It is usually difficult for you to determine if treatment is necessary because there are many problems that can occur even though the front teeth look straight.

Also, there are some problems that look intimidating and complex which will resolve on their own. Asking your general dentist is good reference, but we are your best resource since orthodontics is all we do.

Our initial exam is complimentary and we would be more than happy to see your child and make any recommendations necessary.

Although determining if treatment is necessary is difficult for you to assess, the following symptoms may help in prompting you to seek our orthodontic advice.Ask your child to open their mouth, and let you look at their teeth.

If you see any signs of crooked teeth, gaps between your child's teeth or overlapping teeth, your child may need orthodontic treatment. Ask your child to bite all the way down, but keeping their lips open so you can see their teeth.

• Do the front top teeth line up with the bottom?
• Do the top teeth protrude out away from the bottom teeth?
• Do the top front teeth cover more than 50% of the bottom teeth?
• Are the top teeth behind the bottom teeth?

All these are indicators for potential orthodontic treatment. Look at the alignment of your child's jaw.

• Does the jaw shift off center when your child bites down?

If you see any misalignment or shifting of the jaw, your child may have a skeletal problem which requires early orthodontic intervention. These are only some of the obvious symptoms of orthodontic problems.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends children to be seen by an orthodontist at 7 years of age.

Not all children require treatment at that time, but often there are conditions which if corrected, will either eliminate the need for treatment or make it easier when the child is ready at a later age. At age 7, the orthodontist is looking to see if the patient has any skeletal problems like cross bite or finger habits, that are interfering with the proper development of the jaws and teeth.

The Doctor will also see if the child has all of their permanent teeth and whether they are forming correctly, and erupting in their proper sequence. After examining the patient, the Doctor will explain to the parent whether the child needs any early treatment, or if the child needs any treatment at all. It is also a good time for the parents to ask any questions, or voice any concerns.

Dr. Quinn & Mariotti are happy to examine any child without a fee, to help educate patients, and to let them know what to expect in the future.

No, age is not a factor, only the health of your gums and bone which support your teeth. About 25% of our orthodontic patients are adults and that number is still growing!

Orthodontic treatment has improved dramatically. As a rule, braces make your teeth sore for a few days, but it is not painful. This annoyance can be relieved with an over-the-counter pain reliever.

Today's braces are smaller, more comfortable and use technology that reduces the discomfort. We use the latest in miniature braces and the highest quality of orthodontic materials in order to reduce discomfort and treatment time.

Yes. When teeth are missing, adjacent teeth will drift into the empty space. This will cause a functional, esthetic or periodontal problem.

Orthodontic treatment will correct and prevent these problems from happening and will also provide proper alignment for your dentist to replace the missing teeth.

• A more attractive smile.
• Reduced appearance-consciousness during critical development years.
• Better function of the teeth.
• Possible increase in self-confidence.
• Increased ability to clean the teeth.
• Improved force distribution and wear patterns of the teeth.
• Better long term health of teeth and gums.
• Guide permanent teeth into more favorable positions.
• Reduce the risk of injury to protruded front teeth.
• Aid in optimizing other dental treatment.

Phase I or Interceptive Treatment usually starts while the child has most of their baby teeth and a few of their permanent front incisors. This stage in development is usually about the age of seven.

The goal of Phase I treatment is to intercept a moderate or severe orthodontic problem early in order to reduce or eliminate it. These problems include skeletal dysplasias, cross bites and crowding.

Phase I treatment takes advantage of the early growth spurt and turns a difficult orthodontic problem into a more manageable one. This helps reduce the need for extractions or surgery and delivers better long term results and treatment options.

Most Phase I patients require a Phase II treatment in order to achieve an ideal bite.Phase II treatment usually occurs a number of years later. Usually we are waiting for 12-16 more permanent teeth to erupt before Phase II begins.

This most commonly occurs at the age of 12 or 13. The goal of Phase II treatment is to achieve an ideal occlusion with all of the permanent teeth.

This is another name for orthodontic treatment in the permanent dentition at any age. It is more commonly used when a Phase I treatment was not performed.

Absolutely not! Only certain bites require early intervention. All others can wait until most if not all their permanent teeth erupt.

This is not recommended. If your child needs Phase I treatment this usually means that he has a difficult problem that requires attention now.

