Braces in Riverview
Crowded front teeth, a bite that doesn't line up, a stubborn gap that's bothered someone since middle school — these are the everyday reasons Riverview families call us about braces. Metal braces remain one of the most dependable ways to correct them, and our board-certified orthodontist, Dr. Ila Sayed, plans and manages that treatment right here at our Woodhaven office at 22500 Allen Rd., a short trip for patients coming from Riverview.
Metal braces work by bonding a small bracket to the front of each tooth and connecting them with a thin archwire. The wire holds a shape, and over weeks it gently guides teeth toward that shape. Tiny elastic ties (which many kids pick in different colors) hold the wire in the brackets, and rubber bands may be added to help bring the upper and lower jaws into a better relationship.
This is the traditional approach, and it's traditional for a reason: it's fixed in place, so it works around the clock without depending on anyone remembering to wear it. That makes it a practical choice for younger Riverview patients still building habits, and for complex tooth movements — significant rotations, teeth that need to be moved vertically, or bites that require steady, sustained control. We also offer Invisalign and clear aligners, so if you're weighing the two, we'll talk honestly about which one fits your case, your age, and your daily routine.
Most people are candidates. We treat both children and adults, and in orthodontics there's no age at which healthy teeth stop responding to gentle pressure. For children, we often begin watching alignment during regular checkups — we see patients from age 1 through the teen years — so we can time braces to the stage when permanent teeth and jaw growth cooperate best.
Adults in Riverview often come to us after years of putting it off, sometimes because a tooth has shifted after an extraction, or because crowded teeth make brushing and flossing a daily struggle. Before braces begin, teeth and gums need to be in good shape, so we'll check for decay and gum disease first and handle any fillings, cleanings, or scaling and root planing that are needed. Because we're a multi-doctor general practice, that groundwork happens under the same roof. We also accept orthodontic transfer patients, which matters if you started treatment elsewhere and moved, and we provide retainers for patients treated elsewhere.
What Treatment Looks Like, Step by Step
It starts with a complimentary consultation. We examine your teeth and bite, take records, and explain what braces would realistically accomplish in your case — along with the alternatives. You leave knowing the plan before you commit to anything.
Placement day is longer than a routine visit but isn't a surgical procedure: teeth are cleaned and prepared, brackets are bonded, and the first wire is placed. Here's what the months that follow generally involve:
- Adjustment visits every few weeks, where wires are changed or tightened and elastics are reassessed
- Some soreness for a few days after placement and after adjustments, usually manageable with soft foods
- Careful brushing and flossing around brackets, with guidance from our hygienist
- Avoiding hard, sticky, and chewy foods that can pop a bracket
- Regular cleanings and exams continuing on schedule throughout treatment
- A retainer at the end to hold the new alignment
If a bracket comes loose or a wire pokes, call us — we offer emergency dental appointments and can usually get Riverview patients in quickly rather than leaving them uncomfortable for days.
Aftercare and Keeping Your Results
The day the braces come off isn't the end of the process. Teeth have a memory and will drift if nothing holds them, which is why retainers are essential. We fit you with a retainer and explain exactly how often to wear it, and our on-site dental lab means adjustments, relines, and repairs on appliances are handled here instead of being mailed out.
We also recommend continuing with cleanings and exams, plus a night guard if you grind or a sports mouth guard if you play — both are things our lab makes.
Paying for Braces
We accept all major PPO insurance plans and offer a complimentary benefits check so you know what your plan covers before starting. We also welcome self-pay patients and accept cash, checks, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express.
For spreading costs out, we offer CareCredit financing. And if you don't have insurance, our in-house membership plan is $199 a year for adults and $99 for patients 17 and under — no deductibles, no waiting period, no annual maximum — covering exams, X-rays, two cleanings and two fluoride treatments at 100%, with 20% to 50% off other treatment. Se habla español.