Frequently
Asked Questions

In most cases, your treatment will be successful with either option. However, there are certain cases where Dr. Dunn prefers one treatment method over the other for that patient. At your initial consultation, Dr. Dunn will let you know if there are reasons that he would recommend one treatment type over the other.

The Invisalign^® whitening kit is clinical-grade and is not available in stores. The product has a stronger whitening solution that OTC products.

Yes, Invisalign^® can be used to treat children and teens! The key to successful Invisalign^® treatment is compliance, so the patient must be responsible enough to wear their trays as prescribed. However, it’s easier to clean your teeth with Invisalign^® than it is with braces. This makes aligners a great option for patients who struggle to brush their teeth thoroughly.

You should remove your retainers to eat, and brush your teeth before resuming wear. You’ll also want to remove your retainers if you’re drinking anything other than water. Other drinks can stain your trays and allow sugar to be trapped under your trays.

If you’re in Invisalign^® treatment, our whitening kit is safe to use while in active treatment, as the product will whiten under your attachments. Braces patients should not use whitening products until the braces have been removed.

Yes, Invisalign^® can be used to treat children and teens! The key to successful Invisalign^® treatment is compliance, so the patient must be responsible enough to wear their trays as prescribed. However, it’s easier to clean your teeth with Invisalign^® than it is with braces. This makes aligners a great option for patients who struggle to brush their teeth thoroughly.

Anyone with trays can use our whitening kits, and each kit comes with four syringes of product. It’s easy to share!

Yes! Our retainers are compatible with whitening gels that require trays.

The short answer is yes! Not every child needs early treatment, but there are cases where early treatment can prevent bigger problems down the road. We recommend staring with a free consult at age 7.

Any time that you’re moving teeth, whether with aligners or braces, you can expect some discomfort and soreness in your teeth. When you initially get braces, you should expect to be sore for 3-5 days as your teeth begin to move and you adjust to the brackets and wires.

We do not require a referral for our patients. Anyone can schedule a free consultation with Dr. Dunn.

The Invisalign^® whitening kit does require trays, but your clear retainers from Dr. Dunn work perfectly as whitening trays. If you don’t have retainers or trays, we can manufacture a set for you.

We are happy to offer flexible payment arrangements, low down payments, and interest-free payment plans for all treatment options. We also offer a discount for payment in full.

Yes, our consultations are completely free of charge. We take two x-rays and a series of photos at every consultation, but we do not bill you or your insurance for those images.

Yes. We capture cephalometric and panoramic x-rays on our patients. We do not bill your insurance individually for these x-rays, so they can be done regardless of whether or not you’ve had other dental x-rays done this year.

Brushing your retainers with a toothbrush and toothpaste on a daily basis is the best way to keep them clean. If you need to clean them more intensively or kill germs, you may purchase any denture cleaning tablets and soak your retainers. Avoid putting your retainers in the dishwasher, boiling water, or mouthwash. These methods can warp retainers or make them brittle.

To remove your retainers, start in the back and work your way forward. Pull down firmly on the back of the tray, and once it’s disengaged from your teeth, move forward and continue to pull down. Removing your retainers this way will help prevent cracks in your trays.

Treatment length depends on the complexity of your case and how much movement needs to happen. At your free consultation, Dr. Dunn will let you know how long he thinks it will take to complete your treatment.

Treatment length depends on the complexity of your case and how much movement needs to happen. At your free consultation, Dr. Dunn will let you know how long he thinks it will take to complete your treatment.

On average, our whitening kits contain 3-6 months of product depending on the frequency of use. Each kit contains four syringes of product.

Treatment costs vary depending on the length of treatment and level of treatment required. We offer free consultations that allow Dr. Dunn to assess your dentition and provide an exact quote. Text us at 812-246-5800 to schedule!

Contact our office to get a quote for whitening!

Your retainers will only work if you wear them properly! We recommend wearing them nightly for about 8 hours while you sleep. This will prevent your teeth from moving. If you prefer not to sleep with your retainers in, you may wear them during the day for about 8 hours. Be sure to take them out when you eat or drink, and brush your teeth before resuming wear. It’s fine to drink water while wearing your retainers.

