Orthodontic FAQs

Orthodontists like Dr. Ryan Trulby are dental specialists who have completed an advanced education program following dental school to learn the special skills required to manage tooth movement and guide facial development.

Selecting an orthodontist in Jersey City who can help you achieve your smile dreams is important. Orthodontists are dental specialists trained specifically to diagnose, prevent, and treat dental and facial irregularities.

This means Dr. Ryan Trulby is a far better choice to create the smile of your dreams than you could get from mail-order aligners or a general dentist.

Dr. Trulby trained for another two to three years of specialized education beyond dental school to learn the proper way to align and straighten teeth.

Only those with this formal education may call themselves “orthodontists” (like Dr. Trulby) and only orthodontists may be members of the American Association of Orthodontics.

• Better function of the teeth
• A more attractive smile
• Reduced appearance-consciousness during critical development years
• Possible increase in self-confidence
• Increased ability to clean the teeth
• Improved force distribution and wear patterns of the teeth
• Better long-term health of teeth and gums
• Guide permanent teeth into more favorable positions
• Reduce the risk of injury to protruded front teeth
• Helps optimize other dental treatment

• Upper front teeth protrude excessively over the lower teeth, or are bucked
• Upper front teeth cover the majority of the lower teeth when
  biting together (deep bite)
• Upper front teeth are behind or inside the lower front teeth (underbite)
• The upper and lower front teeth do not touch when biting together (open bite)
• Crowded or overlapped teeth
• The center of the upper and lower teeth do not line up
• Finger or thumb sucking habits which continue after six or seven years old
• Difficulty chewing
• Teeth wearing unevenly or excessively
• The lower jaw shifts to one side or the other when biting together
• Spaces between the teeth
• Impacted or stuck teeth

Yes, orthodontic treatment can be successful at any age! Everyone wants a beautiful and healthy smile, and age is no barrier. In fact, twenty to twenty-five percent of our orthodontic patients are adults.

Orthodontic treatment can be started at any age! Many orthodontic problems are easier to correct if detected at an early age before jaw growth has slowed. Early treatment may mean that a patient can avoid surgery and more serious complications.

The American Association of Orthodontists and Dr. Trulby recommend that every child first visit an orthodontist by age seven or earlier if a problem is detected by parents, the family dentist, or the child's physician.

The American Association of Orthodontists and Dr. Trulby recommend an orthodontic screening by age seven. By this age, most children have several permanent teeth that have erupted, letting us better evaluate their orthodontic needs.

By this age, Dr. Trulby can spot subtle problems with jaw growth and emerging teeth while some baby teeth are still present.

That’s important, because some orthodontic problems may be easier to correct if they are found early at Heights Orthodontics.

Most orthodontic patients at our Jersey City office begin active braces treatment between ages 9 and 14.

Phase I, or early interceptive treatment, is limited orthodontic treatment (i.e. expander or partial braces) before all of the permanent teeth have erupted. Such treatment can occur between the ages of six and ten. Dr. Trulby may recommend this treatment to make more space for developing teeth, correction of crossbites, overbites, and underbites, or harmful oral habits.

Phase II treatment is also called comprehensive treatment because it involves full braces or Invisalign when all of the permanent teeth have erupted, usually between the ages of eleven and thirteen.

Braces use steady gentle pressure to gradually move teeth into their proper positions. The brackets that Dr. Trulby places on your teeth and the archwire that connects them are the main functional components.

When the archwire is placed into the brackets, it tries to return to its original shape. As this happens, it applies pressure to move your teeth to their new, more optimal positions.

Treatment times vary on a case-by-case basis, but the average time at Heights Orthodontics lasts from one to two years. Actual treatment time can be affected by the rate of growth and severity of the correction necessary.

The length of your treatment also depends on how well you comply with Dr. Trulby’s treatment plan. Maintain good oral hygiene and keep your regular appointments help keep your treatment journey on schedule!

The placement of bands and brackets on your teeth does not hurt. Once your braces are placed and connected with the archwires, you may feel some soreness of your teeth for a couple of days.

Your lips and cheeks may need one to two weeks to get used to the braces on your teeth.

No. It is recommended, however, that patients protect their smiles by wearing a mouthguard when participating in any sporting activity.

A mouthguard is an inexpensive and comfortable way to protect your smile. They even come in a variety of colors and patterns!

No! However, there may be an initial period of adjustment.

You can also use brace covers to prevent discomfort.

The fact is that you can expect changes in tooth position throughout your lifetime, even though you have had orthodontic treatment.

Many factors may cause teeth to shift. Such changes are different for everyone, and most of the time, they are hardly noticeable.

However, on occasion, changes can occur that are disappointing to both the patient and Dr. Trulby. Changes in tooth position are not a failure of your orthodontic treatment—they are a natural process. We expect changes in our bodies as we grow older, and teeth are no exception.

To help control and limit these changes, Dr. Trulby will prescribe retainers after removing your braces.

Yes, Dr. Trulby wants you to continue to see your primary care dentist around Jersey City every six months for cleanings and dental checkups!