Frequently asked questions

Yes. Every new patient receives a complimentary evaluation with Dr. Chuck Alexander. We discuss the findings, then hold a treatment overview session covering your orthodontic needs and financial options before any treatment begins.

It is best for an orthodontist to see children by age 7. By then the first permanent molars and incisors have usually come in, so crossbites, crowding, and other problems can be evaluated. If no treatment is needed yet, we start an observation program to follow your child's growth until the right time.

Absolutely. Orthodontic treatment can be successful at any age, and one of every five patients in braces is over 21. We treat adults from 18 to 92 with lingual braces, clear braces, clear aligners, and upper- or lower-only options.

Treatment time typically ranges from one to three years depending on growth and the severity of the problem. Interceptive (early) treatment may take as few as six months. Clear aligner treatment averages 9 to 15 months.

You wear each set of clear aligners for about two weeks, removing them only to eat, drink, brush, and floss. Your teeth move little by little with each new aligner until they reach the position Dr. Alexander prescribed. Office visits are roughly every 8 to 12 weeks, and most patients wear 20 to 40 aligners in total.

Lingual braces are placed behind your teeth, so no one knows you are wearing braces unless you tell them. They are 100% customized to the shape of your teeth and have been used to treat patients from age 13 to 60 and beyond.

The Alexander Discipline is a scientifically based treatment method focused on creating a uniquely beautiful smile in the shortest time possible. Dr. Chuck Alexander uses it with the Alexander LTS (Long Term Stability) bracket system, so results are designed to last a lifetime.

Your first appointment to place appliances usually takes 1 to 2 hours. After that you will visit every 4 to 10 weeks for adjustments, which normally take 30 to 60 minutes. Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:30 am to 4:00 pm.

The cost of orthodontic treatment depends on the type of issues the patient has and the length of time needed to complete treatment, so there is no single price. Your first exam is free, and our treatment coordinator will give you an exact fee and payment options at that visit. We offer interest-free monthly payment plans and discounts for additional family members.

We offer interest-free monthly payment plans to suit different budgets, plus discounts for additional family members. We are out-of-network with all insurance companies but accept assignment from most plans and file the paperwork for you as a courtesy.

Avoid chewy foods like licorice, crunchy foods like popcorn, chips, and ice, sticky foods like caramel and gum, hard foods like nuts and hard candy, and foods you bite into such as corn on the cob, apples, and carrots.

True orthodontic emergencies are rare. Call the office if you have severe pain or a painful appliance problem you cannot fix yourself. A loose wire can be pushed back gently with the eraser end of a pencil, and orthodontic wax relieves irritation until we can see you.

Alexander Orthodontics has three offices on Colorado's Western Slope: Montrose (1801 E. Pavilion Place), Gunnison (1115 N. Main Street, Suite B), and Telluride (300 S. Mahoney Drive, Suite C7). Call 970-249-0444 for Montrose and Telluride or 970-641-4441 for Gunnison.