Maldonado Orthodontics

At Maldonado Orthodontics, we accept any insurance that offers orthodontic benefits. We will also review your insurance policy and help to maximize your benefit and file your claims.

Following the completion of your treatment, we will begin the retention phase to make sure you keep your beautiful new smile. We use several types of retainers, including removable retainers and fixed retainers. Removable retainers need to be worn for at least 12 hours/day for the first 6 months following completion of treatment, then should be worn at night while you sleep for 2 years. Long term, retainers should be worn enough to keep them fitting properly, which is typically 2-3 nights each week.

Clear aligners are a series of clear, thin, plastic-like trays that are formed to fit an individual’s teeth and designed to gradually move teeth to their ideal position. Invisalign is a company that charges an expensive fee to produce clear aligners for Orthodontists and General Dentists. At Maldonado Orthodontics, many of our clear aligners are produced in our own office using advanced software in combination with a 3D printer. This process avoids a pricey lab fee, therefore reducing the overall cost to you. In more complex treatments involving clear aligners, we partnered with 3M Clarity to help manufacture our aligners. Clear Aligners and Metal Braces each have their pros/cons. The aesthetics of clear aligners makes them an attractive option for patients who wish to improve their smile without wearing braces. However, clear aligners only work if they are worn every day for 22 hours/day, and they must be taken out to eat, drink anything other than water, and brush their teeth.

Treatment time obviously depends on each patient's specific orthodontic problem. In general, comprehensive treatment times range from 18 to 30 months. The "average" time frame a person is in treatment is approximately 24 months. However, many adults have a minor orthodontic problem, which can be accomplished in as little as 3-6 months.

Yes. Once treatment begins, we will explain the complete instructions and provide a comprehensive list of foods to avoid. Some of those foods include: ice, hard candy, raw vegetables and all sticky foods (i.e. caramel and taffy). You can avoid most emergency appointments to repair broken or damaged braces by carefully following our instructions.

If you or your child can potentially benefit from orthodontic treatment, simply call our office or contact us online. We will be happy to schedule an appointment for you. When you call to schedule your appointment, our front office staff will request some basic information from you. You can also print and fill out a registration form ahead of time.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends an orthodontic screening at age 7. By this age, several permanent teeth in most children have erupted, allowing us to effectively evaluate your orthodontic condition.

There are five essential questions that we will cover during the initial examination: Is there an orthodontic problem, and if so, what is it? What must be done to correct the problem? Will any teeth need to be removed? How long will the treatment take to complete? How much will the treatment cost?