Frequently asked questions

Yes — we offer a variety of interest-free orthodontic payment plans. Our team and OrthoFi’s planning software will help you determine the right financing option for your treatment.

Please visit OrthoFi’s website to make or manage automatic payments.

We accept most dental insurance plans that offer an orthodontic benefit. We will help you determine if you have orthodontic coverage and, if applicable, how to utilize this benefit to help offset the cost of your treatment.

Yes! All children should be evaluated at the age of seven incase any interceptive orthodontic treatment is necessary.

A wide range of issues can be diagnosed and quickly treated at this age. Interceptive, or phase I treatment, can either either eliminate the need for or shorten the length of future orthodontic treatment in the teenage years.

Yes! Mill City Orthodontics is comfortable and well-suited to treat orthodontic patients of all ages.

Girls around the age of 11.5 and boys around 12.5-13 years old are generally ready for comprehensive orthodontic treatment utilizing Invisalign® or traditional braces.

Dr. Padovano is thoroughly trained to treat the orthodontic component of patients with a cleft lip and/or palate or other craniofacial anomalies resulting from a systemic syndrome or sequence.

We will work with your care team to handle the unique needs of your son or daughter. As he or she grows, we will take care of any age-specific orthodontic needs.

You will be asked to wear your trays 24/7 except when you are eating, brushing your teeth, or drinking anything besides water. This usually works out to be about 22 hours per day, every day.

Trays are typically worn for one week at a time. After seven days of wear, you will move on to your next tray. This is a general recommendation from Invisalign®. Dr. Padovano may ask you to change your trays more or less frequently than this standard interval.

We recommend you clean your trays at least 2x per day – morning and night. Using your toothbrush, manual or electric, gently brush the inside and outside of each tray under a small stream of warm water. It is recommended to use water no hotter than what your hands can tolerate as to not distort the trays. Also, do not use toothpaste on your trays to prevent the abrasives within the toothpaste from making the trays cloudy instead of clear.

Interproximal reduction (IPR) or air-rotary stripping (ARS) are both means of removing a very thin amount of enamel between two adjacent teeth. This is done with care and precision by Dr. Padovano and only when necessary as part of your treatment.

Yes, you will. Teeth love to relapse back to their pre-treatment position. At the end of your treatment, Dr. Padovano will discuss retainer options to help keep your smile looking great for years to come.

If you loose an aligner mid-treatment, don’t stress. Please contact our office and we will guide you through exactly what to do in order to keep your treatment progress on track.