Orthodontic Questions? Let’s Make It Simple.

Orthodontics is the dental specialty focused on improving the position of the teeth and jaws. Treatment can straighten crowded or spaced teeth, improve how the bite fits together, make brushing and flossing easier, and help you feel more confident when you smile.

At Brodsky Orthodontics, Dr. Joel Brodsky and Dr. Charles Brodsky create personalized plans for children, teens, and adults using the treatment option that best fits each patient’s needs and lifestyle.

An initial orthodontic evaluation is generally recommended around age seven. At that age, a child usually has a mix of baby and permanent teeth, which allows the orthodontist to evaluate jaw growth, tooth eruption, crowding, crossbites, and other developing concerns.

An early visit does not automatically mean early treatment. Many children are simply monitored until the timing is right.

No. Healthy teeth can be moved at nearly any age, and Brodsky Orthodontics treats adults as well as children and teens. Many adults choose orthodontic treatment to address crowding, spacing, bite concerns, shifting after previous treatment, or a smile they have wanted to improve for years.

Options such as Invisalign® clear aligners and clear ceramic braces can make treatment feel more discreet.

Your free consultation is designed to give you clear answers without pressure. The Brodsky team will learn about your goals, evaluate your teeth and bite, take any needed digital records, and explain whether treatment is recommended.

You will also review suitable treatment options, an estimated timeline, fees, insurance benefits, and payment choices before deciding how you would like to proceed.

In many cases, a same-day start may be available for patients who are ready and whose treatment records and plan can be completed that day. The team will first make sure the recommended option is appropriate and that you understand the plan, responsibilities, and financial arrangements.

Availability can vary, so mention your interest when you schedule your free consultation.

Brodsky Orthodontics offers modern treatment options for a wide range of smile and bite needs, including traditional metal braces, clear ceramic braces, and Invisalign® clear aligners.

Some patients may also benefit from early orthodontic appliances or two-phase treatment. Dr. Joel or Dr. Charles will recommend the option that provides the right balance of predictability, comfort, appearance, and lifestyle fit.

The best option depends on your tooth movement, bite correction, age, daily habits, and personal preferences. Braces work continuously and do not depend on remembering to put them back in. Invisalign® is removable and discreet, but it requires consistent wear.

During your consultation, the doctors will compare the options that can achieve your goals and explain the advantages and responsibilities of each.

Invisalign® treatment uses a series of custom, removable clear aligners to move your teeth in planned stages. Most patients are instructed to wear their aligners about 22 hours per day and remove them for eating, drinking anything other than water, brushing, and flossing.

You will change aligners according to your personalized schedule and return periodically so Dr. Joel or Dr. Charles can confirm that your smile is tracking as planned.

Clear ceramic braces use brackets and wires to move teeth in much the same way as metal braces. For many patients, they can deliver excellent, predictable results while blending more naturally with the teeth.

Because ceramic material requires attentive cleaning and care, the doctors will help you decide whether clear braces are a good fit for your treatment needs and lifestyle.

Two-phase treatment is an early-intervention approach used only when a developing problem would benefit from care at two different stages. Phase One may guide jaw growth, create space, improve a crossbite, or address another significant concern while a child is still growing. After a monitoring period, Phase Two aligns the permanent teeth and finalizes the bite.

Not every child needs two phases. The goal of an early evaluation is to identify the children who may truly benefit while avoiding unnecessary treatment.

Treatment time is different for every patient. A limited correction may take only several months, while comprehensive treatment often lasts around 18 to 24 months. More complex bite or jaw concerns can require additional time.

Your estimated timeline will be based on your diagnosis, treatment option, biological response, appointment attendance, appliance care, and cooperation with aligner or elastic wear.

Most visits are scheduled several weeks apart. Braces appointments may be closer together when wires or appliances need adjustment, while many Invisalign® checkups can be spaced farther apart.

Your exact schedule will be personalized so the doctors can monitor progress, make timely adjustments, and keep treatment moving efficiently.

