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Straight teeth matter because they provide more than a great smile. Teeth are like gears on a wheel. They are made to fit together in a certain way to do a certain job.

As long as your retainer doesn’t hurt and still fits over your teeth, you can wear it – even if it feels tight. Your teeth may have slightly shifted, and you may need to wear your retainer longer each day to prevent your teeth from moving.

In short, yes. While thumb sucking or pacifier use is one of an infant’s natural reflexes, prolonged sucking can exert force on the teeth and jaws.

Orthodontists are specialized in properly aligning teeth and jaws and possess the dental training to give you your best smile, making them the definitely-right person for orthodontic treatment.

In most cases, yes, you can use your HSA or FSA for eligible orthodontic treatment. Orthodontic payments(s) not paid by your insurance may be considered an eligible expense.

Orthodontic health can be more manageable if you get ahead of it. And it may help you avoid more costly or more invasive treatments down the road.

By age 7, your child has enough permanent teeth that an orthodontist can spot a problem before it becomes… well, a bigger problem.

Orthodontists use x-rays to check below the surface to look for extra teeth, missing teeth, impacted teeth or teeth coming into the wrong positions.