Orthodontic FAQs

Orthodontics is the area of dentistry concerned with the supervision, guidance and correction of the dentofacial structures. Orthodontic treatment uses braces, retainers and other appliances to correct any dentofacial abnormalities.

Regular dental check-ups and orthodontic treatment are proven to be effective tools in helping establish and maintain good oral health for people of all ages.

Selecting an orthodontist in Brentwood who can help you achieve your smile dreams is important.

An orthodontist is a specially trained dentist who has attended an advanced education program for a continual training period of 2 to 3 years after 4 years of dental school.

All members of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) have received the appropriate training.

Dr. Frank Hann and Dr. Kristen Hann from Hann Orthodontics have achieved this specialization and are active members of AAO.

This means they're better qualified to give you the smile of your dreams than you could get from aligners in the mail.

It's never too late to have a beautiful smile! Adults should visit Dr. Frank Hann and Dr. Kristen Hann to improve the appearance of their smile and their overall dental health at any time.

Some orthodontic corrections need to be made as early as three to five years of age, but ordinarily, children should visit Dr. Frank Hann and Dr. Kristen Hann when permanent teeth begin to erupt to detect any deficiencies in the child's tooth formation.

This is usually between seven and 10 years of age. Dr. Frank Hann, Dr. Kristen Hann, and the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children visit an orthodontist no later than age seven.

Your initial visit to the orthodontist will give you an opportunity to meet the doctor and our knowledgeable staff. They’ll answer any questions you may have. You will receive a complimentary clinical examination to determine whether orthodontic treatment is necessary.

If treatment is required, Dr. Frank or Dr. Kristen will go over a treatment plan and estimate the treatment duration.  Your treatment coordinator will answer any questions you may have concerning insurance and go over our flexible payment options.

In most cases, our patients are given the option to start treatment on the same day as the initial examination. Our patients appreciate that we can do everything in one appointment, so there is less time away from work or school.

Braces may be worn by both children and adults, not only to improve the attractiveness of their smile but also because braces correct improper alignment of teeth that can lead to gum disease and early tooth loss.

Left untreated, crooked teeth with irregular spacing make cleaning harder and allow cavities to more easily develop.

Properly aligned teeth also make it easier to chew all types of food and eliminate the headaches and pain caused by uneven chewing. Uneven teeth may result in weak enamel, gum problems and jaw misalignment.

Many problems can hide behind straight front teeth that it can be hard to tell without an orthodontic exam. Asking your general dentist is a good reference, but Dr. Frank Hann and Dr. Kristen Hann are the best resources because all we do is straighten teeth.

Our initial exam is free, so it only makes sense to get a consultation with us. We’ll be happy to give the necessary recommendations.

Although determining if treatment is necessary is difficult for you to assess, the following may help in prompting you to seek our ortho

Although it may be hard to determine if you need treatment on your own, the following symptoms may lead you to seek advice from Dr. Frank Hann and Dr. Kristen Hann.

Look at the teeth at any age. If you see any signs of crooked teeth, gaps between your child's teeth or overlapping teeth, orthodontic treatment is indicated.

Bite all the way down, but keep your lips open so you can see the 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 jaw alignment. Does the jaw shift off-center during biting down? If you see any misalignment or shifting of the jaw, it suggests a skeletal or jaw bone problem, which requires early orthodontic intervention.

These are only some of the obvious symptoms of orthodontic problems.

dontic advice.

Look at the teeth at any age. If you see any signs of crooked teeth, gaps between your child's teeth or overlapping teeth, orthodontic treatment is indicated.

Bite all the way down, but keeping their lips open so you can the 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 jaw alignment. Does the jaw shift off center during biting down? If you see any misalignment or shifting of the jaw, it suggests a skeletal or jaw bone problem, which requires early orthodontic intervention.

These are only some of the obvious symptoms of orthodontic problems.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that your child be evaluated by age seven. There’s no need to wait for all baby teeth to fall out before an initial exam.

In fact, early detection of some orthodontic problems is important to take early preventive/interceptive action and avoid more difficult treatment later.

Early treatment also potentially prevents the extraction of teeth, which is needed in some cases if the teeth get very crowded.

Since your first consultation is free at Hann Orthodontics, it helps to get a consult as soon as possible.

No, you’re never too old for a great smile. So long as the gums and bone which support your teeth are healthy, you can get orthodontic or braces treatment at any age.

About 30% of our Hann Orthodontics patients are adults, and that number is still growing! Our oldest patient treated was 72 years old.

Orthodontic treatment mechanics have advanced technologically over the last few years. The introduction of new high tech wires, smaller braces, innovative accessories, and stress of preventive/interceptive treatments make today’s orthodontic treatment fairly comfortable.

We don’t use any anesthetic injections for any of the procedures. As a rule, braces can cause a little discomfort initially until one gets used to them. Teeth can get a bit sore a day after every adjustment appointment, but they aren’t painful.

This annoyance can be relieved easily with over-the-counter pain relievers if needed. Most of our Hann Orthodontics patients do not need to take any pain relievers.

