First Visit

When you’re looking for a family orthodontist in or around San Jose, CA that specializes in high-quality orthodontic treatments, such as braces and Invisalign, we hope you’ll make us your choice. Our doctors, Dr. Kayhan Mashouf, Dr. Shannon Hayashibara, and Dr. Cameron Mashouf, strive to go above and beyond to make sure that you get the orthodontic care that you need. We want to guarantee that your first visit with us is as comfortable and stress-free as possible, which is why we’ll be happy to go in-detail about what your first visit with us will entail.

Scheduling Your Appointment

When you call us for a consultation appointment, you’ll be greeted by Kara, our treatment coordinator. Kara has been in the field of orthodontics for over 30 years and is capable of answering any of the orthodontic questions you may have, in addition to scheduling an appointment for you or your child.

During the Visit

During your first visit with us, it’s our goal to help acclimate you to our San Jose, CA office. We’ll help you get acquainted with us and we’ll even give you a tour of our office, including our state-of-the-art sterilization room and our treatment areas. We prioritize the comfort of our patients and we’re glad to provide you with a cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate while you wait for your appointment to start.

Your first visit will last about an hour and it will consist of an initial examination and a discussion of potential treatment options. We’ll also discuss whether this is the right time for treatment to begin. At Mashouf Orthodontics, we value open communication and encourage any questions, whether it’s about your orthodontic diagnosis, the treatment procedures, treatment times, or payment options. We promise to always speak candidly with you about our diagnosis and recommendations. After the visit, you’ll be given a written report about the diagnosis, treatment recommendations, and what to do next.

Contact Your San Jose, CA Family Orthodontist Today!

If you happen to be interested in our orthodontic treatments, such as braces or Invisalign, we encourage you to give us a call at (408) 266-8820. Alternatively, you can fill out our appointment request form to schedule an appointment with us. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Patient Forms

You may access the following forms to assist us with your care. Please complete the following forms, and click the "Submit" button at the bottom of each form.

New Patient Information (English)
New Patient Information (Spanish)

*We are committed to keeping your personal information secure. All of our online forms are submitted via a secure connection and are HIPAA compliant.

Patient Gallery

At Mashouf Orthodontics, we’ve helped countless patients transform their smiles for the better by providing only the highest quality orthodontic care to our patients. For our doctors and orthodontic staff, one of the greatest feelings is seeing our patients show off their new smiles at the end of their treatment, seeing their faces brimming with happiness and confidence.

When you choose Mashouf Orthodontics to get your new smile, you’re making a decision that will have a positive impact on you for the rest of your life. Once you finish with your orthodontic treatment, you will have smile that’s perfect, radiant, and healthy!

Professional Orthodontic Treatment

We offer a wide range of orthodontic treatment options for patients of all ages. We always work with our patients closely to create an individualized treatment plan that meets their needs most effectively, for the perfect smile that they’ve always dreamed about. We utilize only the most advanced orthodontic techniques and technology to provide a superior level of care. Our orthodontic treatment options include:

If you have any questions about the treatment options that we offer, or what orthodontic treatment can do for you, just contact us at Mashouf Orthodontics and we’ll get you all of the answers you need.

The Difference Of A Healthy Smile

To show you the kind of difference that a new, healthy smile can make for you, we want to show you some of the treatment results that we’ve helped achieve for our patients. While many of these patients had different cases with a unique set of needs, we were able to provide them with effective treatment, creating a smile that will last for a lifetime.

Correction of Crowding

Before

After

Correction of Overbite

Before

After

Missing Upper Lateral Incisors

Before

After

Early Interceptive - Case 1

Before

After

Early Interceptive - Case 2

Before

After

Early Interceptive - Case 3

Before

After

Correction of Crowding Without Removing Teeth

Before

After

Correction of Narrow Upper Jaw

Before

After

Contact Mashouf Orthodontics Today!

Just like these patients in our gallery, you too can have a perfect, radiant smile that fills you with confidence. To get started with orthodontic treatment, just contact us as Mashouf Orthodontics to schedule an appointment. Our office is located in San Jose, CA and we proudly work with the families from all of our surrounding communities! We look forward to helping you transform into a healthier and more confident you by doing what we do best: create new, brilliant smiles.

Common Problems

When a person's teeth or jaws do not fit together properly, orthodontic treatment may be necessary to correct the problem. If left untreated, these orthodontic problems, often referred to as malocclusions, can cause speech difficulty, premature wear of the teeth and protective enamel, and even increase the chance of injury to the teeth and jaw joints.

