Braces
Getting braces is a significant step toward achieving the smile you’ve always wanted. At MacPhail Signature Smiles, Dr. Dr. MacPhail, DDS understands that straightening your teeth isn’t just about improving your appearance—it’s about boosting your confidence and enhancing your overall oral health. Our experienced team provides personalized orthodontic care using the latest techniques and technologies to ensure your journey to a straighter smile is comfortable, efficient, and successful.
Understanding Braces
Braces are orthodontic devices designed to gradually move misaligned teeth into their proper positions. They consist of brackets attached to your teeth, connected by wires, and sometimes reinforced with rubber bands. Modern braces come in various types, including traditional metal braces, ceramic braces, and self-ligating systems, each offering unique benefits depending on your specific needs and preferences.
The goal of braces goes beyond aesthetics. While a straighter smile is certainly a welcome result, braces also correct bite issues, improve chewing function, and make teeth easier to clean—reducing your risk of cavities and gum disease in the long run.
Serving areas of Okemos, Lansing, and East Lansing, MI
Straightening Your Teeth, Upgrading Your Smile
Orthodontic treatment usually requires two separate periods of treatment: The active stage and retention stage. The active stage refers to the time when we are guiding the movement of teeth into their proper positions. The retention stage occurs after braces are removed and the tooth alignment is being held in place for a period of time with retainers.
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With younger children, the active stage may be broken into two phases. The first, or early phase (Phase One), involves the use of special appliances to direct the growth of the jaw(s) for the most optimal development. The second phase (Phase Two) is the active ‘full braces’ phase to finish the correction and detailing of the teeth and bite.
Some of the factors that determine the amount of time your active treatment will last include:
- Treatment goals
- How your body responds to treatment
- The degree of complexity of your orthodontic problem
Treatment time is different for every patient. Treatment may seem to last a long time, but your brilliant new smile will reward you for years after the braces are removed. You can depend on our Okemos braces and orthodontics treatments to help your smile shine bright and beautifully.
Benefits of Braces
Our Orthodontic Treatment Process
Comprehensive Evaluation
We begin with a detailed examination of your teeth, jaws, and oral structures using X-rays, photographs, and digital scans. This thorough assessment allows our team to identify specific alignment issues and determine the most effective treatment approach for your unique situation. You’ll have the opportunity to discuss your goals and concerns with our experienced orthodontists who will explain how braces can address your specific needs.
Personalized Treatment Strategy
Your custom braces plan outlines the recommended bracket type, projected timeline, and expected outcomes based on your dental structure and goals. We provide complete transparency regarding treatment costs, insurance coverage, and convenient payment options to help you make informed decisions. Each plan is meticulously designed to achieve optimal results while accommodating your lifestyle and preferences.
Active Treatment Phase
The active stage focuses on gradually moving your teeth into their correct positions through precisely calibrated pressure from brackets and wires. For younger patients, we implement a two-phase approach—first using specialized appliances to guide jaw development, then applying full braces to finalize alignment. Regular adjustment appointments allow us to monitor progress and make necessary modifications to ensure effective tooth movement with minimal discomfort.
Oral Health Management
Proper cleaning techniques become essential during braces treatment to prevent cavities and gum inflammation around brackets and wires. We’ll demonstrate specific brushing methods and recommend specialized tools like water flossers and interdental brushes to maintain excellent oral hygiene. Regular professional cleanings complement your home care routine to keep your teeth healthy throughout the orthodontic process.
Retention and Preservation
Custom retainers stabilize your newly positioned teeth while surrounding bone and gum tissue adapt to these changes. The retention phase is crucial for maintaining your results and preventing teeth from shifting back to their original positions. We schedule periodic check-ups to assess your retainer fit and make adjustments as needed to protect your investment in a straighter, healthier smile.
