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.