Frequently Asked Questions
Answered By Mulholland Dental Care
Having questions is natural when you choose a new dentist for your family. We are available to help answer all of your questions about our office, dental services, and insurance coverage. We have listed some of our most frequently asked questions here for you to review. If you need answers that are not on this list, give us a call today at 818-222-5566! We serve patients from Woodland Hills, Calabasas, and other nearby areas, and we look forward to hearing from you.
- Do You Offer Adult Braces?
At Mulholland Dental Care, we offer adult braces and braces for your entire family! From kids to teens and adults, we provide a number of options to meet the varying needs of our patients.
We offer traditional comprehensive orthodontics to patients of all ages. This allows us to address common orthodontic conditions in an effective and reliable fashion. Whether you suffer from overcrowding, misaligned teeth, or overlapping teeth, or you simply want to improve your appearance, traditional orthodontics allows us to address a wide range of conditions effectively and with predictable results.
Many of our adult patients appreciate the fast treatment that comes with Six Month Braces. Most treatment is complete in under six months and costs less than traditional orthodontics. Since Six Month Braces uses clear wires and tooth-colored brackets instead of traditional metal hardware, your treatment will be discreet as well as efficient.
We also offer Invisalign clear braces to treat minor orthodontic and cosmetic cases using convenient clear aligner trays. You can remove them to eat and brush your teeth. As a result, for some patients, this provides the flexibility they need to allow treatment to fit into their busy lifestyles with little disruption to their normal routine.
The treatment that will work best for your unique condition depends on you! Call us today for an orthodontic evaluation and take the first steps toward an attractive and comfortable smile.
- Do You Offer Children’s Dental Care?
At Mulholland Dental Care, we welcome patients of all ages to our dental office and especially enjoy welcoming families. When you bring your children to our Woodland Hills dental office, it allows us to help them get off to a good start where children’s dental care is concerned.
We work with parents to educate them on how to best provide home care for their children. Our skilled children’s dentist in Woodland Hills also alerts you as to what you can expect as your child grows.
We monitor the health of your child over time and evaluate for tooth decay and the need for orthodontics right from the start. Early intervention on these common conditions allows for simpler, more cost-effective treatment.
Kids love coming to our office because we make their experience a positive one. Dr. Bobby Irani and our entire team of professionals know how to communicate with children so that they understand what’s going on during their appointment. Dr. Irani and our hygiene team are extremely gentle and make sure that your child is comfortable for every procedure in our office.
From their very first visit, we will help familiarize your kids with the sights and sounds of our dental office in Woodland Hills so that they have nothing to fear at their dental appointments. Building a foundation at a young age improves their chances of having exceptional oral health throughout their lives.
We look forward to meeting your family!
- How to Overcome My Fear of the Dentist?
When you come to our dental office, you will find a compassionate team ready to help you overcome your dental fear. We understand that many people have a fear of the dentist and dental procedures, so we pay special attention to how we treat our patients.
You will never feel rushed while you are with us. We will allow ample time for you to ask the questions you need to feel comfortable about your appointment. We also provide efficient treatments. Most appointments take about an hour, so we will not keep you in the office any longer than you need to be. We know you have other things you would rather be doing.
Do you need additional help feeling comfortable? We offer sedation dentistry so you can relax completely for your appointment! Sedation dentistry utilizes a prescription that you take at least one hour prior to your appointment. By the time your treatment begins, you will feel drowsy and free from anxieties.
Sedation dentistry allows patients to have a treatment that they might otherwise avoid because of dental phobia. Some patients feel so relaxed that they actually fall asleep during their procedures!
If you suffer from anxiety when you think of visiting the dentist, call Mulholland Dental Care to learn how sedation dentistry can benefit you!
- What Dental Procedures Do You Offer?
When we ask our patients how they feel about the dental procedures they receive in our office, they tell us that they are grateful they can have most of their dental care right here in the comfort of our dental office.
Dr. Bobby Irani dedicates time each year to continuing education courses in order to provide our patients with the comprehensive care they desire. We even offer many specialty services without the need for a referral to a specialist.
Some of the common specialty procedures we can complete right here include:
- Dental implant placement and restoration – Dr. Irani not only restores dental implants, he can surgically place them for you. He received the training he needs to give you outstanding results when it comes to your surgical treatments. Once your implant has time to heal, he will also create your custom crown.
