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FAQ’s
Have a question? We’ve gathered answers to our customers’ most frequently asked questions here to help you get the information you need quickly and easily.
Frequently Asked Questions
- All
- Clarity™ Ceramic Brackets
- Clear Aligners
- Clear Braces
- For Adults
- For Kids
- For Teens
- Metal Braces
- Palatal Expander
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children have their first orthodontic evaluation by age 7! Don’t worry, this doesn’t usually mean they’ll get braces right away. It simply gives us a chance to monitor how their jaw is growing and catch any potential spacing or bite issues early on, keeping their smile on the right track!
Every smile is unique, but some common signs it might be time to visit us include:
- Losing baby teeth unusually early or late.
- Visible crowding, overlapping, or misplaced teeth.
- Difficulty chewing or biting comfortably.
- Thumb-sucking habits that continue past age 5.
- Jaws that shift, click, or pop.
- Speech difficulties or mouth breathing.
Think of early treatment (often called Phase 1) as setting up a great foundation! By guiding jaw development while your child is still growing, we can ensure there’s plenty of room for permanent teeth to arrive safely. This often shortens their overall treatment time later on, reduces the need for tooth extractions or future jaw surgery, and boosts their everyday confidence!
We love making smile transformations fun and comfortable! For our younger patients, we offer:
- Traditional Metal Braces: Super durable, highly effective, and customizable with colorful bands that kids love to show off!
- Clear Ceramic Braces: The same reliable power as metal braces, but made from tooth-colored materials for a more low-profile look.
- Palatal Expanders: A clever, gentle device that helps widen a developing upper jaw to fix crossbites and make room for incoming teeth.
- Clear Aligners: Removable, virtually invisible, and perfect for keeping up with brushing and flossing easily.
Expect lots of high energy, warm smiles, and zero stress! Your child’s first consultation is completely complimentary. Our team will take comfortable, state-of-the-art digital scans and X-rays (no messy, gooey impressions here!), perform a gentle exam, and chat with you about whether treatment is needed yet. If it is, we’ll build a customized, easy-to-understand plan just for them!
Most teens begin their smile journey between the ages of 12 and 16. By this time, almost all of their permanent teeth are in, and their jaw is still growing, making it the perfect sweet spot for fast, predictable, and beautiful results! If you aren’t sure if they’re ready, you can always schedule a completely complimentary Office Visit to find out.
Absolutely! We love using Clear Aligners for Teens because they are designed specifically to fit an active teenage lifestyle. They are virtually invisible, comfortable, and completely removable, which means no changes to their diet and effortless brushing and flossing.
Every single smile we treat is unique, but most teen transformations take anywhere from 12 to 24 months. During your teen’s initial consultation, Dr. Peterman will use our modern digital scanning technology to map out a precise timeline so you’ll know exactly what to expect before we even begin!
100%! Having braces won’t slow them down or keep them out of the game. If they play contact sports, we will set them up with a protective orthodontic mouthguard to keep their lips, cheeks, and brackets safe. If they play a wind instrument, it might take a few days to adjust to the feeling of Life with Braces, but they’ll be back to making music in no time!
If they choose clear aligners, they can eat whatever they want because the aligners are removed during meals! For teens rocking our durable Metal Braces or aesthetic Clear Braces, they’ll just need to skip overly sticky, chewy, or hard foods to avoid breaking a bracket. Don’t worry – we’ll give them a fun, comprehensive list of “braces-friendly” treats on day one!
Never! In fact, about one in four orthodontic patients today is an adult. Your teeth can be beautifully and safely guided into alignment at any age, as long as your gums and bone structure are healthy. Whether you missed out on braces as a kid or your teeth have shifted over time, we love helping adults achieve the healthy, radiant smile they’ve always wanted!
They are an absolute game-changer! Clear Aligners for Adults are one of our most popular options because they are virtually invisible, letting you straighten your teeth completely discreetly. Plus, because they are removable, you don’t have to alter your diet, and keeping up with your regular brushing and flossing routine is an absolute breeze.