Underbite

An underbite is characterized by the lower jaw extending too far out, causing the lower front teeth to sit in front of the upper front teeth.

Crossbite

This malocclusion occurs when the upper teeth sit inside the lower teeth, which may cause tooth stratification and misaligned jaw growth. In order to close the mouth, patients usually move their lower jaw forward or to the side when closing. This incorrect bite results in an improper use of the lower jaws and sometimes brings about facial asymmetry.

Upper Front Teeth Protrusion

The appearance and function of your teeth are impacted by this type of bite. It is characterized by the upper teeth extending too far forward or the lower teeth not extending far enough forward.

Overbite

The upper front teeth extend too far out over the lower front teeth, sometimes causing the lower front teeth to bite into the roof of the mouth. Problems often associated with an overbite include a "gummy" smile, protruding lips and excessive incisor wear.

Crowding

Crowding occurs when teeth have insufficient room to erupt from the gums. It is the most common reason for braces. Not only is crowding unattractive, but it has also been linked to periodontal problems and dental decay because it is harder to clean overlapping teeth's surfaces.

Spacing

Spacing problems may be caused by missing teeth, or they may only be a cosmetic or aesthetic issue. Spacing is another popular reason for braces. The opposite of crowding, spacing is most commonly caused by excessive jaw room for the size of the erupting teeth.

Openbite

Proper chewing is impacted by this type of bite, in which the upper and lower front teeth do not overlap. Openbite may cause a number of unwanted habits, such as tongue thrusting or thumb sucking. An early evaluation and intervention is essential in correcting an openbite.

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Dental Midlines not Matched

Dental midlines that do not match are evident when the back bite does not fit and match appropriately. This may negatively impact jaw function and proper dental function.

Emergencies

There are very few true orthodontic emergencies, but we are always available to help you. If you have a broken appliance or are experiencing intense pain, please call us as soon as possible. We will do our best to fit you into the schedule for an appointment. Even if you have a regular appointment scheduled, call immediately to notify us that you need an appliance repaired.

Surprisingly, most orthodontic problems can be remedied at home. While you await your appointment, these guidelines will help you resolve minor problems. Please know that even if you alleviate the pain caused by your broken appliance, you still need a repair appointment.

Lost Separator

Most patients lose a separator during their treatment. Do not worry about losing a separator, but please call our office to see if it needs to be replaced.

Sore Teeth/Discomfort with Orthodontic Treatment

Right after you get your braces, and sometimes after you have an adjustment appointment, your teeth and mouth will feel sore. To alleviate the pain, you may take acetaminophen or other non-aspirin pain relievers while you adjust to your new braces. You can also gargle lukewarm saltwater, which is a mixture of one teaspoon of salt dissolved in eight ounces of water. A warm wash cloth or a heating pad may also reduce the soreness in your jaws.

Wire Irritations

Try moving the wire away from the irritated area with a cotton swab or eraser. If the wire will not move, try covering the end of it with a small piece of cotton or a small amount of wax. If the wire is painful, you can cut it with nail clippers or scissors that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol.

Loose Bracket

First, call our office to see if the bracket needs to be re-fitted. If you have a situation where you must cut the wire or slide a bracket off the wire, you may use fingernail clippers that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. Please call our office the next business day to schedule a repair appointment.

Loose Wire

Try putting the wire back in place using tweezers that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. If that does not work, try putting wax over the wire where it is poking you. If you have a situation where you must cut the wire, you may use fingernail clippers that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. Cut the wire behind the last bracket in which it is secured.

Headgear Doesn't Fit

If your headgear is causing pain, it's usually because it isn't being worn long enough. Please adhere to your orthodontist's instructions, and wear your headgear for the instructed amount of hours each day. If the facebow is bent, please call our office for an appointment. Do not try to adjust it yourself.

Oral Hygiene

Patient Motivation and Prize Program

Brushing teeth that have braces takes longer than just the plain teeth. Food is easily trapped around the edges of braces and becomes acidic if left there for several hours. Acid softens “demineralizes” the enamel of teeth and leaves white or brown lines on the teeth. The soft or demineralized enamel can progress further into cavities. It is, therefore, critical for patients to brush and floss regularly while going through their orthodontic treatment.

Our staff is trained to monitor the oral hygiene of patients at every appointment and give them the proper instructions and feedback. To further motivate the patients and reinforce their efforts, good brushing is rewarded with points that can be accumulated and exchanged for prizes. We have noticed dramatic improvement in the patients brushing and flossing through this positive reinforcement program.

