Orthodontics moves teeth slowly into a better position, using fixed braces or a numbered series of clear removable aligners. You need it when crowding, gaps or a bite problem makes teeth hard to clean, wears them down or bothers you.
When you might need this
- Teeth overlap or twist so floss will not get between them.
- Your front teeth stick out, or your top and bottom teeth do not meet when you bite.
- Gaps between teeth trap food, or a tooth is drifting into the space where one was lost.
- Your teen's adult teeth have come in crowded or crooked.
- You had braces years ago, stopped wearing the retainer, and teeth have shifted.
What happens
Assessment
Dr. Malik examines your teeth, bite and jaw and takes X-rays. He tells you whether braces or aligners fit your case, or whether you need neither.
Scan and plan
We scan your teeth and Dr. Malik maps how each one needs to move. You see the plan and the expected number of months before anything is fitted.
Fitting
Braces are bonded to the teeth in one visit, no needles needed. With aligners, you leave with your first trays and clear instructions on how many hours a day to wear them.
Adjustment visits
You come back every several weeks so Dr. Malik can adjust wires or hand you the next trays. Treatment usually runs many months, often more than a year.
Retainers
When the teeth are in position, the braces come off or the last tray is finished. You wear a retainer afterwards, mostly at night, to keep the teeth from drifting back.
Cost and insurance
Braces and aligners are priced as one course of treatment, not visit by visit, and the course usually spans a year or more. Many dental plans have a separate orthodontic benefit, often with a lifetime limit, and some cover adults as well as children. We bill your insurance directly. You see the estimate in writing before anything starts, covering the full course and exactly what it includes. No insurance? We tell you the cost up front.
Questions people ask
Am I too old for braces?
No. Teeth move at any age as long as the gums and bone around them are healthy. Many adults choose aligners because they come out for meals and for a photo or a meeting.
Braces or Invisalign: which is better?
Neither is better; they suit different problems and different people. Aligners work well for mild to moderate crowding and spacing, but only if you wear them about 22 hours a day. Braces handle bigger movements and bite corrections, and they cannot be left in a lunch bag.
How long do braces take?
Usually many months, and often more than a year. Dr. Malik gives you an expected range after the scan; it depends on how far the teeth must move and, with aligners, on how consistently you wear them.
Do braces hurt?
Teeth feel tender for a few days after each adjustment or new tray; over-the-counter pain relief and soft food get you through it. If a wire is poking your cheek, call 647.479.3151 and we fix it.
Related services
Book a visit
Book an assessment and Dr. Malik tells you straight which option fits, or whether you need either at all.