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Frequently Asked Questions
Think of it as prep work for a perfect smile. Phase One happens while your child still has baby teeth to guide jaw growth and make room for adult teeth. After a short break, Phase Two uses traditional braces or Invisalign to perfectly line everything up. Starting early prevents major issues later, like severe overcrowding or painful jaw alignment problems.
The easiest way to know is to book a screening by age 7, which is what the American Association of Orthodontists recommends. However, you should definitely see a specialized orthodontist in Houston if you notice your child has a severe overbite, struggles with mouth-breathing, sucks their thumb, or has trouble chewing.
Yes, but the first phase is short and focuses mostly on the jaw bone, not making teeth perfectly straight. We often use simple appliances like expanders or Invisalign Teen / Invisalign First. Because we fix the hard structural issues during Phase One, Phase Two is much faster, easier, and more efficient when they are teenagers.
Not at all. We know Houston parents are always on the move. That’s why Dr. Gustavo Salas uses avant-garde technology like 3D digital scans instead of messy, uncomfortable molds. We also utilize the advantages of telemedicine to check your child’s progress remotely, meaning fewer trips to our office and less time missed from school or work.
No. In fact, catching jaw issues early is a highly accessible investment that usually saves you money in the long run by preventing the need for costly permanent tooth extractions or complex corrective surgeries later in life. We believe that high-caliber, specialist care should be within reach for all Houston families. That is why we offer flexible, custom financing options and work closely with a wide variety of dental insurance plans to ensure your child can get the treatment they need without straining your family budget.
Absolutely not. There is no age limit for a smile transformation. As long as your teeth, gums, and supporting bone structure are healthy, you can successfully undergo treatment. In fact, about one in four orthodontic patients today is an adult. Whether you are in your 20s, 50s, or beyond, our individualized care is designed to safely and precisely shift your teeth at any stage of life.
Not at all. We understand that our adult patients have fast-paced careers and active social lives in Houston. That is why we specialize in nearly invisible treatments like Invisalign and our proprietary GusAligners. These clear aligner systems fit seamlessly over your teeth, allowing you to speak confidently in meetings, give presentations, and attend network events without anyone even noticing you are straightening your smile.
While every smile is a unique architectural project, most adult treatments last between 12 and 24 months. If you only require minor cosmetic adjustments to your front teeth, your timeline could be even shorter. Dr. Gustavo Salas utilizes avant-garde technology and digital mapping to plan out the most direct, efficient path for your teeth to move, giving you high-caliber, accelerated results without wasting your time.
We value your time and prioritize efficiency. Thanks to modern digital workflows, you won’t need to be in our chair every few weeks. For aligner patients, we utilize the advantages of telemedicine, allowing us to monitor your progress remotely through virtual check-ins. When you do need to visit our Houston office, appointments are fast and precisely scheduled so you can get right back to your day.
The cost depends entirely on the complexity of your alignment and whether you choose clear aligners or specialized braces. We view your smile as a lifetime investment, which is why we make it an accessible investment for every household. Many corporate dental insurance plans include an adult orthodontic benefit that can significantly lower your out-of-pocket costs. We also offer flexible, interest-free monthly payment plans to fit comfortably into your personal budget.
Modern orthodontics has come a long way from the bulky metal brackets of the past. Today, you can choose between sleek, low-profile stainless steel braces, which are smaller and more comfortable than ever, or clear ceramic braces. Clear braces work exactly like metal ones but use brackets that match the natural color of your teeth, making them a very popular, discreet option for older teens and working professionals.
While every smile requires a unique plan, most patients wear braces for 18 to 24 months. Minor alignment adjustments might take as little as a year, while more complex bite corrections can take a bit longer. During your initial consultation, we use detailed 3D digital imaging to map out the exact movement of your teeth so you know what to expect before your journey even begins.
Having the brackets bonded to your teeth does not hurt at all. However, you will feel some soreness and pressure for a few days after they are first placed and after your routine adjustment appointments. This is completely normal and simply means your teeth are safely moving into place. Over-the-counter pain relievers, soft foods, and orthodontic wax to protect your cheeks will easily help you get through the first week.
