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(843) 896-6558Conway Orthodontist: Braces & Clear Aligners for All Ages
Straight teeth do more for you than better photos. If you've been searching for a Conway orthodontist who explains your options clearly and puts the price in writing before you commit, Seabreeze Orthodontics is here to make you smile. Dr. Juan Faja-Fernandez treats kids, teens, and adults with braces, clear aligners, and digital planning built around your schedule.
What Does a Conway Orthodontist Do?
A Conway orthodontist is a dental specialist who straightens teeth and corrects bite issues using braces, clear aligners, and growth-guiding appliances. Orthodontists finish dental school first, then complete two to three more years of residency devoted only to tooth movement and jaw development.
That extra training is what separates a specialist from a general dentist. Keep in mind orthodontists are dentists first, and only a small share of dental school graduates go on to specialize.
Dr. Juan Faja-Fernandez completed four years of college, four years of dental school, and three years of orthodontic residency at accredited institutions. He also serves as a part-time faculty member at MUSC, which means he teaches the next generation of dentists while treating families from Conway, Carolina Forest, and Myrtle Beach.
Conway families are seen at our Myrtle Beach Office, which sits an easy drive from town, so you get specialist care close to home without a long haul.
Your family dentist handles cleanings, fillings, and general oral health. Dr. Juan handles how your teeth and jaws fit together.
Conditions treated at Seabreeze Orthodontics include:
- Crowded or overlapping teeth
- Gaps and spacing between teeth
- Overbite (upper teeth extending too far forward)
- Underbite (lower jaw sitting ahead of the upper)
- Crossbite, where upper and lower teeth don't meet properly
- Open bite, where front teeth don't touch when you close
Kids, teens, adults, and grandparents all get treated here. Everyone deserves a fantastic smile.
Benefits of Orthodontic Treatment at Seabreeze Orthodontics
A straighter smile is the reason most people call. The health benefits are the part they end up talking about later.
Easier cleaning, healthier gums
Straight teeth are easier to brush and floss, which greatly lowers your risk of gum disease and tooth decay over a lifetime.
A bite that works
When your teeth meet correctly, chewing feels natural, speech sounds clearer, and uneven pressure on your jaw muscles eases up. Dr. Juan Faja-Fernandez plans every case around how your teeth come together, not only how they look from the front.
Options that match your life
Custom clear aligners give you a flexible treatment option that's nearly invisible. Modern metal braces are lighter, lower-profile, and more comfortable than the ones your parents wore, and they often work faster at closing gaps and rotating stubborn teeth.
No more goopy trays
Digital scans replace old-fashioned impressions, so we capture your teeth in minutes with a handheld wand. Nothing to gag on, and the records are more accurate.
Time back in your day
Your time is important, so Seabreeze Orthodontics offers virtual consults, text communication, and same-day treatment starts. Many families in Conway finish the free consultation and begin treatment in the same visit.
Confidence that lasts
Changing lives, one smile at a time, is the whole point of what we do here, and your dream smile is the result you get to keep long after the last visit.
Your Treatment Process, Step by Step
Orthodontic treatment at Seabreeze Orthodontics follows five steps: a free consultation and exam, digital scans with a 3D treatment plan review, a same-day start when you're ready, progress visits every 6 to 10 weeks, and retainers to hold your results. Most Conway smiles finish somewhere between 12 and 24 months.
Step 1: Your free consultation
Come see us in person at our Myrtle Beach Office or start with a virtual consult from your phone. Dr. Juan Faja-Fernandez examines your teeth, bite, and jaw alignment, takes photos and X-rays as needed, and answers the questions you actually care about. There's no fee and no obligation.
Step 2: Digital scans and your customized treatment plan
Our team captures digital scans of your teeth, then Dr. Juan walks you through the plan on screen. You'll see which teeth move, in what order, and roughly how long it takes. We go over pricing and flexible payment options here, before anything starts.
Step 3: Same-day start
Ready to go? You don't have to come back another day. Same-day treatment lets you start your smile right after your free consult, whether that means bonding braces or ordering your aligners.
