FAQ's

Below are some of the most frequently asked questions patients have about orthdontics.  If you have any other questions, or would like to schedule an appointment, we would love to hear from you. Please feel free to call us at (949) 654-2200, or e-mail us at smile@legacybraces.com.

Please click on a question below to see the answer.

Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that specializes in the diagnostics, prevention and treatment of dental and facial irregularities. Braces, Aligners, and other appliances are used to make corrections by moving teeth and bone and give you the smile you have always wanted!

An Orthodontist is an expert at moving teeth, helping jaws develop properly and working to help make sure the teeth stay in their new positions. The appearance of teeth and even sometimes faces are permanently changed by orthodontic treatment; therefore, it is very important that your treatment be done properly. Both of our Orthodontists at Legacy are licensed in the state of California and certified by the Diplomates American Board of Orthodontics to practice.
           
    • Children

    The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child seeking orthodontic treatment should be seen by age 7. By this age enough permanent (adult) teeth have come in and enough jaw growth has occurred that problems can be identified. Early consultation allows the orthodontist to determine the optimum time for treatment to begin. It is a common misconception that treatment should begin once all adult teeth are present, only to find that treatment would have been much easier if started earlier. Early treatment can eliminate the need for more drastic measures. In some cases, satisfactory results are unattainable once the face and jaws have stopped growing.

    • Adults
    Adults can be treated at any age as long as the gums and the bone holding the teeth are healthy.

 

If it is important to you to consult with loved ones before making treatment commitments, you are encouraged to bring all the important decision makers with you to this appointment.
Every mouth is different; therefore treatment time varies from patient to patient based upon how severe the case is. The better the patient is at following your Orthodontists instructions for appliances and taking care of the braces, the sooner the teeth will improve!

The fee for an individual’s orthodontic treatment will depend on many factors, including how severe the problem is, how complex treatment is, and duration of treatment the price can be determined at the time of the complimentary consultation .

The doctor’s believe strongly that money should not stand between you and the smile you’ve always wanted; therefore we offer no interest financing and accept many dental insurance plans that cover orthodontic treatment. Upon calling to make the consultation appointment, we will collect insurance information for you and verify your benefits before the appointment.

Although a referral from your family dentist helps communicate to us your dentist's concerns more clearly it is never needed, if we have any questions, we will happily contact your dentist for you. Our primary way of obtaining new patients is from “word of mouth” recommendations from friends, families or existing patients! We love when patients relay to friends how happy they were with treatment!

Legacy Orthodontics accepts most HMO and PPO insurance plans! When you call to make your complimentary consultation appointment, we will collect insurance information for you and we will be happy to verify your benefits before the consultation so we have the most accurate information as possible.

Straighter teeth perform chewing, biting, and speaking functions more effectively than crooked teeth. In addition, a straight smile boosts confidence, is aesthetically pleasing to look at, and can avoid a wide variety of dental ailments.

There are several types of malocclusion including overbite, underbite, crossbite, and overcrowding. Each of these alignment problems negatively impacts the functionality and cosmetic appearance of the teeth.

Here is a brief overview of some of the main disorders associated with crooked teeth:

Periodontitis – Periodontitis or gum disease begins with a bacterial infection. The bacterial infection is caused by inadequate oral hygiene. Crooked teeth are hard to effectively clean, which means that debris, plaque, and bacteria can build up in hard-to-reach areas.Straight teeth are much easier to clean and are at less risk of contracting gum disease.

Temporomandibular Disorder (TMJ) - Crooked teeth can lead to improper jaw alignment, which in turn causes a painful condition known as TMJ.Severe headaches, jaw pain, lockjaw, and grinding of teeth characterize this debilitating disorder.

Tooth injury – Straight teeth create a strong wall, which means injuries are less likely to occur. Crooked teeth are weaker and often protrude, making them far more vulnerable to external injury.

Uneven wear – Crooked teeth cause some of the teeth to work harder than others when biting and chewing. Straight teeth share the workload evenly, meaning less risk of injury and better aesthetics.

Teeth can be straightened using either orthodontic braces or customized aligning trays. Orthodontic braces are usually affixed to the teeth for a set duration. The brackets and archwires are tightened regularly by the orthodontist and removed when treatment is complete. Fixed braces can be placed on the front side or back side of the teeth and are effective for most types of malocclusion.

Aligning trays are fully removable and are used where the malocclusion is less severe, and the teeth need to move a shorter distance. These trays are replaced every few weeks for the duration of the treatment, and have proven to be equally effective for straightening teeth.