On average, adult treatment lasts anywhere from 12 to 24 months, but every smile is totally unique. Some minor cosmetic touch-ups can take just a few months, while more complex bite corrections might take a bit longer. At your initial Office Visit, Dr. Peterman will give you a personalized timeline based on your specific goals and lifestyle.
You sure can! Dr. Peterman is highly experienced in complex adult cases and routinely designs custom treatment plans that work beautifully around existing dental work. Braces can easily move teeth that have crowns or fillings, and we can even use orthodontic care to create the perfect amount of space for a future bridge or dental implant.
Many modern dental insurance plans do include an orthodontic benefit that covers adult treatment! When you come in for your complimentary consultation, our team will deep-dive into your insurance details to maximize your benefits. We also offer flexible, interest-free Financing and Insurance payment plans to make your dream smile fit comfortably into your monthly budget.
Oh, absolutely! If you haven’t seen braces in a while, you’ll be amazed by how much they’ve changed. Today’s traditional metal braces are sleeker, flatter, much more comfortable, and designed to look great. They are incredibly streamlined so they won’t irritate your cheeks or lips like older versions did, making the journey to a straight smile smoother than ever!
Yes, and it’s one of the best parts! At every single checkup in our Chatham office, you get to pick new colors for your ligature elastics (the rubber bands that hold the wire to your brackets). You can rock your school colors, match holiday themes, or choose subtle shades – it’s completely up to you to design your smile style!
It’s all about gentle, continuous teamwork! The high-quality brackets are safely bonded to your teeth, and a thin, flexible archwire connects them. This wire applies steady, gentle pressure to guide your teeth into their ideal positions. Every few weeks, you’ll visit us so Dr. Peterman can adjust the wire to keep your smile progress moving beautifully on track.
Don’t panic! This is 100% normal and actually a great sign that your treatment is working! In order for your teeth to move into their perfect positions, the supporting bone and tissue need to gently relax and reshape. That slightly loose feeling is completely temporary and will disappear entirely once your teeth finish their journey and settle into place.
Traditional metal braces are still the absolute gold standard because they are incredibly reliable, highly cost-effective, and powerful enough to fix even the most complex bite issues. If you or your child are deciding between metal braces, aesthetic Clear Braces, or removable Clear Aligners, we can help! Schedule a completely complimentary consultation at our office to build your custom smile plan.
Clear braces work just like Metal Braces – they are physically bonded to your teeth and connect via a wire, but the brackets are made of translucent ceramic material that blends right into your smile. Clear Aligners, on the other hand, are removable, smooth plastic trays that snap over your teeth. Clear braces are amazing for any complexity level, while aligners are fantastic for patients who want total flexibility!
The ceramic brackets themselves are high-tech and completely stain-resistant, so they will stay beautifully clear throughout your treatment! However, the tiny elastic ties used to hold the wire in place can sometimes take on color if you consume lots of dark foods or drinks (like coffee, tea, or tomato sauce). The good news? We change these elastics out at every single appointment, giving you a fresh, perfectly clear look each time you visit us!
They absolutely are! Modern ceramic braces are incredibly durable and use the exact same steady, reliable mechanics as metal ones. They can correct complex spacing, crowding, and bite issues with beautiful precision. Because they are fixed to your teeth, they are working 24/7 to perfect your smile without you ever having to remember to wear them.
Generally, no! Thanks to the advanced materials we use at JB Peterman Orthodontics, clear braces work incredibly efficiently. In some very specific or complex cases, ceramic brackets can move teeth just a tiny bit differently than metal, but for most patients, the treatment timeline is nearly identical. Dr. Peterman will map out a precise, customized timeline at your initial consultation.
Yes, they are incredibly popular with both! They offer the perfect middle ground for Teens and Adults who want the powerful, reliable results of traditional braces but prefer a low-profile, aesthetic look that doesn’t pop out in photos or meetings. They give you the freedom to smile with total confidence from day one!
They are the ultimate blend of strength and style! Clarity™ brackets are premium, high-tech orthodontic brackets made from an advanced translucent ceramic material. Instead of covering your teeth with metal, these brackets mimic and blend right into your natural tooth color. This means you get all the incredible, reliable moving power of traditional Clear Braces with a completely low-profile, aesthetic appearance!