Yes, an orthodontist is a dental specialist. However, we do not require a referral! Anyone can schedule a free consultation without a referral.

No, Invisalign^® is not more expensive than braces. At our practice, there is no upcharge for Invisalign or clear braces. The cost of your treatment is determined by the level of treatment required and the length of treatment.

Both Invisalign^® and braces are great options for safely and effectively moving your teeth. Both treatment options are able to treat complex cases and it normally comes down to the personal preference for the patient. There is no cost difference between the two options, and the estimated treatment length is usually the same.

Invisalign^® does require a high level of compliance with wearing your trays as prescribed. Most patients need to have their trays in for about 22 hours per day. However, it’s really easy to clean your teeth with Invisalign® and the discomfort level is typically much less than the discomfort of braces. Invisalign® trays and attachments are also very discreet, making them much less noticeable than braces.

Any time that you’re moving teeth, whether with aligners or braces, you can expect some discomfort and soreness in your teeth. When you start Invisalign^® treatment, you should expect to be sore for 3-5 days as your teeth start to move. However, most patients find that Invisalign® trays are more comfortable than brackets and wires.

We recommend whitening kids for patients ages 16+. Check with Dr. Dunn to see if your child or teen is a good candidate for whitening.

We offer both clear and metal braces and over 20 color options for the colorful ties.

We offer braces, Invisalign^®, and whitening treatments for adults.

If your retainers are lost or broken, we need you to let us know ASAP! We’ll want to make new retainers quickly to prevent movement from occurring. As a Retainer Club member, you’ll receive replacement trays at the discounted cost of $25 per tray (normally $150). Text or call us at 812-246-5800 to order a new tray.

We use Invisalign^® retainers that are custom-made to fit your teeth perfectly. They’re lightweight and clear, making them discreet and comfortable.

Phase I treatment is early treatment, usually for patients between the ages of 8 and 11. Patients who require early treatment will normally need Phase II treatment later after they’ve had more growth. Schedule a free consultation to talk with Dr. Dunn about whether or not your child could benefit from Phase I treatment.

Orthodontists are dentists who’ve completed extra schooling and programs that allow them to specialize in moving teeth. It’s important to see a specialist for this! All orthodontists are dentists, but not all dentists are orthodontists.

The American Association of Orthodontics recommends having your child evaluated by an orthodontist starting at age 7. Even if your child still has baby teeth, Dr. Dunn can evaluate their dentition and keep you informed. This gives us the opportunity to identify potential problems and address them early!

Both Invisalign^® and braces are great options for safely and effectively moving your teeth. Both treatment options are able to treat complex cases and it normally comes down to the personal preference for the patient. There is no cost difference between the two options, and the estimated treatment length is usually the same.

Invisalign ® is a great option for patients who are looking for a discreet, comfortable way to straighten their teeth. Invisalign® can be a nice option for kids and teens who struggle to keep their teeth clean and don’t want to take the time to brush around their braces. However, compliance is the key to successful Invisalign® treatment. If the trays are not worn as prescribed, they will not achieve the desired movement in your teeth.

If you’re concerned about compliance or prefer a fixed appliance, braces are a great option! We have both clear and metal brackets available and over 20 options of colorful ties. Braces require some extra attention when it comes to brushing your teeth, but we’ll teach you how to brush and floss around your brackets and wires.

You should plan on having attachments on most of your teeth. There are very few cases that can be treated without attachments. However, the attachments are enamel-colored and much more comfortable than a traditional bracket.

Depending on your insurance, they may pay a portion of your treatment cost. Our consultations are always free and at that visit we can talk to you about what your out-of-pocket cost will be and what your insurance might cover.

Patients may experience increased sensitivity while whitening. We recommend starting with using the product for short periods of time (30-60 minutes) and increasing the time gradually each day. If you experience noticeable sensitivity, wear the product for a shorter amount of time or consider skipping days between whitening treatments.