Orthodontics in Oak Park
A slight overbite, a gap that keeps widening, or crowded lower teeth that are hard to floss can all point toward the same question: would orthodontic treatment help? For families and adults in Oak Park, we offer general orthodontics at 805 Dentistry, our general, family and cosmetic practice in Thousand Oaks led by Dr. Dar Radfar. We provide traditional braces, clear aligners, and retainers alongside the rest of your dental care, so straightening your teeth fits into a relationship with a dental team you already know.
Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry focused on moving teeth into better positions and improving how the upper and lower teeth meet. Gentle, steady pressure over time guides teeth into new positions. That pressure can come from traditional metal braces, which use brackets and wires, or from clear aligners such as Invisalign, which are a series of removable, nearly invisible trays that each shift teeth a small amount.
Our office provides orthodontics as a general service, meaning it is offered within our general dental practice rather than a separate specialty office, and we file orthodontic insurance claims as a General Practitioner. For many Oak Park patients, that means fewer offices to coordinate. The same team that handles your cleanings, exams, and fillings can also guide your orthodontic care, keeping your overall dental health part of the conversation from start to finish.
Patients often come to us for orthodontics for both practical and cosmetic reasons. Straighter teeth can be easier to brush and floss, and a more balanced bite can distribute chewing forces more evenly. Many people also simply want to feel more confident when they smile.
Because we see children and adults of all ages, we can talk with your whole family about orthodontics during routine visits. Some of the benefits patients look for include:
- Teeth that are easier to keep clean when crowding or overlapping is reduced
- A more comfortable, even bite when teeth meet properly
- Closing gaps or spaces between teeth
- A more confident smile in photos, at work, or at school
- Treatment options suited to different lifestyles, from braces to removable aligners
Who is a good candidate for braces or clear aligners?
Children, teens, and adults can all be candidates for orthodontic treatment, and we treat both children and adults. The right fit depends on your specific teeth, bite, and goals, which we evaluate during an exam before recommending anything.
Younger patients may do well with braces, while adults often appreciate the discreet look and removable design of clear aligners. We also welcome orthodontic transfer patients, such as an Oak Park family who started treatment elsewhere and needs to continue care. If you finished treatment at another office and need a new retainer, we provide retainers for patients treated elsewhere, too.
What happens during orthodontic treatment?
Treatment begins with a dental exam and a conversation about what you would like to change. From there, we discuss whether braces or clear aligners make more sense for your situation and walk you through how that option works day to day.
With braces, brackets are attached to the teeth and connected with a wire, which is adjusted at follow-up visits to keep teeth moving. With clear aligners, you wear a series of custom trays, switching to the next set as your teeth shift, and remove them to eat and brush. Either way, regular check-ins let us track progress. Because we are also your general dentist, we can keep up with cleanings and exams throughout treatment, which matters since braces and aligners both require careful oral hygiene.
How do I keep my results after braces or aligners?
Wearing a retainer as directed is the most important step in protecting your results. Teeth naturally tend to drift back toward their old positions, and a retainer helps hold them where treatment placed them.
We will explain how often to wear your retainer and how to clean it. Continuing regular dental visits also helps, so we can check your teeth, your retainer, and your gums together. If a retainer is lost or no longer fits, we can help with a replacement, including for patients who completed orthodontics at another office.
How can I pay for orthodontic treatment?
We accept all major PPO insurance plans, welcome self-pay patients, and offer financing. Our team can review your coverage with you before treatment begins so you understand your options.
Orthodontic benefits vary from plan to plan, so we recommend bringing your insurance information to your consultation. If you do not have dental insurance, or your plan covers only part of treatment, financing can help spread the cost over time. For Oak Park patients looking for a practice that brings orthodontics together with family, preventive, and cosmetic dentistry, we would be glad to talk with you about your smile.