Creating Smiles that Are Good For Life
The most important person in our office is you.
At Eagle River Orthodontics, you can feel confident that you'll be treated as a top priority. Your orthodontists, Drs. Robert and Eldon DeKay, build every treatment plan around your individual needs — so the doctors and their staff can bring healthy, happy smiles to Eagle River and Valdez.
Did you know Drs. Robert and Eldon DeKay are Invisalign® certified providers? At your first visit, ask whether clear aligners are right for you.
- Free consultation — call 907-694-3555
- Two offices: Eagle River and Valdez
- Braces and clear aligners for all ages
Orthodontics for Children
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that your child get a first orthodontic check-up around age seven. By then, an orthodontist can spot subtle problems early — and starting treatment at the right time can make a real difference.
What early treatment allows us to do
- Guide jaw growth
- Regulate the width of the upper and lower dental arches
- Create space for crowded, erupting teeth
- Avoid the need to extract permanent teeth later in life
- Correct thumb sucking and help improve minor speech problems
Signs parents should look for
- Early or late loss of baby teeth
- A hard time chewing or biting
- Mouth breathing
- Finger or thumb sucking
- Crowded, misplaced, or blocked teeth
- Jaws that pop or make sounds
- Teeth that don't come together properly
- Jaws and teeth that are not in proportion to the rest of the face
- Crowded front teeth around age seven or eight
Not sure whether your child needs treatment? We offer a FREE orthodontic evaluation — call us at 907-694-3555 to schedule one.
Orthodontics for Teens
Braces! What now? Hearing that you need braces doesn't have to be scary. Braces are a regular part of growing up for a lot of teens, and today's braces are more comfortable than ever — you'll be surprised how quickly you get used to them.
How long will treatment take?
How long you wear braces depends on three things:
- Early treatment — whether earlier, interceptive treatment was done
- What needs correction — the amount of correction your smile needs
- Your own care — how well you take care of your braces and appliances
Braces Your Way!
You have choices in how your braces look:
- Ceramic braces — tooth-colored brackets that blend in
- Invisalign® braces — clear, removable aligners
- Traditional metal braces — the classic, most common type of braces
Questions about braces? Call us at 907-694-3555 — we're glad to walk you through it.
Orthodontic Treatment for Adults
It's never too late to improve your smile — one in five orthodontic patients is over the age of 21. More adults are choosing treatment than ever before, for their health as much as for their confidence.
Common reasons adults seek treatment
- A bad bite (malocclusion), causing teeth to fit together incorrectly
- Teeth that are crowded or spaced apart
- Jaw pain or pressure caused by crooked teeth
- The desire for a healthier mouth and a more confident smile
Your treatment options
- Clear braces
- Ceramic braces
- Self-ligating braces
- Invisalign® clear aligners
- Traditional metal braces
How adult treatment differs
Treatment for adults is a little different from treatment for children and teens:
- Jawbones have stopped growing, so orthognathic surgery may be needed to align them
- Gum or bone loss (periodontal disease)
- Worn or missing teeth
- Incomplete orthodontic treatment as a teenager
- Incomplete retention
Why consider treatment?
- Straight teeth are healthy teeth — properly aligned teeth are easier to keep clean
- Confidence — a smile you're proud to share
- Untreated mouths get worse — problems left alone don't fix themselves
Ready to talk it over? Call us at 907-694-3555 for a free consultation.