Frequently Asked Questions

No. Teeth move at any age, and adults are a growing share of orthodontic patients. What changes with age is not whether treatment works but how it is planned. Adult treatment has to account for existing dental work, gum health, and any jaw joint issues, which is why a full evaluation matters before anything begins.

Many of our adult patients choose clear aligners for the discretion, though today’s braces are considerably smaller than most people remember.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic check-up by age 7. That sounds early, but by then the first permanent molars and incisors have usually come in, and Dr. Jensen can see how the bite and jaws are developing.

Most children who come in at 7 do not need treatment right away. What they get is a baseline and a plan for when to start if anything needs correcting. Catching a crossbite, a narrow palate, or serious crowding early often means simpler and shorter treatment later.

Both move teeth well, and the right answer depends on the case rather than the preference.

Braces are fixed, handle any case including complex bite corrections, and take the responsibility off the patient. Clear aligners are removable and far less visible, which suits many adults and older teens, but they only work when worn 22 hours a day.

Some cases genuinely call for braces. Dr. Jensen will tell you plainly if aligners are not the right tool for your situation rather than sell you the option you walked in asking for.

No. You are treated at the office you choose, and your regular adjustment appointments happen there.

We schedule Dr. Jensen’s time across the three locations so that patients are seen at their home office throughout treatment. If you split your time between islands for work or school, mention it at your consultation and we can often coordinate appointments across offices.

No. You can book directly with us.

That said, we work closely with general dentists across the islands, and if your dentist referred you we will keep them updated on your progress. Either way, keeping up with regular dental cleanings during orthodontic treatment is important, and we will coordinate with your dentist’s office as needed.

All three. Early treatment for growing children, comprehensive treatment through the teen years, and a full range of options for adults including clear aligners and MARPE expansion.

It is common for us to have two or three members of the same family in treatment at once, and we will coordinate appointments so you are not making separate trips.

Most comprehensive cases run somewhere between 12 and 30 months. Simpler corrections can be considerably faster.

The honest variables are how far the teeth have to travel, whether the jaws need guiding as well, and how consistently aligners are worn or appliances looked after. Dr. Jensen will give you an estimated range at your consultation and update it as your treatment progresses rather than leave you guessing.

Every case is different, so the honest answer is that we quote after Dr. Jensen has examined you. Cost depends on the complexity of the case, the appliance chosen, and how long treatment runs.

What we can tell you before you come in is this: we offer affordable payment options, our team will verify your insurance benefits for you before you commit to anything, and you will get the full cost in writing at your consultation. No surprise charges partway through treatment.

Most patients are seen every six to ten weeks once treatment is underway, and those visits are short, usually 15 to 30 minutes.

We build the schedule around school and work commitments wherever we can. You will know the expected rhythm at your consultation so you can plan around it from the start.

Yes. Your first visit includes an examination, any imaging we need, a discussion of your options, and a written treatment plan with the cost.

There is no obligation to start. We would rather you understand the whole picture, including the timeline and what is involved, before you decide anything.

Every orthodontist has completed dental school followed by a two to three year orthodontic residency. Board certification goes beyond that and is entirely voluntary.

It requires passing a written examination, presenting completed treatment cases to a panel of examiners who scrutinize the results, and renewing that certification over the course of a career. It is a peer review of actual finished work, not just an exam.

Dr. Jensen is board certified by the American Board of Orthodontics.

Plan on roughly an hour. We take photographs and any imaging needed, Dr. Jensen examines your teeth, bite and airway, and then you sit down together and go through exactly what he found.

If treatment makes sense, you leave with your options, a timeline, and the cost in writing. If treatment is not needed yet, we will say so and put you on a recall so we can monitor how things develop. Either way you will not be pressured to decide on the spot.

Airway-focused orthodontics looks at how the shape of the jaws and palate relates to how well a patient breathes, particularly through the nose and during sleep. A narrow upper jaw, for example, often goes along with habitual mouth breathing and restless sleep.

Orthodontic treatment can widen the palate and create more room for the tongue and the nasal passage. Dr. Jensen evaluates the airway alongside alignment as part of a standard examination.

One thing worth being clear about: if we see signs pointing to a sleep or breathing disorder, we will tell you and coordinate with your physician. Diagnosing a sleep disorder is a medical decision and belongs with a doctor, not an orthodontist.

MARPE stands for miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion. It is a method of widening the upper jaw in older teenagers and adults, an age group where the palate has usually fused and a conventional expander on its own will no longer work.

Small temporary anchors give the expander a firm grip on the bone, which allows genuine skeletal widening without surgery in suitable cases. It is not right for everyone. A scan and a clinical examination determine whether you are a candidate, and Dr. Jensen will tell you if you are not.

Call us. Most issues are not emergencies and can wait for a regular appointment, but we would much rather hear from you than have you guess.

For a wire that is poking, a small piece of orthodontic wax pressed over the spot gives relief until we can see you. If a bracket has come loose, keep it if you can and bring it in.

If you are in real pain, or there has been an injury to the mouth or teeth, tell us when you call and we will get you in promptly.

Island Orthodontics has three offices: Wailuku on Maui, Kapaʻa on Kauai, and Kahuku on Oahu. Dr. Jensen treats patients at all three.

That arrangement is deliberate. It means families on Kauai and along the North Shore of Oahu can get orthodontic care close to home instead of flying to Honolulu for every adjustment.

Yes, and this is the part patients most often underestimate.

Teeth have a memory. Left to themselves they drift back toward where they started, and that process does not stop at any particular age. Retainers are what make the result you paid for permanent.

Dr. Jensen will go through your retainer plan before your braces or aligners come off, including how long to wear them full time and what the long-term routine looks like after that.

Many dental plans include an orthodontic benefit, often as a lifetime maximum rather than an annual one. Some plans cover children but not adults, and the details vary widely.

Rather than have you decipher your policy, our team will verify your benefits and tell you exactly what your plan covers before treatment starts. Bring your insurance card to your consultation and we will take care of the rest.