Nope! The ceramic material engineered into Clarity™ brackets is highly stain-resistant and color-stable. This means you can keep enjoying your favorite daily foods and beverages without worrying about your brackets discoloring over time. They are designed to stay beautifully clear and discreet from the day they are put on until your smile transformation is complete!
Not these! While older generations of ceramic braces had a reputation for being a bit delicate, Clarity™ ceramic brackets are incredibly strong, durable, and fracture-resistant. They are designed to withstand everyday life and active lifestyles while delivering the exact same continuous, efficient tooth movement you would expect from traditional Metal Braces.
Absolutely! They feature a very small, rounded, and ultra-smooth design. Because they have a lower profile than older types of braces, they minimize friction and don’t irritate the inside of your lips or cheeks. Plus, their streamlined shape makes them a total breeze to brush and clean during your daily routine.
They are safe and highly effective for patients of all ages! They are an exceptionally popular choice for image-conscious Teens and busy Adults who want a fixed, high-performance treatment option but don’t want their braces to take center stage in photos or professional settings. If you want to see them in person, schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Peterman to explore your options!
It’s pretty magical! Instead of using brackets and wires, clear aligners use a customized series of smooth, comfortable, plastic trays. Each set of trays is uniquely calibrated to apply gentle, precise pressure to specific teeth. You’ll wear each set for about one to two weeks, and with every new tray change, your teeth will move a little bit closer to your ultimate smile goal!
To keep your transformation moving beautifully on track, you’ll need to wear your aligners for 20 to 22 hours every day. The best rule of thumb is to keep them in at all times unless you are eating, drinking anything other than water, or brushing and flossing your teeth.
None at all! And that’s why people love them. Because you completely remove your trays before meals, you can keep enjoying all your favorite foods. Sticky candy, crunchy chips, and popcorn are all still on the menu. Just remember to give your teeth a quick brush (or a thorough rinse with water if you’re on the go) before popping your aligners back in to keep them sparkling fresh.
Keeping them clean is super simple! Just brush them gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush and cool water every time you take them out or put them back in. You can also use specialized retainer cleaning tablets for an extra crystal-clear rinse. Just make sure to avoid hot water, as it can warp the high-tech plastic!
Clear aligners are fantastic for a massive variety of smiles, whether you’re looking for minor cosmetic touch-ups or more advanced alignment! They are an incredibly popular choice for both busy Adults and active Teens. The absolute best way to see if they fit your goals is to visit us for a complimentary consultation, where we’ll use our advanced digital scanner to show you exactly what your future smile could look like!
Think of a palatal expander as a clever way to make room for a gorgeous smile! It gently widens the upper jaw by applying a tiny bit of continuous pressure to the upper molars. Because a child’s jaw bone is still developing and flexible, this process is completely safe and helps correct crossbites, reduces severe crowding, and can even prevent the need for future tooth extractions or jaw surgery!
Not at all! When you or your child turns the expander key, they might feel a brief sensation of pressure across the roof of their mouth or up near their nose and cheekbones. This feeling is completely normal and usually fades away after just a few minutes. Most kids adapt incredibly quickly and get used to it within the first few days.
Yes, and it’s actually a cause for celebration! Seeing a gap develop between the two upper front teeth is the ultimate visual proof that the expander is doing its job and beautifully widening the jaw. Don’t worry, this gap is temporary. Once the active expansion phase is complete, the teeth will naturally start to coast back together, and any remaining spaces will be perfectly dialed in later with Metal Braces or Clear Aligners.
The active “turning” phase where you actively adjust the expander usually only lasts a few weeks. However, once the perfect width is achieved, the appliance will stay in place for about 4 to 6 months. This “holding” phase is super important because it gives the new bone structure time to safely solidify and prevent the jaw from shifting back.
Timing is everything! Palatal expanders work best during Early Orthodontic Care when a child is still growing. The left and right halves of the upper jaw don’t fully fuse together until after puberty, meaning we can gently and easily guide jaw development before that window closes. If you suspect your child might benefit from an expander, scheduling a complimentary consultation by age 7 is the perfect way to find out!
