The balance of the face and the airway are respected with straight teeth being a small part of the overall treatment goal.

Primary (baby) teeth are not extracted to alleviate crowding - jaws are developed to accommodate the teeth.

Permanent teeth are not extracted to alleviate crowding for children and adolescents and only in very rare cases for adults. Instead, space is made for the teeth. (Wisdom teeth are a separate, unrelated issue.) We believe a broad smile is more attractive, and treatment to accommodate the teeth helps keep the airway from being compromised.

Headgears are NEVER used to push the upper teeth back - upper teeth are almost never too far forward relative to the rest of the face! It's the lower jaw that is too far back making the upper teeth appear to be too far forward!

Treatment for children and adolescents is done as early as possible to achieve the best result in the shortest amount of time. Parents are busy and kids don't want or need to be in braces longer than necessary!

Malocclusions (crooked teeth) and unfavorable facial development are caused by altered oral posture (the way the tongue, teeth, and lips are held at rest). Because breathing through the mouth rather than the nose is frequently the cause of altered oral posture, we try to find the reason someone is a mouthbreather and change the pattern to nosebreathing. In turn, this supports proper dental and facial development and stability of the orthodontic result.

Based on the research Dr. Hang has done, impacted cuspids (eye teeth that are in the roof of the mouth and do not erupt) can usually be prevented. Impacted cuspids naturally occur in 2-3% of the population - including Shaquille O'Neal! It is critical to see children long before all the permanent teeth are in if we are to prevent this serious problem. (Canine Impaction Identified Early with Panoramic Radiographs - American Dental Association Journal, March, 1982)

Adults who had extractions for orthodontics can often have improved facial balance and an improved airway by orthodontically reopening the spaces and replacing the extracted teeth. This often also helps reduce or eliminate headaches and/or TMJ symptoms.