To prevent loose brackets or bent wires, you will need to skip foods that are particularly hard, sticky, or chewy. This includes things like popcorn, hard candy, chewing gum, caramel, and ice. You can still enjoy crunchy fruits and vegetables like apples and carrots – just make sure to cut them into small, bite-sized pieces instead of biting straight into them.
The investment for braces varies depending on the complexity of the alignment and whether you choose metal or clear ceramic brackets. Many dental insurance policies include an orthodontic benefit that can cover a significant portion of the cost. To make the remaining balance manageable, our office works with families to design flexible, interest-free monthly payment plans that fit comfortably into your household budget.
We offer both safe, high-powered in-office whitening treatments and convenient custom take-home professional whitening kits. Our in-office procedure takes roughly an hour and can brighten your enamel up to eight shades whiter in a single visit. If you prefer to whiten on your own schedule, our custom-molded trays are engineered to distribute professional-grade bleaching gel evenly across your teeth over a few weeks, avoiding the uneven patches common with store-bought strips.
Yes, it is entirely safe when supervised by a dental professional. Unlike over-the-counter kits that can damage enamel or irritate gums, our treatments protect your soft tissues during the process. While temporary tooth sensitivity to hot or cold is a common side effect for the first 24 to 48 hours, we carefully adjust the whitening gel formulas to minimize discomfort. We can also provide specialized desensitizing treatments if you are prone to tooth sensitivity.
Drugstore strips and whitening toothpastes are designed as a “one-size-fits-all” solution. They contain a much lower concentration of active whitening agents and often fail to reach deeper, older stains. Because store-bought trays or strips do not conform perfectly to your unique bite, the gel can easily leak onto your gums, causing chemical burns. Our professional options deliver faster, more uniform results that can last months or even years longer than generic alternatives.
The absolute best time to whiten your teeth is right after you complete your orthodontic journey. If you whiten while wearing traditional braces, the brackets will block the gel, leaving dark, unwhitened squares on your teeth once they are removed. If you are using Invisalign, whitening during treatment is technically possible, but we highly recommend waiting until your teeth are perfectly aligned. This ensures the whitening gel covers your newly straight smile completely evenly.
Your brilliant new smile can last anywhere from several months to a few years. The exact lifespan of your results depends heavily on your daily habits. To keep your teeth looking radiant, it helps to minimize deeply pigmented foods and drinks like black coffee, dark teas, red wine, and berries. Maintaining routine teeth cleaning appointments with our dental team is also essential, as professional cleanings remove the surface plaque and tartar that dull your bright smile.
Instead of using metal wires and brackets attached to your teeth, Invisalign uses a series of custom-made, clear plastic trays called aligners. Every week or two, you switch to a new set of aligners that are engineered to gently and precisely shift your teeth into place. Because they are practically invisible, you can transform your smile without anyone noticing.
Yes. In the hands of an experienced, specialized orthodontist, clear aligners are incredibly effective for the vast majority of orthodontic issues. From minor crowding and spaces to complex bite adjustments like overbites or underbites, modern clear aligner technology delivers excellent, high-caliber results.
For your treatment to stay on track and be as efficient as possible, you need to wear your aligners for 20 to 22 hours every day. You should only take them out when you are eating meals, drinking anything other than water, or brushing and flossing your teeth. Have more technical questions about daily wear? Visit our Full Invisalign FAQ Page for a complete breakdown.
Getting your aligners doesn’t hurt at all, but you will feel some pressure and mild soreness for the first couple of days after you start a new set of trays. This is a great sign. It just means the aligners are doing their job and safely moving your teeth. The discomfort passes quickly and is generally much milder than the soreness from traditional wire tightening.
The investment for clear aligners is usually very comparable to the cost of traditional braces. The exact price depends on how complex your alignment needs are and how many sets of trays your journey requires. Many dental insurance plans include orthodontic coverage that applies to clear aligners, and our office creates custom, interest-free monthly payment plans to ensure the treatment fits your household budget.