Bella Smiles uses affordable orthodontics for cosmetic purposes and to help our patients realign their crooked teeth. We offer care for children and adults. Our treatment options include Invisalign® clear aligners and traditional braces. Dr. Lotardo is a family dentist who provides orthodontic care in Riverhead, Nesconset, and Roslyn, NY. When he treats children, he’ll monitor the development of their permanent teeth and jaws.
Dr. Lotardo will only make orthodontic treatment recommendations for his patients when necessary. In some cases, he may recommend early treatments to avoid complex dental problems as your child grows. Straighter teeth and proper jaw alignment help lay the foundation for a beautiful and healthy mouth.
Dr. Lotardo will also work with you if your child has certain habits that can affect tooth development. He can treat thumb sucking or late pacifier use in children. Dr. Lotardo may also recommend oral appliances or two-phase orthodontics so your child enjoys a functional mouth as they grow.
Oral appliances can help correct bite problems, improve jaw alignment, and make sure there’s enough space for adult teeth to come in properly. Two-phase orthodontics is a step-by-step approach. We start treatment while your child is still growing and finish as your child’s mouth and jaw fully develop. These treatments can help your child enjoy a healthy and functional smile as they grow.
Dr. Lotardo is a member of the American Orthodontic Society. He has the advanced training and experience to provide effective results in our family dental office. In addition to orthodontic care, he provides restorative dentistry treatments to improve the look and strength of teeth. He can correct one or two crooked teeth without braces in his Long Island, NY, dental offices with bonding or veneers.
Patient Review
How We Plan Orthodontic Care at Bella Smiles
To begin your treatment, Dr. Lotardo will meet with you to evaluate your oral health. He uses X-rays and digital imaging to take pictures of your teeth and analyze their position. Then, he’ll recommend the best treatment options for you. We want to improve the function of your teeth and create results that exceed your cosmetic goals.
Bella Smiles offers both traditional metal braces and Invisalign clear aligners. We can address a wide range of malocclusion concerns. Our teen and adult patients with mild to moderate malocclusion issues prefer clear aligners.
But traditional braces and other orthodontic appliances may be better treatment options. This is especially true for more complex cases. Traditional-style braces are often the best choice for younger patients.
Dr. Lotardo will explain the kind of results you can expect as well as payment and financing options. Your treatment will include routine visits to monitor your progress and to make any adjustments. Schedule an appointment today to begin your journey.
Before and after orthodontics at Bella Smiles.
The Benefits of Orthodontics
Getting orthodontic care can be a great decision if you want to improve your oral health. Orthodontic care offers many physical and psychological benefits. Our treatments can correct your overbite, underbite, open-bite, cross-bite, or other bite issues.
Better Oral Health
First, orthodontic treatment can improve your oral health and prevent issues from occurring or worsening in the future. Braces and other dental orthopedics help patients bite and chew food correctly. This can help ensure that their teeth are healthy and strong.
Cavities are less likely to form in properly aligned teeth. Straight teeth can make it easier for you to thoroughly brush and floss. A better oral hygiene routine can decrease your risk for tooth decay and gum disease.
Beautiful Teeth
Orthodontic care also offers important cosmetic benefits. Straight teeth give you a more attractive and youthful appearance. Properly aligned teeth can improve the overall shape and balance of your face. Braces or Invisalign treatment can reduce overcrowding and close gaps between the teeth.
Confidence Boost
Last but not least, a straight and healthy smile can give you a huge boost of confidence. You want to feel good about how your smile looks. When your confidence grows, it’s often easier to connect with others and take advantage of more social opportunities.
Invisalign® at Bella Smiles
Dr. Lotardo is a North Fork area Invisalign provider for teen and adult patients. He uses Invisalign to fix mild to moderate cosmetic and dental health concerns. It can also work if you had a change in your bite or shifting teeth after previous treatment.
The Invisalign treatment involves using a series of clear, comfortable, and removable aligners. The aligners will gently move your teeth into the proper position. Our Invisalign procedure will help you achieve straighter and much healthier teeth.
The Invisalign lab uses a material called SmartTrack® to create the aligners. SmartTrack is a clear plastic that is thin yet strong. This material fits firmly against your teeth to avoid irritating your lips, tongue, and gums.
With this clear aligner system, you can remove the aligners to eat a regular diet and brush and floss normally. We recommend that you wear the aligners for about 22 hours a day. Invisalign aligners are discreet and won’t stain your tooth enamel. Our orthodontic services can fix issues such as:
- Overbite
- Underbite
- Open Bite
- A few crooked teeth
- Overcrowded teeth
Do you want to see what your Invisalign results will look like? Visit our smile gallery to view before and after photos of orthodontic patients who are enjoying beautiful new smiles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you want to know more? We’re here to help. Read answers to common questions about orthodontics in Nesconset, Riverhead, and Roslyn, NY.
Which adult orthodontic treatment option is best for me?
The right treatment for you will depend on your age, medical and dental history, and the condition of your teeth. Most people will qualify for today’s adult orthodontic treatments. We welcome you to schedule an appointment with Dr. Lotardo to help you learn which is best for you and your needs.
Do I need to wear a retainer after braces treatment?
Yes. You need to wear a retainer to prevent orthodontic relapse. The retainer works by permanently keeping your teeth in their new position after your braces come off. If you don’t wear one, there’s a good chance that you will experience relapse at some point in your life.
Removable retainers will prevent your teeth from shifting and improve the stability of your bite. At minimum, you’ll need to wear a retainer for the same amount of time that you had braces or clear aligners.
Will clear aligners give me a lisp?
No, clear aligners usually don’t cause a lisp. A lisp often happens because of problems with your bite, tongue position, or how you pronounce certain sounds.
That said, you might need some time to get used to wearing your aligners. At first, you may feel some discomfort and notice small changes in your speech. This is normal. Your speech should return to normal with a bit of practice.
How many times do you have to go to the orthodontist for braces?
The number of visits you need before and during braces treatment will depend on your needs. The severity of your misaligned teeth will affect how long your treatment takes.
We’ll review your treatment plan with you. You’ll need several visits for the placement of the braces and to monitor treatment progress. But you should still schedule dental cleanings and routine visits every six months while you undergo treatment.
What should I avoid after I get braces?
You should follow some restrictions after you get braces for the best results. First, avoid eating hard and chewy foods like candies, popcorn, and chewing ice. You should also avoid biting your nails. The pressure from your nails and from hard foods can damage your teeth and braces.
Always wear a mouthguard when you play contact sports that could break or damage the braces. Follow our care instructions so your braces do the best job possible.
Schedule an Appointment
Do you want to change your bite? Get straight teeth with orthodontics in Riverhead, Nesconset, and Roslyn, NY. Call Dr. Lotardo in Nesconset at (631) 228-8780. You can also call our Riverhead office at (631) 574-3898 and our Roslyn dental office at (516) 217-6668.