- Root canals – When people think of root canals, they often dread having to go to an unfamiliar office for their treatment. Dr. Irani can provide most root canal therapy right here at Mulholland Dental Care. He is both gentle and thorough, giving you the best results possible.
- Orthodontics – We offer a wide range of orthodontic treatments for all ages including traditional braces, Six Month Braces, and Invisalign!
- What Are the Benefits of Dental Implants & Are They Right for Me?
Many patients have questions about the effectiveness and benefits of dental implants. Dentists today agree that dental implants provide the best tooth-replacement option for patients who qualify for treatment.
Dental implants provide stability and protection for your remaining teeth. They do this by acting as a placeholder for your missing teeth, keeping your other teeth from shifting and drifting into the gap in your smile. Additionally, dental implants help to prevent bone loss, a common condition when you lose teeth.
Dental implants also allow us to stabilize hard-to-fit dentures. Your bone structure deteriorates when you lose teeth and, over time, you might find that your dentures no longer fit properly. When we use several implants to anchor your dentures, you benefit from added stability. This can give you confidence to eat the foods you enjoy and speak without worrying about an embarrassing dental mishap.
Most patients are healthy enough for dental implants; however, some medical conditions and prescription medications can make getting dental implants impossible. If you can’t have dental implants, we offer dental bridges and partial dentures to fill in the gap in your smile.
To learn more about whether dental implants are right for you, contact our Woodland Hills dental office today to schedule an evaluation with Dr. Bobby Irani.
- What Are the Benefits of Invisalign?
Learn about the benefits of Invisalign over traditional metal braces. For many of our adult and teen patients, the idea of braces with brackets and wires does not appeal to them at all. In fact, the appearance of traditional orthodontics can keep many of our patients from following through with treatment – even if it is necessary for their health.
This is why the innovative Invisalign technology is so popular:
- Instead of using traditional brackets and wires, Invisalign uses a clear plastic aligner system which looks very much like clear teeth whitening trays.
- The aligners are smooth and won’t irritate the delicate lining of
your cheeks like traditional braces. - You can remove Invisalign to clean your teeth, eat, and drink hot liquids.
- Since the aligners are clear, you can see your progress as you go.
- With Invisalign, you will not have trouble speaking, and most patients get used to the aligners quickly.
Find out the benefits of Invisalign for you! Contact our Woodland Hills dental office today to schedule an evaluation with Dr. Bobby Irani. As a result, his skills and expertise have helped hundreds of our patients achieve a straighter, more beautiful smile that they feel proud of.
If your treatment requires traditional orthodontics or if you would like to hear the benefits of Six Month Braces, we provide those services as well.
- Will I Have Braces Only On My Front Teeth?
When we move your teeth, we take your entire bite and your function into account. In many cases, moving only your front teeth would be irresponsible and result in problems when it comes to your jaw health and bite.
Have you ever pulled a book from a bookshelf and watched the rest of the books tumble to one side? Your teeth operate very much in the same way. What you do to one tooth results in a chain reaction with your other teeth.
At Mulholland Dental Care, we treat you the way we would want our own friends and family to be treated. That is why we take a comprehensive approach when it comes to orthodontics. We want to provide you with beauty as well and comfort and function. We will place brackets on all of your teeth, moving them together to their ideal location. We will monitor your progress and adjust your treatment as necessary to ensure a positive outcome.
The best way to determine your treatment options is to give us a call at our dental office and schedule an orthodontic consultation. We can estimate treatment cost, time, and determine if you are a good candidate for orthodontics.
- Will the Treatment Hurt Since You Are Moving Teeth Faster?
No, just because we finish faster does not mean that we “tighten the braces” more or move teeth faster. In fact, faster movement or more force will bruise the bone and slow down teeth movement.
Six Month Braces uses constant low-force pressure to move your teeth. In actuality, we are moving your teeth more gently and easily than with traditional braces, resulting in less pain and discomfort.
When you have traditional braces, you go in for routine “tightening” appointments. By adjusting your wire only occasionally, you will actually experience more force right after an adjustment and it will gradually decrease as your tooth moves. Then, you start the cycle again with another adjustment appointment. These adjustments can make it difficult to chew for several days after your appointment.
