Welcome to Doctor Smiles Orthodontics Blog!
Dr. Bedoya and her team of friendly professionals would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the Doctor Smiles Orthodontics blog! We are a leading Tucson, AZ orthodontist office that provides patients of all ages with comprehensive orthodontic treatment and superior service. We’re fully committed to providing you with a beautiful, healthy smile that will last you a lifetime!
Meet Dr. Bedoya
Dr. Marisela M. Bedoya is a native of Tucson. As she was growing up, she spent some of her free time in her father’s dental office, which inspired her to become a dentist. Dr. Bedoya earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree and her Certificate in Public Health from A.T. Still University, Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health, graduating at the top of her class.
While attending dental school, Dr. Bedoya decided that she wanted to specialize in orthodontics so she could help patients obtain beautiful smiles. This inspired her to specialize in orthodontics. Dr. Bedoya then proceeded to earn her Doctor of Health Science degree and her Certificate in Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics from the same university.
Dr. Bedoya is passionate about orthodontics. She is a kind and caring person who loves helping her patients get the beautiful, straight smiles they deserve. She is an active member of several dental organizations including the American Association of Orthodontists, Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists, American Dental Society and The Arizona Dental Association.
Types of Braces We Use
Patients today have more choices than ever when it comes to wearing braces. We are proud to use several types of braces including metal braces. Today’s metal braces are smaller, more comfortable and more attractive than metal braces used a few years ago.
The ceramic braces we use are made of a translucent material. These braces are popular amongst our adult patients due to their cosmetic appeal. The only drawback to these braces is the fact that they’re somewhat fragile and the elastic ties can become discolored between orthodontic visits.
The gold braces we use are popular with patients of all ages due to their cosmetic appeal. These braces are made of stainless steel, which has been coated with 24-karat gold.
The Wild Smiles braces we use are made from high quality stainless steel. These braces allow the patient to mix and match the patented bracket designs for added individuality so that a unique smile can be created.
The Invisalign System we use consists of a series of clear, removable aligners that have been generated by computer simulation to gradually move teeth. When Invisalign is worn, most people will not even notice you are having your teeth straightened as the clear aligners are virtually invisible. This system is available to adults and teenagers with certain orthodontic bite problems.
Your First Visit
We look forward to meeting each of our new patients! Your first visit will consist of a thorough examination and a follow-up discussion of your potential treatment options. This important 30-minute visit will allow us to determine your orthodontic needs. Knowing that your time is valuable and to expedite treatment, we may also reserve time following the exam to take diagnostic records which include X-rays, photos and impressions. These records are necessary for the development of your treatment plan.
We will address specific areas of your proposed treatment after we carefully analyze your diagnostic records. We feel that it’s important to analyze each patient’s specific needs because in-depth planning leads to superior results and higher patient satisfaction.
We will then schedule a consultation visit for you so that we can your discuss treatment options, time frames and financial arrangements. We encourage you to ask questions as our goal is for you to have a complete understanding of what your specific needs are, what the treatment plan consists of and how long treatment will take.
When you arrive for your first visit, please bring with you any panoramic X-rays taken within the past six months and your insurance card if you have orthodontic insurance.
To set up an initial appointment with our Tucson, AZ orthodontics office for you or your child, please fill out and submit the ‘Appointments’ form that is on our website. One of our team members will then contact you to schedule an appointment time. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Thank you for reading our blog! We will be using this space to share office news and information with you. We also will be regularly posting interesting reading materials here related to the exciting world of orthodontics so do drop in often to see what’s new!