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- Adult Orthodontics
- Braces
- Clear Aligners
- Custom Aligners
- Early Orthodontics
- LightForce
- Orthodontic Emergencies
- Spark Aligners
We offer traditional metal braces, clear ceramic options, and cutting-edge LightForce 3D-printed braces which are custom-built for the unique contours of your teeth to increase precision and overall comfort.
Absolutely not! Braces are highly effective at any stage of life. While many children benefit from early intervention, we craft customized treatment paths for individuals of all ages through our dedicated adult orthodontics program.
Don’t panic. Minor breakage is common. If a bracket loosens or a wire begins poking your cheek, review our guide on handling orthodontic emergencies at home, and call our office right away so we can schedule a quick repair appointment.
Treatment timelines vary based on your specific bite complexity. On average, standard treatment lasts between 12 to 24 months. However, choosing fully customized systems like LightForce can often reduce your overall time in treatment and require fewer adjustments.
Yes, you will need to avoid hard, sticky, or exceptionally chewy foods (like popcorn, ice, and caramel) that can damage brackets. If you prefer a treatment path with zero dietary restrictions, you might want to look into our removable clear aligners options.
Traditional systems utilize mass-produced, one-size-fits-all brackets. LightForce uses an advanced digital workflow to 3D-print 100% custom translucent brackets tailored perfectly to the shape of each tooth. This results in fewer adjustment visits and a shorter overall treatment time compared to standard braces.
Yes. Because the brackets are perfectly mapped out via an advanced 3D scan of your mouth, they exert more precise, gentle pressures, reducing the typical discomfort associated with traditional archwire adjustments.
Definitely. LightForce is a premier choice within our adult orthodontics options because it offers a discreet look alongside faster treatment timelines—ideal for professionals with busy schedules.
While LightForce brackets are engineered for a highly secure bond, accidents can happen. If one comes loose, treat it like any other orthodontic emergency by applying wax if it pokes you, and call our office so we can 3D-print a replacement placement guide if necessary.
Because they are fully customized, the lab investment is slightly different, but we work hard to keep them highly accessible. We build flexible, in-office payment plans for LightForce just like we do for our standard braces and aligners.
For clear aligners to effectively move your teeth, they must be worn for 22 hours per day. They should only be removed when eating, drinking anything other than clear water, brushing, or flossing.
We primarily offer two distinct treatment pathways depending on your goals. For comprehensive smile corrections, we prefer Spark Aligners. For minor cosmetic shifts or minor relapse corrections, we produce affordable in-office custom aligners.
For the majority of patients, yes. Modern advanced clear aligner materials can correct complex crowding and bite issues just like standard braces. Dr. Bruno will determine which option is best suited for your structural alignment during your initial consultation.
You may notice a very slight lisp during the first few days of wearing a new tray as your tongue adjusts to the plastic. This is completely temporary and usually disappears within 48 to 72 hours.
Teens are fantastic candidates for aligners! We offer clear trays with compliance indicators to ensure they are being worn long enough. However, if you worry about your child losing their trays, our custom LightForce fixed braces are an excellent alternative.
Spark Aligners are engineered using TruGEN™ material, making them clearer, more stain-resistant, and more comfortable than many alternative brands. Their scalloped, polished edges prevent gum irritation, making them a top-tier choice under our general clear aligners menu.
Yes. Spark’s proprietary material provides superior surface contact with your teeth, allowing for more predictable tooth movement. This allows us to resolve moderate-to-severe alignment issues that used to require traditional braces.
TruGEN™ material is highly stain-resistant compared to the leading competitor. However, we still strongly recommend removing your aligners before drinking hot or colored liquids to prevent any warping or trapping of liquid against your teeth.
Absolutely. Spark is highly popular in our adult orthodontics program because the extreme clarity of the plastic makes them virtually unnoticeable in professional workplace environments.
Rinse them in lukewarm water every time you take them out. Clean them gently using a soft-bristled toothbrush and mild soap or specialized cleaning tablets. Avoid hot water, as it can warp the custom-molded medical plastic.
