Orthodontics FAQs

Have questions about braces, clear aligners, costs, or what to expect from orthodontic treatment? You’re in the right place.

Below, you’ll find answers to some of the most common questions we hear from kids, teens, adults, and families throughout Jacksonville Beach, Nocatee/Ponte Vedra, and surrounding communities.

If you don’t see your question here, reach out to our team. We’re always happy to help.

At Lazzara Orthodontics, we provide personalized orthodontic treatment for kids, teens, and adults, from straightforward smile alignment to more complex bite and jaw concerns.

Our treatment options include:

Explore all orthodontic treatments here.

 

We also offer a variety of orthodontic appliances, including palatal expanders, Forsus appliances, Nance appliances, reverse-pull headgear, lower lingual arches, pendulum appliances, and TADs when appropriate.

During your complimentary consultation, our ABO-Board Certified orthodontists will evaluate your smile, discuss your goals, and recommend a treatment plan designed specifically for you.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends children have their first orthodontic evaluation around age 7.

That doesn’t mean your child will need braces at 7. An early evaluation gives our orthodontists an opportunity to see how your child’s teeth, jaws, and bite are developing and determine whether treatment could be beneficial now or whether it makes more sense to simply monitor their growth.

When early treatment is appropriate, we offer braces, clear aligners, palatal expanders, and other orthodontic appliances designed to address specific developmental concerns.

If treatment isn’t needed yet, we’ll let you know that too.

No. You do not need a referral from your dentist to schedule an orthodontic consultation.

You’re welcome to book a complimentary consultation with our Jacksonville Beach or Nocatee office whenever you’re ready. We also offer virtual consultations if you’d prefer to take the first step from home.

It depends on your individual smile.

Orthodontics can do much more than straighten teeth. The alignment of your teeth and jaws can affect your bite, chewing, oral hygiene, jaw function, and overall smile.

But treatment should be recommended for a reason.

Our Board Certified orthodontists take the time to evaluate the full picture before recommending care. If treatment would benefit you or your child, we’ll explain why, walk you through your options, and answer your questions so you can make an informed decision.

Had a consultation somewhere else and aren’t quite sure about the recommendation? We also welcome patients looking for a complimentary second opinion.

Your appointment schedule will depend on your treatment plan and how your smile is progressing.

At Lazzara Orthodontics, we’ve invested in fully digital technology to make treatment and appointments as efficient as possible. Digital scans replace messy traditional impressions, while advanced treatment planning helps our orthodontists closely track your progress.

With two locations open Monday through Friday, you also have more flexibility to choose appointments that work with your routine. See our office hours in Jacksonville Beach and Nocatee.

And when you’re here, we respect your time. We work hard to keep appointments running on schedule while still giving you the personal attention you deserve.

Possibly, but it depends entirely on how your child’s smile and jaws are developing.

Orthodontic appliances can be used to create space, guide jaw growth, move specific teeth, or address bite concerns that braces or clear aligners alone may not fully correct.

Depending on your child’s needs, treatment may include a traditional or Invisalign® palatal expander, Forsus appliance, Nance appliance, reverse-pull headgear, lower lingual arch, pendulum appliance, TADs, or another appliance.

Our orthodontists will only recommend an appliance when it serves a specific purpose in your child’s treatment plan, and we’ll make sure you understand exactly what it does and why we’re recommending it.

In many cases, yes.

We offer same-day braces, which means eligible patients can have traditional metal or clear ceramic braces placed during their first visit.

If clear aligners are right for you, we can use digital scanning technology to capture a precise 3D model of your smile without traditional impressions. From there, your customized aligner treatment can be planned and your aligners created.

We’ll walk you through your options during your complimentary consultation so you know exactly what starting treatment will look like.

The cost of orthodontic treatment depends on your individual needs and personalized treatment plan.

At Lazzara Orthodontics, we want the financial side of treatment to feel clear and manageable. We offer:

  • 0% interest in-house financing
  • Flexible payment plans
  • CareCredit® outside financing
  • Pay-in-full discounts
  • Family member discounts
  • Military discounts
  • Most major credit cards

We also accept most insurance plans and PPOs, including United Concordia, and our team will submit your insurance claims for you.

