Orthodontics

Orthodontic treatment moves teeth into better alignment over time. The two services we offer here are clear aligners for tooth movement and occlusal guards for protecting your teeth and jaw.

Clear aligners

Clear aligners are custom-made plastic trays that shift your teeth gradually. You wear each set for about one to two weeks, then move on to the next in the series. The total number of trays depends on how much movement is needed.

They’re a good fit for mild to moderate crowding, spacing issues, or front-tooth alignment concerns. They’re less suited to significant bite corrections or cases that need precise three-dimensional tooth control.

What makes them popular is mostly practical: the trays come out for eating and brushing, and they’re hard to notice when you’re wearing them. Adults and older teens tend to prefer them for those reasons.

Getting started involves a records appointment where we take photos, x-rays, and a digital scan. From those records, we can tell whether you’re a good candidate and what realistic movement looks like. If your situation calls for something beyond what aligners can address, we’ll tell you that clearly rather than starting a case that won’t finish well.

Treatment typically runs anywhere from six months to two years, depending on the case.

Occlusal and sports guards

An occlusal guard is a custom-fit appliance you wear over your teeth, usually at night. It’s used for two main situations.

Teeth grinding and clenching (bruxism) creates wear patterns on your enamel over time and can cause jaw soreness, headaches, and tooth sensitivity. A night guard puts a barrier between your upper and lower teeth so the grinding force doesn’t go directly into your enamel and joints.

Sports guards protect your teeth during contact sports or activities where a hit to the face is possible. A custom guard fits better and offers more protection than a boil-and-bite version from a drugstore.

We take an impression and have the guard made to fit your teeth specifically. It takes one or two appointments.