Our custom in-office trays are fabricated right here at Clawson Orthodontics using our advanced 3D printing setup. They utilize the exact same high-grade clear plastics as major brands but eliminate external laboratory manufacturing fees, offering an affordable option for minor corrections under our broader clear aligners treatments.
They are perfect for patients experiencing mild crowding, slight gaps, or adults experiencing orthodontic relapse (where teeth have shifted slightly years after their initial braces were removed).
Because we eliminate the third-party shipping and lab fees associated with Spark Aligners, our local custom trays are highly cost-effective for targeted, short-term cosmetic fixes.
Because these are designed for minor adjustments rather than complex jaw remodeling, treatment timelines are often much shorter—frequently wrapped up within 3 to 9 months.
This is a major benefit of local manufacturing! Instead of waiting weeks for an external factory to ship a replacement, we can access your digital 3D scans and print a replacement tray right here in our office to keep your treatment on schedule. If this happens, follow our orthodontic emergencies protocol and contact us immediately.
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a child’s first evaluation by age 7. While most kids won’t need immediate treatment, early monitoring helps us intercept severe structural jaw discrepancies before they complicate growth.
Phase 1 treatment focuses on correcting jaw growth and structural bite issues (like underbites or narrow arches) while baby teeth are still present. This creates a healthy foundation for adult teeth and minimizes the time your child will need standard braces later in their teens.
Not necessarily, but it makes Phase 2 treatment (full braces or aligners) much faster, simpler, and less invasive. It often prevents the need for permanent tooth extractions or corrective jaw surgery down the road.
Look for early or late loss of baby teeth, difficulty chewing, mouth breathing, thumb-sucking past age 5, or noticeably crowded or misplaced teeth. If you see these signs, a quick evaluation can determine if intervention is needed.
While traditional appliances are common for structural jaw widening, specialized early clear growth-tracking systems can be used. If fixed appliances worry your child, we can explore advanced options like clear aligners designed for growing smiles.
Absolutely. While healthy bone structure is required, teeth can be safely aligned at any age. We routinely help adults get healthy, aligned smiles using highly aesthetic options like clear aligners or translucent LightForce custom braces.
Modern options are designed to be incredibly low-profile. Our Spark Aligners are virtually invisible in meetings and social settings, and they can be removed entirely for brief periods or special events.
Yes. Teeth with crowns or fillings can be safely moved. While dental implants cannot move once placed, we can design your orthodontic blueprint to move the surrounding teeth around the implant perfectly.
This is known as orthodontic relapse, and it is very common. For minor shifts, you may be an excellent candidate for our quick and affordable in-office custom aligners rather than undergoing full comprehensive treatment again.
No, the biological process of moving teeth is identical. While you will feel some mild tightness or pressure for a couple of days following adjustments, choosing advanced, customized systems like LightForce minimizes overall discomfort due to precision engineering.
True emergencies involve severe, unmanageable pain, facial trauma, or an appliance piece directly interfering with swallowing or breathing. Loose brackets or slightly poking wires from your braces are inconvenient but can usually be temporarily managed with orthodontic wax until our team can schedule a repair visit.
If a bracket becomes loose but is still attached to the wire, apply a small ball of orthodontic wax to keep it steady. If you damage or lose a tray from your clear aligners system, switch back to your previous tray to prevent your teeth from shifting, and call our office on Monday morning.
If an archwire is irritating your cheek, try using the eraser end of a pencil to gently push the wire flat against the tooth. If it won’t move, cover the sharp tip completely with a generous piece of orthodontic relief wax and contact us to clip it cleanly.
If an appliance from our early orthodontics program becomes loose or bent, stop turning any expanders immediately. Call our office so we can guide you on whether an immediate visit is required to prevent irritation to their gums or palate.
We strongly recommend calling our office before heading over so we can prepare a chair for you. This allows us to adjust our daily schedule, minimize your wait time, and get you comfortable and out of pain as quickly and safely as possible!