During your complimentary consultation, we’ll review the cost of your recommended treatment, discuss your insurance benefits, and work with you to find a payment option that fits your needs.

Yes. Your orthodontist and general dentist play different roles in keeping your smile healthy.

While we focus on the alignment of your teeth and jaws, your dentist continues to monitor the health of your teeth and gums and provide routine cleanings and preventive care.

We encourage you to continue seeing your dentist regularly throughout orthodontic treatment, typically every six months or according to your dentist’s recommendations.

There isn’t one treatment timeline that applies to every smile.

Your treatment length will depend on factors such as the complexity of your case, your bite, the type of treatment you choose, and how your teeth respond to treatment.

During your complimentary consultation, our orthodontists will evaluate your smile and give you a personalized estimate of what you can expect.

Following your treatment instructions, wearing clear aligners as directed, attending scheduled appointments, and taking good care of your teeth can all help keep treatment progressing as planned.

Don’t panic. Orthodontic mishaps happen, and we’re here to help you figure out what to do next.

If you have a loose or broken bracket, poking wire, lost aligner or retainer, or another concern during office hours, contact your Lazzara Orthodontics office:

Jacksonville Beach: (904) 842-3737

Nocatee/Ponte Vedra: (904) 747-8271

For after-hours orthodontic emergencies, call (904) 832-0832.

Our team will let you know whether you need to come in and what you can do in the meantime to stay comfortable and keep treatment on track.

Not at all. Healthy teeth can be moved at virtually any age, and many adults choose orthodontic treatment to address concerns they’ve had for years or changes that have developed over time.

At Lazzara Orthodontics, we offer adult orthodontic treatment with options designed to fit different goals and lifestyles, including clear aligners, clear ceramic braces, and traditional metal braces.

For adults with more complex bite or jaw concerns, our doctors also provide dentofacial orthopedics and surgical orthodontic treatment when appropriate, coordinating with trusted specialists when a multidisciplinary approach is needed.

Whether you’re looking for a subtle cosmetic improvement or more comprehensive correction, we’ll help you understand your options.

The most reliable way to know is through a comprehensive orthodontic evaluation.

Some common orthodontic issues include:

  • Crowded or overlapping teeth
  • Gaps or excessive spacing
  • Teeth that protrude
  • Crossbite
  • Underbite
  • Overbite or deep bite
  • Open bite
  • Difficulty biting or chewing
  • Early or late loss of baby teeth
  • Jaws that appear out of proportion
  • Concerns about how the teeth or smile look
  • Teeth that have shifted after previous orthodontic treatment

At your complimentary consultation, we’ll assess your teeth, bite, and jaw relationships using digital imaging and diagnostic records as needed.

You’ll have time to talk directly with our doctors, ask questions, and understand your options before deciding what comes next.

We’ve put a lot of thought into how we do things.

Lazzara Orthodontics is a privately owned, legacy practice that has served local families since 2007.

With two ABO-Board Certified orthodontists, two convenient locations, and a team that genuinely cares about the people who walk through our doors, we’ve created an experience designed to feel different from the typical doctor’s office.

Patients can expect:

  • Two board-certified orthodontists collaborating on care
  • A privately owned practice that’s deeply rooted in the community
  • Appointments that respect your time
  • Fully digital technology and no messy impressions
  • Flexible scheduling at two locations open daily
  • Virtual consultations for added convenience
  • Flexible financing and insurance support
  • A welcoming team that takes the time to get to know you

From your first consultation to your final retainer check, we want you to feel at home, well cared for, and confident in the people taking care of your smile.

After all, our goal is to create an experience so positive, you might actually miss coming in when it’s over.

Let’s Create a Smile You’ll Feel Great About

happy teen siblings with braces

Book your complimentary consultation with our orthodontic office in Jacksonville Beach or Nocatee in Ponte Vedra.

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