Braces and Teeth Straightening
Two questions come up first: how long it takes, and whether it will show. Clear aligners are hard to notice, and they suit a lot of cases. Braces are visible, and they still move teeth that trays cannot.
Book an AppointmentWhat are braces and aligners?
Clear aligners are removable trays. You wear them most of the day and night and take them out to eat and brush. They handle crowding and spacing, and bite problems up to a point. Braces are brackets bonded on, joined by a wire. They do not come out, so they do not depend on you remembering them, and they move teeth that trays cannot, like a rotated tooth or one that has to be pulled down into the arch.
Which one suits you is not only a matter of preference. Some bites can be corrected either way, and then the decision is about cost and about how reliably you will wear trays. Other bites only move with brackets. We tell you which one you are in before you commit to anything. Dr. Rotaru can go through the options in Romanian or Russian.
What to expect with braces and teeth straightening
Comfort
Bonding brackets or fitting trays needs no numbing and no drilling. The appointment is not the part that hurts. The soreness comes later.
Time
The first visit with the exam and scan runs about an hour. Adjustment visits after that are usually under half an hour.
Soreness
Teeth ache for a few days after braces go on and after each new tray. Soft food and an over-the-counter pain reliever handle it.
Insurance
Orthodontics is usually a separate benefit with its own lifetime cap, not part of your yearly maximum. We take most PPO plans and check yours first.
Healthy Smiles Are Possible
Exam and photos
We look at your bite with the teeth together and apart, and check the gums, because teeth do not move safely through gum disease. Photos and a panoramic x-ray go with it.
Digital scan
A small camera passes over your teeth and builds a 3D model on screen. No putty tray, nothing to gag on. It takes a few minutes.
Plan and estimate
You see what has to move and which appliance does that job, with a time range and a written estimate. The insurance portion is worked out before you decide, not after.
Starting treatment
At a later visit we bond the brackets and place the first wire. If you are in trays, you get the first set and a few minutes practicing getting them in and out.
How long it takes
Some cases take a few months. A full bite correction takes much longer. It depends on how far the teeth have to move, so at the planning visit you get a range rather than a date. Aligners left in their case instead of your mouth are the usual reason treatment overruns.
In between, you come in for check-ins. With aligners we hand over the next set of trays and confirm the teeth are tracking with the plan. With braces the wire gets changed and the brackets checked. These appointments are short. We are open until five Monday through Thursday, and Friday mornings until two, so most people fit them around work.
Retainers keep the result
Teeth drift back. That is not the treatment failing. It is what teeth do. When the braces come off, or the last tray comes out, you get a retainer and you wear it. Every night at first, then fewer nights a week. Stop altogether and the lower front teeth crowd up again, which is where most people notice it first.
Dr. Ion Rotaru, DMD
Dr. Rotaru holds degrees in biomedical sciences and in dental medicine. He is from Moldova and moved to the United States to practice dentistry. His work is general dentistry, which covers most of what a person needs over a lifetime: checkups and cleanings, fillings, crowns, root canals, and the ordinary repairs in between.
He is fluent in English, Romanian, and Russian, and sees patients in all three languages. His approach starts with the person rather than the chart: what is bothering you, what you have been putting off, what you can manage right now. He would rather spend an extra ten minutes explaining than have you agree to something you do not understand.
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- 9+Years of Experience
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Testimonials
What Patients Say
Real stories from real patients who trusted us with their smiles.
Well, let's be honest. I don't know anyone who actually likes having dental work done. But if you are in need I highly recommend Dr Rotaru. He saw me for the first time after my friend and dentist Angel Lopez retired. And it was under an emergency situation. I had cracked a tooth and was in a lot of pain. He saw me on the same day and explained he would be in and out of the room as he worked me in. He is professional but kind. Understanding, respectful and listens. I am very grateful and have found my new Dentist.
Debi R.
Patient
Dr. Ion Rotaru just performed a root canal. He is compassionate, professional, and caring. He explained the entire process as he went along. That brought peace to me. I love he's my new dentist. Thank you Dr Angel Lopez for taking care of your patients until your very last day! You served the Tampa bay community for very long. May you and Betsy enjoy your retirement.
Josie S.
Patient
Dr. Rotaru was very professional and explained the procedure step by step as he was going along. He was attentive in asking if I had any discomfort as the procedure went along. He explained what I would expect and feel after the procedure. Everything went smooth and painless. Thank you so much.
Miguel P.
Patient
The dentist I had been seeing for 20 years retired. Dr Rotaru and staff were excellent and made the transition feel seamless. What a relief! Highly recommend this practice.
Susan B.
Patient
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Teeth move at any age as long as the bone and gums are healthy. Adult treatment can take longer, and gum disease has to be under control before anything starts, but age by itself is not a reason to skip it.