Orthodontic Questions, Answered
Reviewed by Dr. Brent E. Sexton
Here are the questions we get asked most often at the front desk and in the chair. If yours isn’t here, call the office nearest you and ask. We’d rather answer it on the phone than have you guess.
Getting Started
Is the first consultation really free?
Yes, at both offices, for children, teens and adults. The visit includes an exam, the records we need to make a recommendation, our honest read on whether treatment is warranted, and the full cost if it is. Nothing is owed and nobody will pressure you to start that day. If we think your child should be watched instead of treated, we’ll say so and check again in a year.
How do I know whether I need braces at all?
Some signs are easy to spot yourself: crowded or overlapping teeth, gaps, teeth that stick out, a bite where the top and bottom don’t meet evenly, or difficulty chewing or cleaning between teeth. Others aren’t visible at all, which is why an exam is worth an hour even when nothing looks wrong. Plenty of people leave our exam being told they’re fine.
Are you accepting new patients at both offices?
What's the youngest and oldest patient you treat?
Yes, every six months as usual. Cleanings matter more during treatment, not less, and we work alongside your dentist rather than replacing them.
During Treatment
How long does orthodontic treatment usually take?
Most comprehensive cases run one to two years. Simple cases finish sooner and difficult ones take longer, and the answer for your case comes after an exam, not before it. Two things reliably extend treatment: missed appointments and, with aligners, not wearing them enough.
Do braces hurt?
Getting them on doesn’t. The teeth feel sore for two or three days afterward, and again for a day after each adjustment, in the way a muscle aches after exercise. Over-the-counter pain relievers handle it, and most patients need less and less as treatment settles in. If something is sharp or poking, that’s not normal soreness. Call us and we’ll fix it.
Can my child play sports and instruments with braces?
Yes to both. For contact sports we’ll fit an orthodontic mouthguard, which is worth doing and much cheaper than repairing a tooth. Wind and brass players usually need a couple of weeks to adjust and then play normally. Tell us at the consultation if your child plays; it occasionally changes what we recommend.
Do I still see my regular dentist during treatment?
We’ve treated patients from ages 6 to 82. Children come in for a first check around age 7, teens make up the bulk of the schedule, and adults are the fastest-growing part of it. There’s no age at which teeth stop responding to treatment.
Changes and Transfers
Can I transfer my treatment to Delta Smiles from another orthodontist?
Yes, and we take transfer patients regularly. Bring your records or have your previous office send them, and we’ll evaluate where the case stands before quoting anything. Occasionally a transfer case needs the plan adjusted; we’ll explain why if so.
What happens if I move away partway through treatment?
We’ll transfer your records to your new orthodontist and help hand the case over cleanly. Let us know as early as you can so we can time the transition around a sensible point in treatment.
What if I need to reschedule?
Call the office and we’ll find another time. Appointments run several weeks apart for most patients, so there’s usually flexibility. Consistent attendance is the biggest single thing you control in how long treatment takes.
About the Practice
Will I see the same doctor every time?
Yes, in the ordinary course of things. There are two orthodontists here, Dr. Sexton and Dr. Louie, and one of them will be your doctor throughout. On a difficult case they’ll often look at it together, which is one of the genuine advantages of a two-doctor practice over a single-doctor one.
Is Delta Smiles part of a chain or a dental group?
No. It’s privately owned by Dr. Sexton, who bought the practice from the orthodontist who founded it. Decisions about how long an appointment runs and what a case needs are made here, not at a head office.
Do you speak languages other than English?
 Yes. One of our registered dental assistants is fluent in English and Spanish and works with Spanish-speaking families through consultations, instructions and follow-up. Tell us when you book if that would help.
How long has the practice been here?
Decades. Dr. Sexton bought the practice from the orthodontist who founded it, and two of our team have been here for more than twenty years. Meet them.
Still Have a Question?
Call (925) 754-3197 in Antioch or (925) 513-9320 in Brentwood, or request an appointment.
More detail lives on the pages that own each topic: when children should first be seen · what drives the cost of treatment · insurance and payment plans · Invisalign · braces options · retainers · orthodontic emergencies · what to expect at your first visit