With Six Month Braces, we use a memory wire that is already in the shape of where your teeth need to go. No matter what we do, that wire will hold the shape of your new smile. Since no “adjustments” are necessary, you will feel more comfortable.
The wire, rather than being most effective right after an adjustment appointment, constantly works to move your teeth at a slow, steady, and more comfortable pace than with traditional orthodontics.
- Can I Just Place Braces On One Arch?Can I Just Place Braces On One Arch?
You can have one arch braces, but we usually don’t! effective Additionally, if we only move one arch, your teeth might not match up visually and create additional cosmetic dentistry concerns.
If you move the arch without the other, your teeth may have occlusion problems. Occlusion is how your teeth fit together.
When they do not come together correctly, you can create problems such as:
- Jaw pain
- Sensitivity
- Gum recession
- Clicking or popping joints
- Fractured (cracked) teeth
- Facial soreness and fatigue
- Inability to chew comfortably
By addressing your teeth in a comprehensive manner, we can avoid creating unnecessary dental conditions such as TMJ or TMJD, temporomandibular joint dysfunction – jaw conditions. We will evaluate your bite and create a treatment plan based on how to give you the greatest aesthetics, comfort, and function.
However, there are some occasions where we may be able to just treat one arch. If you only have a few teeth out of place or if your bite will not be affected by the changes, we can adjust treatment accordingly. To find out what will work best for you, we recommend an orthodontic evaluation in our office.
- How Often Do I Need to Come to the Office?
Your treatment time will depend upon how much your teeth need to move. During that process, we will need to schedule regular appointments with you to monitor that your treatment is going smoothly and is on track.
As a general rule, we will schedule regular check-ups at least once monthly to adjust your treatment (if necessary) and to check your progress. This does not include your regular dental cleaning and regular dental exam appointments, though we may be able to piggyback appointments for your convenience.
If you experience any problems during treatment, such as broken hardware or a bracket that pulled free, do not hesitate! Call us right away! When your braces break, you will not receive the full benefit from your treatment and it may slow down your overall progress.
We know that our patients lead busy, full lives, so we will do our best to see you at a time that works for you. To have your choice of times, it is best to schedule in advance and avoid cancelling or moving your appointments. We will always do our best to provide you with convenient care.
If you do miss a routine appointment, call right away to schedule a time. These appointments are necessary to the outcome of your orthodontics.
- Six Month Smiles Problems?
Six Month Braces is a fast, effective, and affordable way to move your teeth without needing years of treatment. That being said, Six Month Braces works best for older teens and adults who have stopped growing and do not have any serious occlusion (bite) or TMJ (jaw joint) issues.
Complex cases may see better results from traditional orthodontic cases. Conditions such as a crossbite, underbite, or an open bite may require longer treatment and planning than Six Month Braces allow.
We recommend Six Month Braces for patients starting at about the age of 18 or 19 years old. For younger patients who are still experiencing growth and changes in their bite, jaw joints, and facial structure, we would recommend a long-term treatment plan.
In cosmetic cases, where adults wish to quickly achieve a more aesthetic appearance, we offer a free consultation. This allows us to perform a comprehensive exam and determine the most effective course of treatment.
Contact our dental office today to schedule a free consultation! Learn how you can improve the appearance of your smile in as little as six months.
We look forward to helping you achieve the smile you have always wanted!
- How Long to Wear a Retainer After Braces?
Once your treatment is complete, making sure your teeth stay put is the next (and ongoing) step in your treatment. We will create a custom retainer after braces for you to wear at night that will keep your teeth from shifting to their original location. Wearing a retainer may seem like a nuisance, but it is the best way to avoid orthodontic relapse.
Orthodontic relapse – Many patients fall into a habit of not wearing their retainers when they should. This can result in your teeth moving toward their original location. Retainer wear is a lifelong commitment because our teeth are constantly on the move.
Some people’s teeth move around more than other’s due to a clenching or grinding habit, orthodontics, tooth loss, or even genetics.
You should think of your retainer after braces as regular maintenance, just like brushing and flossing, professional dental cleanings, and dental exams. It is just part of keeping your smile looking its best.
If you lose or break your retainer, contact us right away and we will create a replacement for you. Remember that extremely hot water and hot cars can cause your retainer to distort and fail to do its job.
Orthodontics requires a commitment, but a gorgeous smile is worth every moment.
