There are real perks to keeping things local. We understand the pull of ordering online and having it turn up at your door, but there is still something to be said for walking into a place where people know your name and actually pay attention to what you need.
That is a good part of why we think you are better off seeing an orthodontist near you than ordering treatment from a website. Here is the rest of it.
The short answer. A local orthodontist examines your teeth, gums, bone and jaw before treatment starts, adjusts the plan as your teeth respond, and is there in person if something breaks or stops fitting. Mail-order aligner companies work from impressions you take yourself, with no in-person exam and no one watching the result.
You Are Supporting a Local Family Practice
Shiney Smiles Orthodontics is not part of a national chain. We are a family-run practice rooted here on Long Island, which means every patient who walks through the door is part of what keeps us going.
We put a lot back into this community, through charitable work, local partnerships and a staff who live here too. One example is our involvement with Smiles Change Lives, which helps young people get treatment they otherwise could not access. Spending your money close to home means it stays close to home.
You Get More Than One Option
Orthodontics has come a long way in the last couple of decades, and there is rarely just one sensible route to a straighter smile. You should not have to take whatever a website happens to sell.
We offer traditional metal braces, more discreet ceramic braces, clear aligners and lingual options that sit behind the teeth. At your free consultation you sit down with Dr. Sheinis and go through what actually suits your case, your routine and your stage of life.
That last part matters more than people expect. Plenty of adults gravitate toward clear aligners because they are nearly invisible and come out at mealtimes. That same feature makes them a harder fit for a younger child who might forget to put them back in or misplace a tray at school. Matching the appliance to the person is a judgment call, and it is difficult to make one from a website form.
You Get a Healthy Smile, Not Just a Straight One
You do not have to pick between the two. A good-looking result comes out of treatment that took your teeth, bite and jaw seriously in the first place.
That is why a board-certified orthodontist examines more than the front teeth. Gums, bone levels and jaw joint all get looked at before a plan is made, because moving teeth through unhealthy bone or onto an unstable bite causes problems that show up years later.
Remote aligner services are built around one outcome, which is straighter-looking front teeth. When nobody has examined the gums and bone underneath, real issues get missed. Gum disease can worsen while teeth are being moved, a bite can be left worse than it started, and some cases simply are not suitable for aligners in the first place. Those are the situations that end up needing correction later.
Here is what alignment actually does for your health. Straight teeth trap less food and are far easier to brush and floss properly, which means less plaque and less decay. An aligned bite spreads pressure evenly instead of grinding certain teeth down, so you keep more enamel and get less sensitivity. And a jaw that closes the way it should is less likely to give you TMJ pain and headaches down the line.
Payment Built Around You
Orthodontic treatment is a commitment, and how you handle it should fit your household rather than a company’s collection schedule. We work out payment arrangements with each family individually, and we do that in person, with someone who can answer a question the same day you ask it.
Order treatment online and you are generally paying the whole thing before anything begins, on a schedule set by the company. If something goes wrong you are calling a support line and explaining your case to someone who has never seen your teeth.
We look at insurance, HSA and FSA funds, and payment plans together and find the combination that works. Our post on orthodontic financing options walks through all of it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it better to see an orthodontist or use an at-home aligner company?
An orthodontist examines your gums, bone and jaw before treatment and monitors how your teeth respond along the way. At-home companies work from impressions you take yourself, with no in-person exam. For mild cases that difference may not show up. For anything more involved, it usually does.
What should I look for when choosing an orthodontist near me?
Check that they are an orthodontic specialist rather than a general dentist offering orthodontics, since that is several years of additional training. Ask whether they are board certified, what treatment options they actually provide, and who you see at each visit. A free consultation is a good way to find all of this out before committing.
Is an orthodontist different from a dentist?
Yes. Every orthodontist starts as a dentist and then completes a full-time residency in orthodontics on top of dental school. That extra training is specifically about moving teeth and correcting bites, which is a different skill set from general dental care.
What happens at a free consultation?
You get an examination, a discussion of what your teeth and bite need, and a clear explanation of your options. You leave understanding what treatment would involve and roughly how long it would take. There is no obligation to start anything.
Does it matter that Dr. Sheinis is board certified?
Board certification through the American Board of Orthodontics is voluntary. It means sitting additional examinations beyond what is required to practice and maintaining that certification over time. Not every orthodontist chooses to do it.
How often will I need to come in?
Most patients visit every four to eight weeks for an adjustment. That is the part remote treatment cannot replicate, since it is where the plan gets corrected based on how your teeth are actually responding.
Come See Us
Choosing a local orthodontist means the person planning your treatment is the same person you see at every visit, and they know your case without pulling up a file. We look after families across Huntington, Woodbury, Syosset, Plainview and the surrounding communities.
The consultation is free, so there is nothing to lose by finding out where you stand. Schedule your visit or get in touch with any questions. We would love to meet you.