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 provide proper alignment for your dentist to replace the missing teeth.

Phase I or Early Interceptive Treatment usually starts while the child has most of their baby teeth with few permanent teeth.

The goal of Phase I treatment is to intercept moderate or severe orthodontic problems early to reduce or eliminate them. These problems include jaw bone problems, crossbites and developing crowding. This phase does not use full braces as braces are never put on baby teeth.

Generally, we use expanders, removable appliances, Herbst appliance (instead of headgear) and retainers during this phase. These treatment approaches take advantage of the active growth to change the jaw bone structure to either make extra room or address jaw bone discrepancies.

This helps reduce the need for extractions or jaw surgery and delivers better long term results and treatment options. Most Phase I patients require a Phase II treatment to achieve an ideal bite.

Phase II treatment involves the use of full braces to finish the occlusion or bite ideally. It usually occurs when all permanent teeth are present.

There is often a gap between Phase I and the start of Phase II treatment. This phase most commonly occurs around the age of 12 or 13 years.

This is another name for orthodontic treatment after permanent tooth and jaw development at any age. It is more commonly used when a Phase I treatment was not performed.

Absolutely not! But in many cases, early intervention helps a lot. We will offer Phase I treatment only if it makes a difference in the future; otherwise, we keep the patients for a complimentary recall consultation every four months.

In our office, Phase I treatment usually lasts 12-18 months. Phase II or full braces treatment may last from 18 to 36 months. In both situations, we generally see the patients every 6 to 8 weeks for their adjustment appointment.

Treatment time and its success depend on multiple factors such as the patient's age, the severity of the problem, the patient's cooperation, and the speed of natural response of teeth movement.

Extraction therapy is a technique where some teeth are removed to make room for the other teeth in your child's mouth. This contrasts with non-extraction therapy, where one expands patients' jaw and/or shaves some teeth to reduce their width to make everything fit.

We’ll make a thorough evaluation at the consultation and discuss the options to determine which procedure best suits the patient.

Metal braces are the most popular with kids and teenagers. They love using different colors of ligature ties. These braces are much smaller than ever before.

Translucent clear ceramic braces are the most popular with adults. You have to be very close to someone to be able to see them. Yet, because they are a ceramic material, they are more fragile and have some limitations. We’ll discuss these choices of braces at the consultation appointment.

The Invisalign system is becoming a very popular method of orthodontic treatment for adults who are candidates. They consist of a series of clear orthodontic appliances called aligners that allow you to straighten your teeth without wearing traditional braces.

Each set of custom-made aligners is worn for about two weeks and moves the teeth in small steps to the desired final position. However, all orthodontic patients are not candidates for this treatment option.

For more information about Invisalign, please give our office a call to make an appointment for a free exam at Hann Orthodontics to see if you are a candidate for this exciting new system.

Our innovative business model is very unique, which makes braces or orthodontic treatment affordable.

Orthodontic fees depend on the complexity of the orthodontic problem, the patient's age, and the estimated length of treatment. Since each patient is different, a visit to the office for a free examination will allow you to get a better idea of the fee.

We offer our patients financial payment plans with the option of no down payment and affordable monthly payments. We do not charge any interest at Hann Orthodontics.

We have found that the initial down payment charged by traditional orthodontists is hard to manage for many hard-working families especially with multiple family members who could benefit from orthodontic treatment.

Please call our office to discuss this affordable financial and start smiling!

Please provide us with your insurance information at your first appointment. We accept and file most insurance for you at Hann Orthodontics.

Treatment may last from 18 to 36 months, though this will vary depending on your individual case. Your cooperation in keeping scheduled orthodontic appointments, maintaining proper oral hygiene, and taking care of your braces may allow you to finish your orthodontic treatment early.

Braces are lighter, more comfortable, and more technologically advanced today than ever before. They come in clear and a variety of color and material choices.

Ask the office staff about what options are available. Other appliances include colorful bands, elastics and retainers.

Braces put gentle  pressure on teeth over time to straighten them. The two main components include the braces placed on the teeth and the archwire that connects them.

The brace is a specially-shaped metal or ceramic affixed to each tooth, and the archwire is bent to reflect the bite that the patient should have after treatment. The wire threads through the braces.

As the wire tries to return to its original shape, it applies pressure to move the teeth.

There have been some fantastic advances in modern orthodontics to make treatment more comfortable and quicker for patients.

There are now smaller, smoother braces and gentler wires which provide a continuous small force over a long period rather than a strong force for only a short period.

Typically, there's some discomfort after the braces are first put on. Over the counter pain relievers and a soft foods diet will help alleviate this temporary discomfort.

You should be able to play just about any sport. However, it is recommended that you wear a mouthguard while participating in certain sports.

Retainers help keep your teeth straight after treatment. If they are not worn as instructed, your teeth will move.

You should continue to see your family dentist every six months or as directed by your family dentist during orthodontic treatment for routine dental check-ups and cleanings.