Questions and answers
Straight answers to the questions we hear most.
If you don't see yours here, just ask. We're happy to talk it through before you ever book.
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About Sytek Ortho
Who we are, where we are.
Dr. Lauren Sytek grew up in Alpena, trained at the University of Michigan, and is a board certified orthodontist. Sytek Ortho is a single-doctor practice on purpose, so she plans and carries out every case herself. There is more on the About page.
1132 W. Chisholm St., Suite A, Alpena, MI 49707. See our Contact page for directions and hours.
Yes. We regularly see families from Ossineke, Hubbard Lake, Rogers City, Lachine, Hillman, Harrisville, Cheboygan, Atlanta, and Gaylord. Dental Monitoring and Oliv aligners let us treat patients even farther away.
Nope. You can schedule directly with us, no referral needed.
Preferably. We ask that you have seen your dentist within the last year, and that any necessary routine dental work such as fillings or sealants is completed before we start orthodontic treatment.
Of course. We have benches near each treatment chair.
For the initial consultation we need a parent or legal guardian present, since that is when we go over the diagnosis, treatment plan and financial arrangements. Once treatment is underway and the forms are signed, you are welcome to send your child with whoever you like.
Totally normal, and very common. The first visit is very easy, even for the most nervous kids and adults. We walk you through every step as we go, so there are no surprises.
Treatment options
What's the difference.
Damon Ultima is the braces system Dr. Sytek uses, with a built-in door that holds the wire instead of elastic ties. Oliv is the clear aligner system she uses. Which one suits you depends on your case and your lifestyle, and the fee is the same either way because it follows case complexity, not the appliance.
Often, yes, though it depends on the case and on wear time. Dr. Sytek will tell you honestly whether aligners will get you the result you want. If braces would do better, she will say so.
We will give you an estimated treatment time at your consultation, but it is an estimate. The total depends on your own rate of tooth movement, keeping appointments, wearing rubber bands as prescribed, and avoiding habits that break brackets off. The fastest way through treatment is to follow Dr. Sytek's recommendations for your case.
Most braces cases need rubber bands at some point to get the bite right. If Dr. Sytek prescribes them, then yes, you really do need to wear them. Not wearing them as prescribed can add months to your treatment time.
We use a bracket system with a built-in door that holds the wire instead of colored ties. This is the system that works best for Dr. Sytek.
You should not eat or drink anything other than plain water with your aligners in. Brush, or at least rinse well, before popping them back in, so you are not trapping food or sugar against your teeth.
Kids & teens
When to come in, when to wait.
About age seven is the general guideline. That's not about starting braces early. It's about a first look while your child is still growing. See our Kids page.
Early treatment, or Phase 1, is treatment done while a child is still growing, usually roughly age 6 to 10. It is about guiding growth and development while that is still happening. Plenty of kids come in and simply get monitored instead. Dr. Sytek will be honest about which is right for your child.
Not always. Phase 1 can make later treatment simpler or shorter, but many kids still need a second phase once their adult teeth are in.
White spots form because plaque is not being removed regularly, not from the braces themselves. Good hygiene habits are the best prevention.
We can usually see patients for unexpected repairs within a week, often sooner. It helps to take a photo of the issue and text it to the office or send it through the Dental Monitoring app, so we can assess it and book the right kind of appointment.
Yes. We are typically very flexible for a quick wire-clip visit.
Adults
Too old, too late? Neither.
No. Plenty of our patients are adults, some in their fifties and beyond. See our Adults page.
Often, yes. Oliv is a popular choice for adults. Whether aligners fit depends on your case, and Dr. Sytek will tell you honestly.
Cost & insurance
The money part, out in the open.
Honest ranges and what's included are on our Costs & Financing page. You'll get an exact number at your consultation.
We are out of network with all insurance plans. Before your consultation we will use the information you give us to verify your orthodontic benefits, and once treatment begins we submit the forms on your behalf so your insurance reimburses you directly.
Consultations are free for all new patients under the age of 25. For new adult patients over 25 there is a $175 consultation fee, which is applied towards your treatment fee if you decide to move forward.
Medicaid in Michigan does not include any benefits for orthodontic treatment, but we do offer payment plans to help finance the cost of treatment.
Insurance claims for jaw surgery are managed through the oral surgeon’s office, which for us is usually the University of Michigan. They are very good at working with different plans and can help you work out benefits and costs.
Technology & visits
Fewer visits, less goop.
AI-assisted remote check-ins. Most of your visits happen from your phone, not in the chair. See Dental Monitoring.
For braces, usually every 8 weeks for the first year, then every 4 to 6 weeks until treatment is complete. Aligner patients need far fewer in-person visits, because we monitor progress remotely.
No. We use a digital intraoral scanner. Quick, comfortable, no goop.
It lets us keep an eye on things remotely, including bracket breakages, rubber band wear, wire issues and oral hygiene. It is like having an orthodontic appointment every week. If treatment starts to go off track we can catch it right away, instead of waiting until your next in-office visit.
Day-to-day
Living with treatment.
Yes. Just stick to softer foods for the first week while your teeth adjust, since they will be a little tender.
Bracket breakages are not an emergency and can be handled during regular business hours. Give us a call first thing in the morning and we can typically get you in same day or next day for a repair. These visits are included in the treatment fee.
Getting braces on is not uncomfortable at all. Once we place the wires you might feel some soreness that evening or the next morning, and the first 3 to 7 days is the worst of it. Soft, cold foods and over-the-counter pain relievers help. It gets much easier after the first week.
Yes, that can be a completely normal side effect during treatment. Teeth have to loosen to some degree to move from one place to another. We are happy to check in person if you would like reassurance.
We recommend an orthodontic mouthguard, one that does not mould tightly around the teeth, so it works with your brackets and can change as your teeth change.
A waterpik is a nice to have rather than a need to have. It is not required, but it can be a great investment for keeping things clean during treatment.
Yes. Please carry on with regular cleanings every 6 months with your family dentist.
Yes. You will need to wear a retainer long term to protect your investment. Instructions are typically 3 months of full-time wear followed by nighttime wear for life. Teeth can shift at any age, so consistent nightly wear is what keeps them where they should be.
With good care, and in a patient who does not grind excessively, a retainer can last several years. Periodic replacements are expected, which is why we give every patient a model of their teeth so replacements are quick and easy.
As long as a retainer is worn as instructed, wisdom teeth are not strong enough to cause shifting.
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