Crowded, crooked or protruding teeth do more than affect a smile — they make cleaning harder and can wear teeth unevenly. Braces gradually move teeth and correct the bite underneath, and they can treat cases that other options cannot.
Straight teeth are easier to keep clean. Crowding creates tight spots that a toothbrush and floss cannot reach well, which raises the risk of cavities and gum inflammation, and a bite that does not meet properly can wear enamel down unevenly or contribute to jaw discomfort. Braces address both the cosmetic and the structural side of that problem: brackets bonded to each tooth are connected by an archwire, and as that wire is adjusted over time it applies steady, controlled pressure that moves teeth — and the roots underneath them — into better positions.
The reason braces are still the standard for so many cases is control. Because each tooth has its own bracket, Dr. Lu can move individual teeth in specific directions, correct rotations, close or open space, and manage bite problems like crowding, spacing, overbite, underbite, crossbite and open bite. Braces also do not depend on a patient remembering to put anything back in — they work 24 hours a day, which is often the deciding factor for younger patients or for anyone who knows that removable trays would be a daily battle.
Treatment length varies with the case, and the honest answer at a consultation is a range rather than a promise. What we can tell you up front is the plan: what we are correcting, roughly how long it should take, what it costs, what your insurance is likely to cover and what the payment options look like. Some patients are also candidates for clear aligners instead, and if your child is still growing, early interceptive orthodontics may simplify or shorten the braces phase later on.
Braces can correct the widest range of bite and alignment problems of any orthodontic option — including cases that removable aligners alone cannot fully treat.
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Because every tooth gets its own bracket, we can correct rotations, crowding and bite problems that removable trays cannot always reach.
Nothing to take out and nothing to forget — braces keep working between visits, which makes treatment time more predictable.
Metal, tooth-colored ceramic, or lingual brackets placed behind the teeth — so the treatment fits the patient, not the other way around.
We start with an exam, photos and a digital scan or X-rays as needed, then Dr. Lu walks you through what needs to move, which bracket options make sense, the expected timeline and the cost.
At the bonding appointment, brackets are attached to the teeth and connected with an archwire. It is not a numbing-required visit, and most patients are surprised how straightforward it is.
You will come in periodically so we can adjust the wire and check progress. Once teeth are where they should be, the braces come off and a retainer keeps the new alignment from drifting back.
It depends on how much movement is needed. Mild crowding can be handled in well under a year, while cases that involve significant bite correction take longer. Dr. Lu will give you a specific estimated range at the consultation, once she has seen the teeth and the bite — and she will tell you if consistent elastic wear or good hygiene will affect that timeline.
Getting braces put on does not hurt. For the first few days afterward, and for a day or so after each adjustment, teeth usually feel sore or tender because they are being moved — soft foods and over-the-counter pain relief handle it for most patients. If a wire or bracket is irritating a cheek, call us; that is a quick fix, not something to wait out.
Anything hard, sticky or chewy enough to pop a bracket or bend a wire — ice, hard candy, caramel, taffy, nuts, popcorn and whole raw apples or carrots unless they are cut up. Cutting food into smaller pieces solves most of the list. We send families home with the full guidance at the bonding visit.
Many dental plans include an orthodontic benefit, though the amount and the age limits vary a lot between plans. We will review your specific coverage with you before treatment starts and walk through the payment options so the number is clear up front rather than after the fact.
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