After the Removal of Your Braces
The retention stage that will immediately follow the removal of braces is the final and most important stage of all. When your braces are removed, your bone and gums will still be adjusting to the movement caused by your braces. Until the bone and gums stabilize, your teeth will want to naturally shift back to their original position. In order to prevent this, we will customize your retainer to your individual needs. A retainer is an orthodontic appliance that holds your teeth in their new positions until the bone and gums adjust. The length of time that the retainer must be worn will vary, as will the amount of hours daily it must be worn.
Also, Dr. MacPhail now has the new CBCT technology to help her achieve higher-quality orthodontic treatment results.
What Sets Our Dental Approach Apart
At MacPhail Signature Smiles, we combine advanced orthodontic technology with personalized care that considers your unique dental structure and lifestyle needs. Our team stays current with the latest developments in orthodontics, including CBCT imaging that allows for unprecedented precision in treatment planning and bracket placement.
We create a comfortable environment where questions are encouraged, appointment times respect your schedule, and financial discussions remain transparent—because we believe exceptional orthodontic care should be both technically superior and genuinely patient-focused.
Reveal Your Confident Smile With Us
Take the first step toward straighter teeth and improved oral health with expert orthodontic care from Dr. Dr. MacPhail, DDS. Contact MacPhail Signature Smiles at 517-347-6733 to schedule your comprehensive braces consultation, or connect with us on Facebook and Instagram to see real patient transformations and learn more about our approach to braces treatment.
FAQs
How much do braces cost?
Traditional metal braces typically cost between $3,000-$7,000, while ceramic options run slightly higher based on your specific treatment needs. Dental insurance with orthodontic benefits may cover 25-50% of these costs, subject to your plan’s lifetime maximum benefit. We offer flexible payment plans with low monthly options to make treatment more budget-friendly for families without insurance coverage.
Do braces hurt?
Most patients experience pressure and mild soreness for 2-3 days after initial placement and subsequent adjustments rather than sharp pain. Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen effectively manage this temporary discomfort when taken as directed. The adjustment period becomes progressively shorter as treatment continues, with most patients reporting minimal disruption to their daily activities.
Can you chew gum with braces?
Gum is strictly prohibited during orthodontic treatment as it adheres to brackets and wires, potentially causing damage that extends your treatment timeline. Sugar-free mints provide a safer alternative for freshening breath without risking bracket detachment or wire distortion. Damaging your braces with restricted foods like gum often necessitates emergency repair appointments that aren’t typically covered by insurance.
Does insurance cover braces?
Most dental insurance plans with orthodontic benefits cover 25-50% of braces treatment up to a specified lifetime maximum, typically between $1,000-$2,000. Coverage percentages vary significantly between providers, with some plans covering only dependents under age 19 while others include adult treatment. Our insurance coordinator verifies your specific benefits before treatment begins and can help maximize your coverage through strategic treatment timing.
How do braces work?
Brackets bonded to your teeth hold an archwire that applies precise, consistent pressure to gradually shift teeth into alignment based on your customized treatment plan. This controlled force stimulates cellular activity that dissolves bone tissue on the pressure side while simultaneously building new bone on the opposite side, allowing teeth to move without loosening. Periodic adjustments modify this pressure to address specific alignment issues in a sequential manner that protects tooth roots and supporting structures.
How long do braces take?
Average treatment time ranges from 18-24 months, though simple alignment cases may finish in as little as 12 months while complex bite corrections often require up to 36 months. Your treatment duration depends primarily on the severity of your orthodontic issues, consistency with elastic wear instructions, and your individual biological response to treatment. Adults typically require longer treatment periods than adolescents due to denser bone structure and completed jaw development.
How to floss with braces?
Thread specially designed orthodontic floss under your archwire using a floss threader, then wrap it around each tooth in a C-shape to remove plaque along the gumline and between teeth. Water flossers provide an effective alternative that cleans around brackets and under wires with a pressurized stream of water, reducing flossing time by up to 50%. Interdental brushes shaped like tiny Christmas trees can reach areas where traditional floss struggles, making them valuable additions to your cleaning routine.