If no orthodontic action is taken, treatment options become limited, more difficult, and the long term stability may be compromised. In addition, it may lead to extractions, oral surgery and increase costs.

Extraction therapy is a technique where some teeth are removed to make room for the other teeth in your child's mouth. This is in contrast to non-extraction therapy where one expands a patient's jaw and shave down some teeth to make everything fit.

Lingual braces are mounted behind a patient’s teeth. They were used many years ago, before the advent of orthocosmetic TM braces.

Lingual braces are rarely used anymore. Generally, lingual braces are more uncomfortable than standard braces. Orthodontic treatment takes twice as long and is more costly. In addition, some people have trouble talking with lingual braces.

Presently, Lingual braces are only used in special clinical cases. We now utilize the Invisalign System, which is a series of clear aligners, (invisible), in place of lingual braces.

No, but your stress levels will drop when your child looks forward to their visit at our office! In addition, the cost for these braces is a minor fraction of the cost of orthodontic treatment.

Considering the time spent, orthodontics is regarded as dentistry's best value.

Not in comparison with the cost of dealing with untreated problems. Orthodontic treatment may bring long-term health benefits and may contribute to the avoidance of costly, serious problems later in life.

Historically, the average cost of all health services has risen faster than the average cost of orthodontic treatment. In addition, the cost of orthodontic treatment has increased significantly less than the rate of inflation, meaning the public’s buying power has gone up faster than orthodontic fees.

Orthodontic insurance is not available on an individual basis, but millions of people are covered by group dental plans including orthodontic coverage which are offered through their employers.

Typically, these plans limit the amount any one family member can collect in a lifetime, ranging between $750 and $2,000. The AAO offers its assistance at no charge to companies interested in offering employees a dental plan that includes-orthodontic coverage.

The AAO provides Concept DR, a self-funded, direct reimbursement dental/orthodontic benefits program that is generally less expensive and offers better benefits than traditional dental insurance plans. Orthodontic fees vary widely, depending on the severity of the problem, complexity of treatment and length of treatment time.

Orthodontists routinely discuss fee arrangements after individual examinations. Generally, fees may be paid over an extended period of time during the course of treatment.

First impressions often are based on the appearance of a person’s face, mouth and teeth.

A person with a facial deformity or crooked teeth often is judged negatively not only on appearance but also on many other characteristics such as intelligence and personality. Independent research studies also have shown that children and adults who believe their teeth or jaws are unattractive may suffer from a lack of self-esteem and confidence.

In some cases, the psychological impact of crooked teeth has been found to hamper a persons social or vocational growth. Although dental health concerns are frequently the primary impetus for orthodontic treatment, it is not unusual for treatment to be initiated for the patient’s emotional well-being.

In many cases, orthodontics provides both physical and psychological benefits.

Untreated orthodontic problems might contribute to tooth decay, diseased gums, bone destruction, temporomandibular joint problems and loss of teeth. (More adults over the age of 30 lose their teeth because of periodontal problems than because of decay.)

Protruding teeth are more susceptible to accidental chipping and other forms of dental injury. Sometimes, the increased cost of dental care resulting from an untreated malocclusion (bad bite) may far exceed the cost of orthodontic care.

In addition, if left untreated, malocclusion may have a negative effect on the psychological well-being of the patient. Naturally, one feels better when one looks better, and a pleasing appearance is a vital asset to one’s self-confidence and self-esteem.

A person’s self-consciousness often disappears as orthodontic treatment brings teeth, lips and face into their proper positions.

Disorders of the temporomandibular joints, which connect the lower jaw to the skull, may be one of the reasons millions of people suffer from chronic headache, earache and facial pain.

No other joints are subject to such precise functioning as those involved in the meeting and biting of teeth. Symptoms frequently associated with this problem include popping, clicking or grinding noises of the jaw joints when eating or opening the mouth; soreness and limitation of opening the mouth; headaches; stiffness of the neck and shoulders; and ringing of the ears.

The bizarre and seemingly unrelated combination of symptoms, however, makes diagnosis difficult for both medical and dental practitioners because many other diseases can cause similar symptoms.

Temporomandibular disorders can arise from a variety of causes. For this reason, treatment of TMD may include a variety of procedures performed by orthodontists and/or other health professionals.

Although the diagnosis may be initiated by a dentist in general practice or by a specialist in orthodontics, if the symptoms are not solely related to jaw function, other conditions may need to be identified by a physician or psychologist.