If we can address any questions you have about orthodontics and straightening teeth, please feel free contact our office at (949) 654-2200.
"I wanted to get braces and wanted to get it from a good orthodontist. So I did my research and went to 4 different consultations including one from Legacy. The other orthodontists said that I wouldn't need any extractions, even though I had crowding. However, Dr. William Chen and Dr. Pham from Legacy, recommended an extraction due to crowding, which made more sense, because if I didn't get an extraction then my teeth would extend out. So I decided to get my braces done here which I love going to. The doctors and staff here are welcoming and friendly every time I walk into the office. They take their time working on my braces and never rush. The cool part about going here is that they have this rewards system called "Legacy Cash" where you get these money cards and if you earn up to a certain amount, you redeem them for prizes such as movie tickets, go kart racing, ipods, and even an ipad! You earn them by going to your appointments on time, getting your regular cleanings done, and other things to motivate you. Overall I love going here and definitely recommend this office to anyone who wants braces done by professionals who know what they're doing and who take their time working on you."
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Nina B.
"Dr. Chen and the staff at Legacy Orthodontics have been amazing. I decided to fix some minor problems in my bite as an adult and couldn't decide if I wanted to wear braces again. I initially took my son there for his braces and soon after decided to start a treatment plan myself. I couldn't imagine better. It has been easy to make appointments and the staff throughout the office is welcoming and friendly. It is clear they all enjoy working for Dr. Chen. I look forward to a perfect smile again and am truly glad I decided to have my family be part of the Legacy Orthodontics family."
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Sandie Toohey
"Legacy Orthodontics Rocks! Thanks Dr. Chen and your staff for making my braces really cool and my smile so colorful. You have such a great office where everyone is so nice and always in a good mood. Its a fun place to visit and I'm glad my mom chose your office for my braces!"
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Colin Toohey
"Legacy Orthodontics is the place to go for braces! Professionalism, perfection, and friendly atmosphere is Legacy Orthodontics. My son just had his braces taken off and they are as straight as straight can be ... very satisfied! Looking forward to using Dr. Pham again with my other two sons when the time comes for them to wear braces."

Thank You!
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Dana Reed
"I've always been one to be very apprehensive and uncomfortable when it comes to anything medical or dental. The thought of teeth being pulled and needles is very unsettling to me to say the least. I've recently decided that I wanted to correct some crowding with my teeth and just be happier with my smile which I've always been somewhat insecure with. I was talking to a friend and he recommended I go into Legacy Orthodontics for a consultation for braces (this would be the 3rd different office I was seeking consultation with, I was not happy with the 1st two)."

As I first walked into Legacy Orthodontics, I was pleased to see that the office was very modern and spacious. I was immediately greeted by the friendly staff and they managed to put me at ease. I didn't have to wait long at all and was introduced to Dr. Pham.

Not only was Dr. Pham knowledgeable and informative, he was able to clearly communicate the whole process to me and make me comfortable with the decision that I was making. He had an uncanny way of relating to me and understood exactly what I was trying to accomplish. Most doctors throw complex jar-gain at their patients but not Dr. Pham, he was able to express and convey his message in a way that I was able to understand completely. After the consultation, I was able to ask all the questions that I had and that was when I knew that this was the man that was going to give me my million dollar smile.

I believe choosing the right doctor and office is the most essential part of the whole braces experience and I would recommend Legacy Orthodontics to anyone thinking about getting braces or other work done on their teeth.

Oh, they also have a really cool X-ray machine that does a complete 360 degree rotation around your mouth without any physical contact. I loved this because I hate the X-ray process when they have to stick those uncomfortable pads in your mouth.
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Robert C.
"When I was treated by Dr. Chen, I knew I was in good hands! Dr. Chen is a perfectionist when it comes to his profession. He designed a treatment plan for me with minimal discomfort, reasonable duration time, and all the while preserving / enhancing my smile. Contrary to other proposals I received, Dr. Chen was able to find space to straighten my teeth without pulling good teeth out! His intelligence and integrity won 100% of my trust. I live over 1 hour away from his office, but I gladly made the monthly visits to his office because it's worth it! Now when I look at myself in the mirror, I only wish I could have done it sooner!"
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Bella D.
"We looked around quite a bit for the right orthodontist for our son. We chose Legacy and are very happy to have done so. The office is very modern and clean. The staff, especially Cindy made us feel comfortable. She was very professional and explained everything in a way we could understand. We didn't feel pressured or confused whatsoever. Whenever we have a question, she is always attentive to our needs. Dr. Pham has been perfect as well. Thank you Cindy and Dr. Pham for the great smile!!!"
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J.S.
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