Orthodontic FAQs

Orthodontics is a specialized area of dentistry that focuses on aligning your teeth and jaws through appliances such as braces or aligners. An orthodontist seeks to improve tooth health, breathing, chewing, and speech difficulties aside from just straightening your smile.

Orthodontic treatment can fix misalignments (known as malocclusions) including crooked teeth, gaps between teeth, underbites, crossbites, crowding, and overbites.

Not everyone needs to undergo orthodontic treatment but if you do, there are many benefits! A straight smile doesn’t only serve an aesthetic purpose, it can lessen the risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and injury. Straight teeth are also beneficial for proper chewing, speech, and digestion.

Of course not! You’re never too old to straighten your smile. Orthodontic treatment can be done at any age as long as your teeth and gums are still healthy.

Every treatment plan is 100% customized, so there’s no one answer for treatment times. Comprehensive treatment with braces or aligners can typically take anywhere from 12 to 24 months. If you’d like to know exactly how long it will take, book a free consultation with us!

No, braces shouldn’t hurt. You may experience slight tenderness or discomfort for a few days after fitting and adjusting appointments. This discomfort should only last one to two days and can be easily treated with over-the-counter pain relief.

Absolutely! If you want to make sure your new smile lasts, it’s crucial to wear your retainer as instructed by your orthodontist. Otherwise, your teeth could move back into their old positions. We wouldn’t want all your hard work to go to waste!

Since every patient’s treatment plan varies from patient to patient, there is no one-size-fits-all cost. However, you may refer to our costs and finance page for an idea of our treatment prices. Rest assured, we have flexible and affordable payment plans to help!

At Mattingly and Howell Orthodontics, we are proud to share that we have been awarded a Diamond Invisalign® Provider status. This means we are able to treat over 150 smiles a year with clear aligners!

You can trust that we have the experience to correct even complex issues with Invisalign® treatment. We can help you assess if Invisalign® treatment is a fit for your smile during a free consultation.

Yes, we’d be happy to help you make the most of your time as we understand your schedule is busy. On some occasions, we may request to speak with a parent when they return so we normally ask parents to check in with their patient manager before their child is dropped off.

No, you don’t need a referral to get started with orthodontic treatment. Simply book a free consultation with our team and we can help you from there! Should your dentist refer you for orthodontic treatment, we’d be happy to work with them on your smile journey.