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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

GENERAL

  • At what age should children be seen by an orthodontist for evaluation?

    Children should be seen by an orthodontist for evaluation by the age of 7.

  • What dental problems can be evaluated by the orthodontist by the age of 7?

    Crossbites, crowding, and other dental problems can be evaluated by an orthodontist by the age of 7.

  • What are the benefits of early orthodontic treatment?

    Early orthodontic treatment can guide the growth of the jaw, guide incoming permanent teeth, regulate the width of the upper and lower dental arches, gain space for permanent teeth, avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions, reduce the likelihood of impacted permanent teeth, correct thumb-sucking, and eliminate abnormal swallowing or speech problems.

  • Can adults get orthodontic treatment?

    Yes, adults can undergo orthodontic treatment and achieve great results. It's never too late to improve your smile!

  • Why is jaw surgery more often required for adult patients?

    Jaw surgery is more often required for adult patients because their jaws are no longer growing.

  • What are the orthodontic appliances made of?

    Orthodontic appliances can be made of metal, ceramic, or plastic.

  • How do braces work to move teeth to a corrected position?

    Braces slowly move teeth to a corrected position by placing a constant, gentle force in a carefully controlled direction.

  • How long does orthodontic treatment typically take?

    The length of orthodontic treatment varies depending on the case, but it typically lasts 12-24 months.

  • What is the advantage of two-phase orthodontic treatment?

    Two-phase orthodontic treatment can maximize the opportunity to accomplish the ideal healthy, functional, esthetic result that will remain stable throughout your life.

  • What is the disadvantage of waiting for complete eruption of permanent teeth?

    The disadvantage of waiting for complete eruption of permanent teeth is facing the possibility of jaw/bone issues being fully developed and possibly requiring surgery to correct versus intervening early during the growth phase to help guide that growth.

  • What is the goal of first phase orthodontic treatment?

    The goal of first phase orthodontic treatment is to develop the jaw size to accommodate all the permanent teeth and relate the upper and lower jaws to each other.

  • What is the goal of the second phase of orthodontic treatment?

    The goal of the second phase of orthodontic treatment is to make sure each tooth has an exact location in the mouth where it is in harmony with the lips, cheeks, tongue, and other teeth, and when this equilibrium is established, the teeth will function together.

  • What type of orthodontic records are necessary to determine the treatment plan?

    Orthodontic records consisting of models of the teeth, x-rays, and photographs are necessary to determine the type of appliances to be used, the duration of treatment time, and the frequency of visits.

  • Will I need to wear a retainer after treatment?

    Yes, wearing a retainer after treatment is necessary to maintain the results achieved by orthodontic treatment.

  • Is orthodontic treatment painful?

    Some discomfort is normal during orthodontic treatment, but our team works to make the experience as comfortable as possible for our patients.

  • How often do I need to visit the orthodontist during treatment?

    Patients visit the orthodontist every 4-6 weeks for adjustments and progress checks.

BRACES

  • What foods should you avoid when you have braces?

    You should avoid chewy, crunchy, sticky, hard, and foods that require biting into, such as bagels, licorice, popcorn, chips, ice, caramel candies, chewing gum, nuts, hard candies, corn on the cob, apples, and carrots.

  • What foods can you eat with braces?

    You can eat dairy, breads, grains, meats/poultry, seafood, vegetables, fruits, treats, such as soft cheese, pudding, milk-based drinks, soft tortillas, pancakes, muffins without nuts, pasta, soft cooked rice, soft cooked chicken, meatballs, lunch meats, tuna, salmon, crab cakes, mashed potatoes, steamed spinach, beans, applesauce, bananas, fruit juice, ice cream without nuts, milkshakes, Jell-O, and soft cake.

  • What should you do if your mouth is sore after getting braces?

    You can relieve the pain by dissolving one teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of lukewarm water, swishing and gargling this solution in your mouth for a couple of minutes. If the pain is severe, you can also take a pain reliever.

  • How long will your mouth be sore after getting braces?

    It is normal for your mouth to feel tender or sore for one to two weeks after getting braces.

  • What should you do if your teeth feel loose while wearing braces?

    You do not need to worry because this is normal. Your braces must loosen your teeth to move them into the right position.

  • What should you do if the wires and bands on your braces come loose?

    You should contact your orthodontist as soon as possible so that they can check and repair your appliance. If any piece of your appliance comes off, be sure to save it and bring it to the office with you.

  • How can you temporarily fix a loose wire on your braces?

    You can use the back of a spoon or the eraser end of a pencil to carefully and gently push the wire back into place. If the loose wire is causing irritation to your lips or cheeks, put wax or a wet cotton ball over the broken wire to relieve the pain.

  • Why is it important to brush and floss after every meal when you have braces?

    It is important to brush and floss after every meal to keep your teeth and gums healthy throughout your treatment.

  • What are the brushing instructions for people with braces?

    Brush your teeth at a 45-degree angle to your gum in a circular motion, brush the outer, inner, and chewing surfaces of each tooth, and use the tip of your brush for the inner surface of your front teeth.

  • What are the flossing instructions for people with braces?

    Wind about 18 inches of floss around your fingers, use your thumbs and forefingers to guide about one inch of floss between your teeth, holding the floss tightly, gently saw the floss between your teeth, then curve the floss into a C-shape against one tooth and gently slide it beneath your gums, and slide the floss up and down, repeating for each tooth.

  • Can you play sports while wearing braces?

    Yes, you can still play sports while wearing braces. However, it is recommended that you wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth and your appliance. If you have a sports emergency, check your mouth and appliance for any damage, and contact us right away.

INVISALIGN®

  • How many Invisalign cases has Dr. Zambrano completed?

    Dr. Zambrano has completed over 4,000 cases of Invisalign. In fact, he was the first in Florida to do so!

  • What is the difference between a general dentist and an orthodontic specialist in Invisalign treatment?

    A general dentist and an orthodontic specialist differ in their education and scope of work. An orthodontic degree requires an additional 2-3 years of schooling AFTER dental school, while a general dentist does not have this requirement as their scope of work does not generally include moving teeth and bone.

  • What is Acceledent and how does it work?

    Acceledent is a small, portable mouthpiece that you can use for 20 minutes a day to shorten your Invisalign treatment time as much as 50%. It uses SoftPulse Technology which gently vibrates as you bite, allowing your teeth movements to happen more quickly.

  • What is iTero® and how can it help in Invisalign treatment?

    iTero® is a state-of-the-art, 3D digital scanning system that can be used instead of the traditional messy molds for impressions in Invisalign treatment. It speeds up the process of manufacturing aligners that are perfectly created for each unique individual.

  • Does Dr. Jaime Zambrano's office have the Itero Scanner?

    Yes, Dr. Jaime Zambrano's office has the state-of-the-art Itero Scanner, which is the latest and greatest invention for taking digital impressions of the teeth.

  • How much does Invisalign treatment cost?

    The cost of Invisalign treatment depends on how extensive the issues are, how long the treatment plan will last, and the specific treatment details prescribed by the doctor. Dr. Jaime Zambrano's office strives to make Invisalign affordable for everyone, and they offer a variety of payment options to fit each individual's needs.

  • Can you remove Invisalign aligners while eating or drinking?

    Yes, you can remove Invisalign aligners while eating or drinking, making it easy to fit the treatment into your lifestyle.

  • How often should you brush and floss while using Invisalign aligners?

    You should brush and floss regularly while using Invisalign aligners to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

  • Is Invisalign treatment visible?

    Invisalign treatment is virtually invisible, so chances are no one will even notice anything is different until your new smile is revealed.

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