Category: Choosing a Provider
★ The short version Airway orthodontics means using orthodontic appliances, such as palatal expanders, with the goal of improving breathing and sleep. The idea that the jaws and the airway are linked is more than 150 years old and has real roots, but over the last decade it has grown into a marketing movement that […]
★ The short version Yes, many orthodontists offer Saturday or evening appointments, though weekend hours are more limited than weekdays and some offices only open one Saturday a month. Weekend hours matter most for working parents and students who cannot miss school or work for every visit. Demand is high, and most patients say they […]
★ The short version A growing share of orthodontic offices are owned not by the treating doctor but by private-equity-backed groups. Private equity firms typically buy a practice, grow its profits, and resell it in about four to five years, which creates pressure to raise revenue and control costs before that sale. That does not […]
★ The short version DIY and mail-order clear aligners promise a cheaper, at-home smile, but straightening your own teeth without a professional exam can backfire. The main risk is that no one takes X-rays, checks your gums and roots, or supervises the movement, so real problems get missed and teeth can be damaged or loosened. […]
★ The short version A board-certified orthodontist is one who has voluntarily passed the rigorous exams of the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO), the specialty’s only ADA-recognized certifying board. All orthodontists are licensed and trained, but only about one in three go on to earn board certification, and they renew it every ten years. It […]
★ The short version You might need braces if you have crowded or crooked teeth, noticeable gaps, a bite that does not line up, difficulty chewing or cleaning your teeth, or jaw pain. Only an orthodontist can say for sure, and the evaluation is often free. Braces are not just for kids, and many adults […]
