Orthodontic FAQs

No, age is not a factor, only the health of your gums and bone that support your teeth. About 25% of our orthodontic patients are adults, and that number is still growing!

Thanks to today’s smaller, less visible and more comfortable orthodontic appliances (including metal braces, ceramic braces, and Invisalign), adults find treatment appealing.

The American Association of Orthodontists and Dr. Sheinis recommend an orthodontic screening at age seven. By this age, most children in Huntington and Woodbury have several permanent teeth that have erupted, letting us evaluate their orthodontic needs.

By this age, Dr. Sheinis can spot subtle problems with jaw growth and emerging teeth while some baby teeth are still present.

That’s important, because some orthodontic problems may be easier to correct if they are found early at Shiney Smiles Orthodontics.

Most orthodontic patients at our Huntington and Woodbury office begin active braces treatment between ages 9 and 14.

Asking your general dentist is a good reference, but Shiney Smiles Orthodontics is your best resource since orthodontics is all we do. Your initial exam is free and we would be more than happy to see your child and make any recommendations necessary.

It’s usually difficult for you to determine if treatment is necessary because there are many problems that can occur even though the front teeth look straight. Also, there are some problems that look intimidating and complex which will resolve on their own.

Finding an orthodontist in Huntington or Woodbury who can help you achieve your smile dreams is important.

Orthodontists like Dr. Sheinis are dental specialists who diagnose, prevent and treat dental and facial irregularities.

This means Dr. Sheinis is better qualified to give you the smile of your dreams than you could get from aligners in the mail.

They receive an additional two to three years of specialized education beyond dental school to learn the proper way to align and straighten teeth.

Only those with this formal education may call themselves “orthodontists,” and only orthodontists may be members of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO).

Dr. Sheinis from Shiney Smiles Orthodontics has achieved this specialization and is an active member of AAO.

Braces or aligners may be on for between 6 months to 30 months, or longer depending on your age, the severity of the problem, your cooperation, and the degree of movement possible.

This can be determined through a free consultation at our Huntington or Woodbury office.

Although determining if treatment is necessary is difficult for you to assess, the following symptoms may help in prompting you to seek orthodontic advice from Dr. Sheinis.

Ask your child to open their mouth, and let you look at their teeth. If you see any signs of crooked teeth, gaps between your child’s teeth or overlapping teeth, your child may need orthodontic treatment.

Ask your child to bite all the way down, but keeping their lips open so you can see their teeth. Do the front top teeth line up with the bottom? Do the top teeth protrude out away from the bottom teeth? Do the top front teeth cover more than 50% of the bottom teeth? Are the top teeth behind the bottom teeth? All these are indicators for potential orthodontic treatment.

Look at the alignment of your child’s jaw. Does the jaw shift off center when your child bites down? If you see any misalignment or shifting of the jaw, your child may have a skeletal problem, which requires early orthodontic intervention.

These are only some of the obvious symptoms of orthodontic problems.

The cost of orthodontic treatment at Shiney Smiles Orthodontics depends on many factors, including the severity of the problem, how complex the problem is, and how long treatment lasts.

Dr. Sheinis will be glad to discuss the cost of treatment and your financing options with you before treatment begins.

When orthodontic treatment is implemented at the proper time, treatment is often less costly than the dental care required to treat the more serious problems that can develop years later.

Orthodontic fees have not increased as fast as many other consumer products. Financing is usually available and our office offers many payment programs that will meet your needs. In addition, many insurance plans now include orthodontics.

When Dr. Sheinis implements orthodontic treatment at the proper time, treatment is often less costly than the dental care required to treat the more serious problems that can develop years later.

The good news is that braces are more affordable today than ever. Our team also works with insurance companies and offers payment plans that meet your family’s budget.

No, age is not a factor, only the health of your gums and bone which support your teeth. About 25% of our orthodontic patients at Shiney Smiles Orthodontics are adults, and that number is still growing!

Orthodontic treatment has improved dramatically. As a rule, braces make your teeth sore for a few days, but it is not painful.

This annoyance can be relieved with an over-the-counter pain reliever. Today’s braces are smaller, more comfortable and use technology that reduces the discomfort.

Shiney Smiles Orthodontics uses the latest in miniature braces and the highest quality of orthodontic materials in order to reduce discomfort and treatment time.

Dr. Sheinis will recommend how long to continue wearing your retainers, whether they are removable (the kind you put in and take out) or fixed (bonded behind your teeth).

Wearing your retainers as prescribed is the best way to keep your teeth from moving after your orthodontic treatment.

There are many reasons teeth may move following orthodontic treatment. Teeth are not set in concrete, they’re in bone.

Because the bone around your teeth is continually changing (breaking down and rebuilding), your teeth may shift after your braces are removed.

By wearing your retainers, your teeth are more likely to remain where Dr. Sheinis has placed them through braces treatment.

The fact is that throughout your lifetime, even though you may have seen us for orthodontic treatment at Shiney Smiles Orthodontics, you can expect changes in tooth position.

Many factors at work may cause teeth to shift. Such changes are different for everyone, and most of the time, they are hardly noticeable.

However, on occasion, changes can occur that are disappointing to both the patient and Dr. Sheinis. Changes in tooth position are not a failure of your orthodontic treatment.

They are a natural process. We expect changes in our bodies as we grow older, and teeth are no exception.

To help control and limit these changes, Dr. Michael Sheinis will prescribe retainers after removing your braces.

No. Retainers stabilize and preserve the alignment of teeth and jaws that Dr. Michael Sheinis achieved through orthodontic treatment.

Many people wear removable retainers nightly for the rest of their lives. Ask Dr. Sheinis for guidance about your long-term retainer use.