wire back into place. It is ok to use a piece of floss to tie the wire into place: tie the floss around the bracket in place of the missing colored o-ring.

If you cannot put the wire into a comfortable position, and covering the end with wax doesn’t help, as a last resort use a small fingernail clipper to clip the wire behind the last tooth to which it is securely fastened.

If the end of the wire is still sharp, place wax on it.

Poking Wire

Using a pencil eraser, push the poking wire down or place wax on it so that it is no longer poking.

If you’ve ever found yourself with a broken bracket, orthodontic wire, or appliance, you’ve probably wondered whether or not it’s an emergency for your smile. In some cases it may not be, but in others it is!

Orthodontic Dental Emergencies Occur:

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When pain or severe discomfort is present

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If soft tissues like lips or cheeks are traumatized

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During displacement or malfunction of orthodontic appliances

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When appliances have broken

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If abnormal tooth movement or gum recession is present

Saving Your Smile

An orthodontic emergency can happen at any time (or if you’re eating food that you shouldn’t be.) Not correcting this problem as soon as possible may cause your teeth to be moved in an abnormal direction due to irregular pressure being placed on them by the remaining orthodontic appliances. Or, they can even interfere with speech and eating.

You can reach our team of dental emergency care providers at Magic Smiles Dental at any time!

Schedule A Complimentary Consultation With Our Phoenix Orthodontist

Schedule your complimentary consultation with our Phoenix orthodontist today!