We do everything we can to accommodate your schedule; however, sometimes we may need to see you during school hours. That said, because appointments are scheduled 6-10 weeks apart, most patients miss minimal school for orthodontic care. Additionally, our Invisalign Teen patients have the flexibility to schedule even longer between visits, meaning less time out of school.

Nope, come any time! But if someone referred you to our office please let us know. We love knowing who to thank for bringing your smiling face to our practice!

Appointment lengths vary depending on what we are planning to do. Our skilled clinicians will be able to tell you how long to expect your next appointment to be.

We allow about an hour for the initial visit. At this appointment, our friendly treatment coordinator will take digital images, the doctor will perform an extensive exam, and the treatment coordinator will then go over treatment that is needed and any necessary financial arrangements. If the doctor feels you are ready for treatment, and you are ready, often we can get started with a digital scan for Invisalign or place upper braces as needed that same day!

Possibly for a couple of days. If so, take one Advil and one Tylenol for discomfort. Adjusting to new equipment like braces can be tough. Here are a few tips to help you get through the first week!

We do not assign specific assistants to specific patients; however, if you do have someone you prefer you can certainly let us know.

Yes! As the teeth are becoming aligned it is normal to feel that they have some minor movement.

Yes, but if you wear it consistently, the discomfort will go away after a week. Taking one Advil and one Tylenol will also help.

Yep! As we widen the upper jaw, a space usually appears between the two front teeth. This space will ultimately close, so don’t worry!

Yes! Visiting your dentist for regular hygiene appointments is very important. We work closely with your dentist to ensure that your teeth stay healthy and sparkling throughout treatment.

At your initial exam the doctor will give you their goal time for your specific treatment. Remember that this is an estimate, and it could take more or less time depending on how your teeth move and how you cooperate.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children are seen by an orthodontist by age 7. Not sure why? Here are seven reasons to consider. If you or your dentists have concerns at an earlier age, we are happy to take a look earlier!

These spots are called “decalcification,” which is a fancy term for the start of cavities. They result from poor oral hygiene and unfortunately the damage is permanent. The spots form after plaque builds up on the teeth for an extended time. Plaque produces acid which in turn softens the enamel and causes white spots. At each visit we will let you know how well you are brushing and if there are any areas that need improvement. If we have serious concerns, we will provide fluoride to help remineralize these areas to prevent additional decay, and we might refer you back to your general dentist for an additional cleaning and fluoride treatment. In minor cases, the dentist can bleach the teeth or polish the white areas so they blend in. In severe cases, the areas are drilled out and replaced with fillings. Excellent oral hygiene is easier to maintain with the removable aligners used by our Invisalign and Invisalign Teen patients, which drastically reduces the occurrence of white spots during treatment.

Great news! We use digital scanners to virtually eliminate the need for impressions. In some instances we still need impressions for certain appliances, but we have the most advanced materials and flavors to make the process as easy as possible for you.

Nope! At all seven of our Indiana orthodontic offices they are simply intense LED lights.

Not quite, but almost! Our doctors are top 1% Invisalign providers in North America — and we’re the top orthodontics provider in Indiana — so if you’ve ever been told you’re not a candidate for Invisalign, let us take a look. We specialize in the most complex Invisalign cases!

Your Invisalign or Invisalign Teen aligners should be in 22-24 hours per day, and should only be removed for eating, brushing, and flossing. It is important to keep your aligners in a case any time they aren’t in your mouth to avoid their being lost, broken, eaten by a pet, etc.

Any time you brush your teeth you should brush your aligners with a toothbrush and cool water. We ideally like to see our patients brush after any snack, but if that’s not an option you can at least rinse your mouth with water before replacing your aligners. Keep your aligners safe by storing them in a case any time you aren’t wearing them. Check out this blog post for more tips on cleaning your aligners.

None! One thing our patients love about Invisalign and Invisalign Teen is that you have no food restrictions at all. That said, make sure to remove your aligners every time you eat or drink something other than water to avoid staining your aligners and potentially causing damage to your teeth.