Obviously, this program does not replace the need for the professional dental cleaning and check-up which is done by the general dentist.

Foods to Avoid

While you are wearing braces, please avoid eating hard foods, sticky foods and foods high in sugar. Hard foods can break or damage the wires and brackets, and sticky foods can get caught between the wires and brackets. Minimize the amount of sugary foods you eat; the sugar can cause tooth decay and other related problems.

Examples of Sticky Foods to Avoid:

Gum (sugar-free or regular)
Licorice
Sugar Daddies
Toffee
Tootsie Rolls
Caramels
Starburst

Examples of Hard Foods to Avoid:

Ice
Nuts
Hard taco shells
French bread crust/rolls
Corn on the cob
Apples and carrots (unless cut into small pieces)
Bagels
Chips
Jolly Ranchers
Pizza crust
Uncooked carrots (unless cut)

Minimize Sugary Foods like:

Cake
Ice Cream
Cookies
Pie
Candy

Only Once a Day:

Soda
Sweetened tea
Gatorade
Kool-Aid
Drinks with sugar

We encourage patients to quit bad habits, such as fingernail biting, pencil and pen chewing and chewing on foreign objects. All of these activities can break or damage your braces.

It's important to regularly check your braces for bent or loose wires and brackets. If you have a loose/broken wire or bracket, please call our office immediately to arrange a repair appointment.

FAQ

Q. Why should an orthodontic specialist complete my treatment?

A. Teeth, and sometimes entire facial structures, are permanently changed by orthodontic treatment. It is important that the treatment be appropriate and properly completed. Orthodontic specialists have extensive and specialized training that enables them to provide their patients with professional, personalized treatments.

Q. At what age should I schedule an appointment for an orthodontic screening?

A. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends an orthodontic screening at age 7. For most children, several permanent teeth have erupted by this age, allowing the orthodontist to effectively evaluate the patient’s orthodontic condition.

Q. Will my teeth straighten out as I grow and get older?

A. No, they will not. The space available for the front teeth does not increase as you grow. In most people, after the permanent molars erupt, the space available for the front teeth decreases with age.

Q. Is it too late to have braces if I’m already an adult?

A. No patient is "too old" to wear braces! A surprising percentage of our patients are adults. In fact, 25 percent of all orthodontic patients are adults. Health and happiness are vitally important to adults, and orthodontic treatment can increase your self-esteem at any age!

Q. How long will it take to complete treatment?

A. Overall treatment time depends on each patient's specific orthodontic problem(s). In general, treatment times range from 12 to 30 months. The "average" timespan a patient wears braces is approximately 22 months.

Q. How often will I have an appointment?

A. Appointments are scheduled according to each patient's needs. Most patients in braces will be seen every five to 10 weeks. If there are specific situations that require more frequent monitoring, we will schedule appointments accordingly.

Q. Can I drop my child off for an appointment?

A. Yes. We understand your schedule is busy, and we are happy to help you make the most of your time. On some occasions, we may request to speak with a parent when they return, so we ask that parents check-in with their patient manager before dropping off their child.

Q. Does wearing braces hurt?

A. Generally, braces do not "hurt." After certain appointments, your teeth may be sore for a few days. In these situations, over-the-counter pain medications, such as Advil or Tylenol, will ease the discomfort. However, after most visits, patients do not feel any soreness at all! We often remind our patients, “It does not have to hurt to work!”

Q. Can I still play sports or play my instrument while wearing braces?

A. Yes! We recommend that patients wear mouthguards while playing sports. Musicians will likely experience an adjustment period until they are comfortable playing while wearing braces.

Q. Do I need to see my general dentist while wearing braces?

A. Yes! Regular check-ups with your general dentist are important while in braces. Your dentist will determine the intervals between each cleaning appointment while you have your braces.

Q. How often should I brush my teeth while I have braces?

A. Patients should brush their teeth at least four times each day – after each meal and before going to bed. We will also show you how to floss your teeth with braces, and we may provide a prescription for a special fluoride treatment, if necessary.

Q. Are there any foods I cannot eat while I have braces?

A. Yes. Once treatment begins, we will explain our complete instructions and provide you with a comprehensive list of foods to avoid. Some of those foods include ice, hard candy, raw vegetables and all sticky foods (i.e. caramel and taffy). You can avoid most repair appointments by carefully following our instructions!