Treatment
Braces
Braces are brackets attached to your teeth and joined by a wire that Dr. Bhargava changes over time. They're often the choice when a bite needs more control than removable aligners give. Treatment usually runs 12 to 30 months, and she gives you your own range after the exam.
Metal or ceramic brackets
Teens and adults
Adjusted every few weeks
What happens
Four stages, with your visit count in a range that Dr. Bhargava sets for your case.
- 01
Step 1: Exam and scan
Dr. Bhargava examines you, takes a scan and photos, and orders only the X-rays she needs. You leave with a written plan.
- 02
Step 2: Fitting day
Clyde's trays help place each bracket where the plan says. Dr. Bhargava checks every one, then threads the first wire. Expect a long visit.
- 03
Step 3: Adjustments
Every few weeks she checks movement, changes the wire and adds elastics when needed. You clean around the brackets, and Seoyeon shows you how.
- 04
Step 4: Removal and retainers
When the bite is ready, the brackets come off and retainers go in. Clyde makes them, and you wear them as Dr. Bhargava tells you.
Before you decide
Comfort
Teeth are sore for a few days after the first fitting and after wire changes. Soft food helps, and we give you wax for any bracket that rubs. Most visits need no numbing, and you can ask us to stop at any time.
If you wait
A bite that doesn't close well can wear teeth unevenly and make some of them harder to clean. Waiting is an option. If you want to wait, ask for your plan in writing so you can start later.
Risks and after-care
Plaque left around brackets can mark teeth, so cleaning matters. Roots can shorten a little in some patients. Brackets and wires break sometimes. Teeth drift back if retainers aren't worn.
How it's billed
You get a written estimate before treatment starts. It lists what is included and what isn't, and how your plan's orthodontic benefit may apply. We never quote a fee over email or in a form.
How fees work
Who provides this care
Treatment is planned and checked by Dr. Jyoti Bhargava, an orthodontist. Clyde Burton makes the parts in our lab.
License
Dentist license (DMD or DDS)
AL License no. 000000 · Alabama Board of Dental Examiners
This license allows Dr. Bhargava to practice dentistry in Alabama. The owner enters the real number.
Specialty training
Residency in orthodontics
The owner names the program and year.
American Board of Orthodontics
The owner confirms board status here, or removes this line.
Questions about braces
Metal or ceramic?
Ceramic brackets are less visible and metal ones are smaller and more durable. Dr. Bhargava tells you which suits your bite and shows you both.
Are braces only for teens?
No. Adults wear braces too. The process is the same, though adult teeth and gums can need extra care.
Can I play a sport or an instrument?
Usually yes. We'll talk about a mouthguard, and about how a wind instrument may feel at first.
What if I break a bracket?
Call the office. Often it can wait for your next visit, and sometimes we'll bring you in sooner.
Ask whether braces fit your bite
A consultation covers the exam, the scan and a plan that you take home.