The doctor will tell you how often to change your Invisalign or Invisalign Teen aligners based on your specific treatment plan. Most of our patients change every week, but some change every two weeks.

Sometimes when an aligner is lost you can simply move on to the next one. Other times, we need to go back to your previous aligner to hold your teeth in position while we order a new aligner for you. Give us a call if you lose an aligner and we will determine what will work best.

Nope! We are happy to allow you to choose between Invisalign and traditional braces based on your lifestyle and needs, without the worry of an additional cost. Here’s more information on the differences between Invisalign and traditional braces.

No! We use the most up to date cosmetic brackets that are made from ceramic to blend with your natural tooth color.

It is extremely important that you take care of your braces by maintaining excellent brushing and flossing as well as avoiding sugary drinks and snacks. You should be sure to brush after breakfast, after lunch (or after school if time is limited at lunch), and before bed. Adding a fluoride mouth rinse to your usual bedtime brushing routine can also help restore damaged tooth surfaces. We have several great videos that will help you with some tips and techniques.

Brushing With Braces

Flossing With Braces

Sticky and crunchy foods can break your brackets, pull off elastic ties, shift your wires, and more. All of these things can lead to a longer time in braces and even some discomfort. To make your life easier, be sure to avoid sticky things like taffy, gummies, and sugary gum. Crunchy foods like nuts, partially popped popcorn pieces, and some granola bars. should also be avoided. Healthy items like carrots and apples are safe as long as you cut them into pieces and chew with your back teeth. For more tips, read about foods to avoid with braces, learn about healthy foods you can eat with braces, and check out the video below!

The doctors want to watch your development to make sure that problems won’t occur. These appointments are free of charge, and give you the opportunity to know if and when treatment will be needed in the future.

You will have a choice between clear braces, silver metal braces, and Invisalign.

Lower clear braces can cause wear on the upper teeth. For this reason, we use clear on the upper only in most cases.

Nope! Unlike other orthodontics offices in Indiana, we do not charge more for Invisalign or clear brackets. Learn more about the cost of Invisalign.

For clear retainers, brush your retainer every time you brush your teeth however use only a toothbrush and cool water. The abrasives in toothpaste will roughen the surface of your clear retainer and make it look cloudy. For retainers with a wire, toothbrush and toothpaste is fine. We also encourage you to soak your retainers several times a week with a retainer cleaner or denture cleaner. Mouthwash can be too hard and break down the plastic of the retainer. Also, be sure to keep your case clean! Check out this blog post for more tips on caring for your retainers.

As we align your teeth, they are moving through the bone of your upper and lower jaws into new, ideal positions. It takes time for the bone around the teeth to fully harden around the teeth after movement is complete. We prescribe ten weeks of full-time retainer wear to hold the teeth perfectly positioned while this happens. After ten weeks of full-time wear, nightly wear ensures that everything remains perfect and your new smile lasts a lifetime!

Everything about your body changes with age, including your teeth. Regardless of orthodontic treatment, your teeth will tend to shift over time without a retainer, especially on the bottom. A bonded lower retainer ensures this doesn’t happen, so plan to keep and continue using it.

Yes, if you want to keep your teeth straight! You should wear them full time for ten weeks, after that you can wear them just a night.

Yes! Visiting your dentist for regular hygiene appointments is very important. We work closely with your dentist to ensure that your teeth stay healthy and sparkling throughout treatment. Here’s a helpful guide on what warrants a visit to the orthodontist versus a visit to the dentist.

We’re not sure how other orthodontics offices in Indiana do it, but at Gorman & Bunch your initial consultation, exam, and x-rays are free.

Yes! Our doctors do not want financing to be an obstacle to a healthy, beautiful smile. Our treatment coordinators will work with you to find a custom financing option that fits your unique situation.

We accept cash, personal checks, money orders, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover. In addition, electronic transfers from your checking or savings account are also available.