Treatment Options to Fit Your Needs
When you’re ready to explore the many options available in orthodontics, choosing a specialist is the first step. Orthodontists are trained to move teeth in a safe, healthy way. Choosing a specialist committed to offering the correct patient-friendly options available is an important second step. That is why so many residents from Anchorage and beyond choose Murray Orthodontics.
No matter your age, we have options that can be custom tailored not only for your teeth – but for your life.
We are also committed to making the very best treatment affordable. We want to make sure you never have to compromise between quality and affordability. Murray Orthodontics has a number of payment options available to fit your family and your budget.
Our team is experienced with maximizing any insurance benefits you may have available to you.
We will explain your treatment and show you what your teeth will look like when your braces come off.
Treatment for Younger Children - See us at age 7….and beyond!
The AAO (American Association of Orthodontists) recommends and Murray Orthodontics encourages parents to bring their child for an initial orthodontic exam at age 7. Rarely does Dr. Murray perform any orthodontic treatment on a child this young. However, your child is a story, and every time Dr. Murray sees your child for an exam, he is “reading” another chapter of that story.
In some cases (about 10% of the time), Dr. Murray will recommend Early, Interceptive Treatment, frequently referred to as Phase I Treatment. Children are usually 9 or 10 at this time.
With Early Treatment we can take the least invasive approach to address any skeletal deficiencies or tooth crowding issues your child may have while developing.
Addressing these issues early helps avoid a more invasive approach in the future, such as the removal of permanent teeth. However, the vast majority of children do not need Early Treatment.
That’s why we’ve created our Growth & Development Program better known as “Murray’s Musketeers/Kid’s Club”. If your child is in this program, that means they are not in need of orthodontic treatment at this time, but we’re monitoring them in case treatment is needed in the future. These very important growth and development evaluations will be scheduled every 6 to 12 months. They are free. They allow us to monitor your child’s dental development and give you peace of mind that you’re making the right decisions for your child’s oral healthcare.
Early Orthodontic Treatment Success Story: Andrew Butcher
Wasilla Teen Braces Success Story - Destany Mervyn
“Dr. Murray helped me get a beautiful smile!”
Options for Adolescents
Between the ages of 11 and 15 is the most common timeframe for orthodontic treatment. And for good reasons. By age 12, most, if not all, of the permanent teeth are in place. Crooked teeth, gaps and bad bites are highly visible. We can often take advantage of the remaining skeletal growth to make the necessary orthodontic corrections to create an exceptional smile for your child without being too invasive. Orthodontic treatment is usually shorter during this stage of development.
Most of the time, adolescents LOVE sharing the braces experience. After school visits at Murray Orthodontics are busy and fun. Many patients see their friends from school, church and various sports teams!
Eagle River Braces Success Story - Jilliana Mullen
“Its given me a boost, I’ve got a pretty smile!”
Teen & Adult Treatment
At Murray Orthodontics the options for teens and adults include Invisalign – for straight teeth without braces, clear braces – when fast, efficient treatment also needs to be discreet and, of course, metal braces – with colorful elastics. So whether you want to show the world your braces or you’d prefer an option that gets the job done less visibly, we have both the technology and the experience to make it happen.
Treatment options today are faster, more comfortable and require fewer visits to our office so you can enjoy your time in treatment almost as much as you’ll enjoy having your beautiful new smile.
We have many options for colored bands to make your braces stand out and show off your personality. Visit our colored bands page to learn more about braces colors.
Technology to Improve Your Smile
The latest technology for better health and a better visit
Next Generation X-ray Technology
Precision bracket placement to make tooth movement more efficient and precise
Thermal wires that move teeth using the natural heat of your body
Digital scanning of all teeth to minimize having to take impressions
Digitized x-rays
Digitized photographic images
Murray Orthodontics uses technological advances in orthodontics to make the patient experience better. Every patient that chooses braces also receives:
TYPES OF ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT
Why Choose Early Orthodontic Treatment?
Early orthodontic treatment can help address certain dental issues more efficiently, providing the best chance for proper dental development and reducing the need for more invasive treatment options later. This provides the most effective and positive experience overall for your child.
Orthodontic Treatment: Metal Braces
These are the metal brackets and wires that most people picture when they hear the word “braces.” Metal Braces are used to align and straighten teeth and fix a person’s bite, while improving dental health. Braces can also fix gaps.
Orthodontic Treatment: Clear Braces and Invisalign
Clear braces are aligners (trays) and are virtually invisible. They are removable for easy cleaning of the aligners and your teeth. This design allows teeth to move independently and with much less required pressure.
Orthodontic Treatment: What are Space Maintainers?
Space Maintainers are devices that fill the space left by a missing tooth. They are custom fitted to your child’s mouth, and they keep teeth in position so permanent teeth can come in where they are supposed to.
Orthodontics: What's a Herbst Appliance?
The Herbst is an orthopedic appliance that encourages the lower jaw to grow and catch up with the size of the upper jaw and face, reducing a patient’s overbite. This eventually leads to an ideal bite and can help your child avoid jaw surgery later in life.
Orthodontic Treatment: What is an Expander?
The palatal expander is used to widen the upper jaw. Patients who require this appliance are identified at an early age because of a crossbite or severe crowding of the upper teeth. The appliance itself attaches to upper permanent teeth.
Orthodontic Treatment: What are Clear Aligners?
Clear aligners come as a set of multiple aligners. Each aligner will make slight adjustments to tooth position, and are made of a smooth, comfortable, plastic that won’t irritate your mouth.