You may notice pressure or mild soreness when braces are first placed, after some adjustments, or when you begin a new set of aligners. This is a normal response to the gentle force moving your teeth and usually improves within a few days.

Soft foods, orthodontic wax, and an over-the-counter pain reliever used according to its label may help. Contact the office if discomfort is severe, unusual, or not improving.

Some patients notice a slight lisp when they first begin wearing aligners. Your tongue typically adapts quickly, and normal speech usually returns within a few days.

Reading aloud, speaking normally, and keeping the aligners in as directed can help you adjust sooner.

Contact Brodsky Orthodontics as soon as possible so the team can protect your progress. If you lose an aligner, do not automatically skip ahead unless the office directs you to do so. You may be told to wear your previous aligner, move to the next one, or order a replacement depending on your stage of treatment.

Existing patients can use the existing patient contact page for support.

Avoid foods that are hard, sticky, excessively chewy, or likely to bend wires and loosen brackets. Common examples include hard candy, ice, popcorn kernels, nuts, caramel, gum, and very chewy bagels.

Foods such as apples, carrots, and corn on the cob can often still be enjoyed when they are cut into small, bite-size pieces instead of bitten directly with the front teeth.

Brush carefully around every bracket, along the gumline, and on all tooth surfaces using fluoride toothpaste. Many patients find it helpful to brush after meals because food can collect around brackets and wires.

Floss at least once daily using a floss threader, orthodontic flosser, interdental brush, or another tool recommended by the Brodsky team. Consistent home care helps prevent plaque buildup, cavities, and permanent marks around the brackets.

Yes. Your orthodontist manages tooth movement and bite correction, while your general dentist continues to monitor tooth and gum health, provide professional cleanings, and treat cavities or other dental concerns.

Keep your regular dental visits throughout braces or Invisalign® treatment unless your dentist recommends a different schedule.

Yes. Braces should not keep you from sports, band, singing, or other activities. Athletes should wear an orthodontic mouthguard that protects the teeth, lips, cheeks, and appliances while allowing room for tooth movement.

Wind and brass musicians may need a brief adjustment period, but most patients adapt with practice.

Call Brodsky Orthodontics so the team can determine whether you need a repair visit. If a wire is irritating your cheek, place orthodontic wax over the area. A clean cotton swab or pencil eraser may sometimes be used to gently guide a flexible wire away from the tissue.

Save any loose piece and bring it to your appointment. Seek urgent medical care for significant trauma, uncontrolled bleeding, breathing difficulty, or another true emergency.

The cost depends on the complexity and length of treatment, the appliances selected, and applicable insurance benefits. Brodsky Orthodontics reviews the complete fee before treatment begins and offers flexible payment arrangements designed to make care more manageable.

The team accepts most insurance plans, helps verify orthodontic benefits, and assists with claim paperwork. Visit the new patient page or schedule a consultation for a personalized estimate.

Invisalign® and braces can be similarly priced, but the final cost depends on your individual treatment needs and plan. Brodsky Orthodontics does not recommend an option based on appearance alone; the doctors first determine which choices can safely and predictably achieve your goals.

Your consultation will include a clear comparison of treatment fees, insurance, and payment options.

Yes. Teeth naturally tend to shift throughout life, so retainers are essential for protecting your result. You may be instructed to wear removable retainers full time for an initial period and then transition to nighttime wear, or you may receive a fixed retainer for certain teeth.

The simplest rule is to keep wearing your retainers for as long as you want your teeth to remain straight.

Contact Brodsky Orthodontics promptly. Teeth can begin shifting when a retainer is not worn, and forcing a damaged or poorly fitting retainer may cause problems. Keep retainers in their case when they are out of your mouth, away from pets, hot water, hot cars, napkins, pockets, and washing machines.

Do not try to reshape or repair a retainer yourself.

Your orthodontic plan is led by father-and-son orthodontists Dr. Joel Brodsky and Dr. Charles Brodsky, supported by an experienced, welcoming team. The practice has served Lakewood-area families since 1976 while continuing to invest in modern digital planning and treatment options.

That combination of trusted experience, personalized attention, and current technology is central to the Brodsky experience.