Frequently Asked Questions

It depends on your unique situation, but sometimes in order to achieve optimal results, teeth may need to be removed. However, advanced technology and methods have made this less common.

Yes, absolutely! A tooth will a crown will move just like a regular tooth, and treatment will aid in the alignment of the remaining teeth.

Braces or Invisalign don’t “hurt,” but for the first couple days you may feel some slight discomfort. When there is soreness, Motrin, Advil (ibuprofen) or Tylenol (acetaminophen) can help ease the discomfort.

For soft tissue irritations, orthodontic wax that we provided for you and warm, salt-water rinses (one teaspoon of salt to about 4-6 ounces of warm, not hot, water) as often as needed. Remove the orthodontic wax prior to eating and replace as needed.

Absolutely. There’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to return to your normal daily life.

It’s essential to continue visiting the dentist during treatment, as failing to do so can lengthen treatment time.

Once you get your braces, Dr. Stormberg will review which foods you should avoid during treatment. A good rule of thumb is to avoid foods such as ice, hard candy, raw veggies, and all sticky foods. You can reference our list of Foods to Avoid page for more information.

You should brush your teeth after each meal, in tandem with your regular morning and night time routine. We’ll show you the best ways to care for your teeth while wearing your appliances.

Absolutely not! Each patient requires personalized treatment to achieve the best results possible.

Adult orthodontics is becoming more common, as orthodontic treatment helps increase overall happiness level, health, and self-esteem. It’s never too late for a beautiful smile!

It’s best to assume that braces will be needed after phase one treatment, but we’ll monitor your child’s growth and development to ensure the best treatment methods occur next.

The duration of Invisalign treatment can differ significantly from one person to another, ranging from as short as 6 months to as long as 24 months. This variability is influenced by the particular orthodontic issue being addressed and how consistently you wear your aligners and attend your scheduled visits.

Yes. In order for Invisalign to work as it’s designed, you must wear your aligners for up to 22 hours each day. You can remove them when eating and when brushing & flossing. You can also take them out temporarily for those special occasions such as interviews or school photos as long as you put them right back in afterward.

Invisalign aligners should be taken out before eating. A major advantage of using Invisalign is that it doesn’t impose any dietary restrictions. You’re free to eat all your preferred foods, such as hard-crusted bread and corn-on-the-cob, as long as you remove your aligners first. However, it’s important to at least rinse your mouth, if not brush, before putting the aligners back in. Be aware that colored foods and beverages like coffee, tea, red sauce, curry, and sodas can leave stains on your teeth, which may also affect your aligners and attachments over time.

When you begin using Invisalign, you might find that your speech isn’t as clear as usual. Don’t worry, as this is a common experience. You just need to adjust to the aligners. Practice speaking or singing aloud with the aligners in, and soon your speech clarity will normalize.

It’s best to avoid chewing gum while wearing aligners. It can stick to them and create quite a mess!

Because cigarette smoke can discolor and stain your aligners, smoking is not a good idea while wearing Invisalign.

It is very easy to clean your aligners. Just brush them gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush and then rinse them off to keep them fresh & clean. To keep them extra fresh, we offer Invisalign Cleaning Crystals or Retainer Brite to freshen up the trays 1-2 times per week!

At the beginning of treatment, we may see you every 3-4 weeks. As treatment progresses, we can usually monitor your progress every 8-12 weeks. Each tray could be worn 7-14 days, depending on cooperation and progress. Every patient’s needs are different, so that can vary from smile to smile.

Yes. The day you are finished wearing your aligners is when you begin the retention phase of your treatment. This is when you will wear a retainer as directed by us so your teeth do not shift back into their original positions.

Unfortunately, no. Orthodontic issues, such as spacing and malocclusions, tend to worsen with age. It’s important to be examined as early as possible, to ensure these problems are corrected sooner rather than later.

American Association of Orthodontists recommend you should schedule your child’s first appointment by age 7.

Orthodontic treatment and a child’s growth can complement each other.  By timing orthodontic treatment to predictable stages of dental development, the orthodontist may be able to take advantage of your child’s growth and development.

Some problems that can be treated quite well in a growing child may require corrective surgery or permanent teeth to be extracted if treated after growth has occurred.

We do our best to schedule you for the most convenient times based on your busy schedule, but cannot make any guarantees. However, most appointments are scheduled 4-10 weeks apart, so you or your child will miss minimal work/school time.

We strongly encourage an adult to be with a minor patient during their treatment. We understand schedules can be busy, we do review the procedure for the current appointment, ask if there are any questions/concerns of the patient/guardian, proceed with appointments under Dr. Stormberg’s supervision and review what will be recommended for the next visit. Appointments should be made prior to leaving the office or as soon as possible to get your preferred time/date for the next appointment.

If an orthodontic issue is severe enough, then early intervention can occur while the child still has baby teeth. If your child isn’t ready yet, we’ll simply monitor their growth and development, and begin treatment when they’re ready.

Between the ages 7 and 10, some patients require phase one (early) treatment, which usually lasts about 6-18 months. The goal of early treatment is to address more significant orthodontic issues to make later treatment processes smoother. It also drastically improves the child’s confidence and self-esteem levels.

You’ll find out if your child will need an expander after your initial consultation.

It’s best to assume that braces will be needed after phase one treatment, but we’ll monitor your child’s growth and development to ensure the best treatment methods occur next.

If your braces are hurting you or your child severely, or if one of your appliances breaks, you should call our office. We can solve most orthodontic emergencies over the phone, but will make time for you if your issue requires an office visit.

Of course! We do recommend that you use a mouthguard for braces (do not boil and bite) to protect your mouth during treatment. We do offer Shock Doctor mouthguards for braces in our office. Ask the assistant when you start treatment for one, we will provide your first mouthguard for you! We strongly recommend mouthguards during contact sports, even sports like baseball, softball to protect your mouth/braces/soft tissues.

Adult orthodontics is becoming more common, as orthodontic treatment helps increase overall happiness level, health, and self-esteem. It’s never too late for a beautiful smile!

Orthodontic specialists have the education, training and experience to effectively alter teeth, jaw, and facial structures to help patients achieve optimal oral health. It’s critical that treatment is personalized to each individual and properly completed, and choosing a specialist, like Dr. Stormberg, ensures that everything is done correctly.

It’s not required, but often times our patients are referred by their family dentist. However, patients also are referred by family members and friends, and take the initiative to schedule an appointment themselves.

Orthodontic specialists have the education, training and experience to effectively alter teeth, jaw, and facial structures to help patients achieve optimal oral health. It’s critical that treatment is personalized to each individual and properly completed, and choosing a specialist, like Dr. Stormberg, ensures that everything is done correctly.

You can schedule an appointment by calling our La Mesa office at (614) 462-4462, or you can complete an appointment request online. One of our staff members will take down some of your basic information, and let you know what you need to bring to our office for your appointment.

Before you leave, be sure to have all the necessary information needed to complete our new patient forms, including your insurance information. Then, Dr. Stormberg will complete the examination, which can include X-rays and photographs, to properly diagnose you or your child’s condition. If you want to learn even more about what happens, you can find more information on our First Visit page.

Treatment time varies from patient to patient, depending on the severity of the orthodontic issues. The average patient wears appliances anywhere from 18-24 months, and total treatment time ranges from about 12-30 months.

No, as shots are not necessary for orthodontic treatment.