FAQs

It’s best to see an orthodontist when an uneven bite or overcrowding becomes apparent. Certain problems can cause pain and jaw issues over time. Orthodontic treatment can be helpful for kids, teens and adults.

Many orthodontic issues can be addressed or improved BEFORE all the baby teeth have fallen out. Creating space for adult teeth usually leads to a better and more predictable final outcome.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children have their first orthodontic evaluation around the age of seven. Since a child’s teeth and jaws are still developing, early intervention makes it easier to treat orthodontic problems. However, you’re never too old to receive orthodontic treatment.

Yes!  About 40% of Dr. Yang’s patients are adults.

We’ve treated patients into their 80s.  If your bones and gums are healthy, we can usually safely move your teeth to a better position

Yes, the initial consultation is complimentary.

Clear signs of a potential bite problem include protruding teeth, large overbites, deep bites, crowded teeth, or teeth erupting out of position. Other indications that can be harder to detect include mouth breathing, speech difficulties, frequent cheek or palate biting, teeth not aligning properly when the mouth closes, and jaw clicking or popping when it moves.

In comparison to general dentists, Dr. Yang completed an additional three years of training in orthodontics at the University of Southern California and focuses exclusively on treating orthodontic patients. There are certain things that general dentists often miss when diagnosing or formulating orthodontic treatment plans.

You do not need a referral from your dentist to be seen by Dr. Yang.  If you have a complex case, Dr. Yang will likely want to speak with your dentist after your consultation here.

Yes, we offer flexible payment plans and are happy to work with you to make treatment affordable.

As a courtesy, our office will do our best to adjust the payment plan to align with your treatment schedule; however, it is not directly tied to the length of the treatment.

Most insurance plans provide full benefits over the course of the treatment after an initial payment, but a few may cover the entire amount upfront.

The amount of time spent in braces varies for each patient, as every smile responds differently to treatment. While treatment can range from six to 30 months, most standard cases take approximately 18 to 22 months. Braces are no longer as intrusive or uncomfortable as they once were, thanks to technological advancements.

For patients with braces, every 6-8 weeks.  For patients with Invisalign, every 10-12 weeks.

This depends on your bite. But often aligning only the lower teeth without treating the upper teeth can cause the lower teeth to hit the backs of the upper front teeth, potentially leading to unwanted bite problems.

Not necessarily.  Usually there will still be some fine-tuning and bite correction that happens in the final phase (Phase 2).

Yes, we often work with children who have diagnosed and undiagnosed sleep issues.