Step 4: Progress visits
Plan on short visits every 6 to 10 weeks so Dr. Juan can adjust wires, check aligner tracking, and keep everything on schedule. If your teeth begin to feel a little loose, don't worry. This is normal. Your braces must first loosen your teeth to move them into the right position.
Step 5: Retainers
The day your braces come off is a big one. Wearing your retainer as directed is what protects your dream smile for decades, so we review the schedule carefully and keep an eye on things long term.
Simple cases with mild crowding often wrap up in 6 to 12 months. More involved bite corrections usually run 18 to 24 months.
Are You a Candidate for Braces or Clear Aligners?
Most people with crowding, gaps, or a misaligned bite are candidates for braces or clear aligners, as long as the teeth and gums are healthy. Children should have a first orthodontic check by age 7, according to the American Association of Orthodontists, and there's no upper age limit for adults.
Early checks matter because, according to the American Association of Orthodontists, most children have lost their baby teeth by around age 13, and jaw growth generally wraps up in the late teen years. Seeing Dr. Juan Faja-Fernandez at seven doesn't always mean starting treatment at seven. Often it just means watching growth and stepping in at the right moment.
Adults straighten teeth here every week. Healthy teeth move at any age.
| Clear Aligners | Metal Braces | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Mild to moderate crowding, spacing, and relapse cases | Complex bites, severe rotations, significant jaw correction |
| Appearance | Nearly invisible | Visible, with color options on ties |
| Removable | Yes, for eating and brushing | No, bonded in place |
| Wear required | 20 to 22 hours daily, on you | Working 24/7, no discipline needed |
| Food limits | None, trays come out | Avoid hard, sticky, and chewy foods |
| Good fit for | Self-motivated teens and adults | All ages, including younger kids |
Not sure which column you belong in? That's exactly what the free consultation sorts out.
Why Conway Families Choose Seabreeze Orthodontics
At Seabreeze Orthodontics, you're more than just another smile, you're part of the family!
- Specialist-led care. Dr. Juan Faja-Fernandez completed four years of dental school plus a three-year orthodontic residency at accredited institutions, and he currently teaches as part-time faculty at MUSC. Every plan comes from him, not a technician in another state.
- Professional standing you can check. Dr. Juan is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), the American Dental Association (ADA), the Southern Association of Orthodontists (SAO), the South Carolina Association of Orthodontists (SCAO), and the South Carolina Dental Association (SCDA).
- Free consults, zero pressure. You'll leave knowing your options and your cost. Starting is entirely your call.
- Scheduling that respects real life. Virtual consults, text updates, and back-to-back family visit blocks make the drive from Conway to our Myrtle Beach Office worth it.
- Clear pricing up front. A beautiful smile shouldn't break the bank, so we offer flexible payment options and personalized payment plans to keep treatment in your budget.
- Hablamos Español. Our team communicates comfortably in English and Spanish.
- Long-term retention support. We stay involved after the braces come off, because keeping your dream smile in place is part of the work.
Frequently Asked Questions About Orthodontics in Conway
How much do braces cost in Conway?
Cost depends on how much your teeth need to move, which appliance you choose, and how long treatment runs. You'll get a personalized payment plan to fit your budget, and Dr. Juan Faja-Fernandez reviews the full number with you at the free consultation before anything begins.
How long does treatment take?
Minor alignment corrections often finish in 6 to 12 months. Bite corrections and complex crowding typically take 18 to 24 months. Dr. Juan maps out your exact timeline during your 3D treatment plan review, and staying on schedule with your visits every 6 to 10 weeks keeps things moving.
Do braces hurt?
You'll feel some tenderness for a few days after your braces go on and again after adjustments, similar to the soreness after a workout. Over-the-counter relief and soft foods handle it easily. Modern brackets and lighter wires make treatment far more comfortable than older systems, and most people forget the braces are there within a week.
Clear aligners or metal braces, which is better?
Neither one wins across the board. Clear aligners work beautifully for mild to moderate cases when you commit to 20 to 22 hours of daily wear, and you don't have to give up any favorite foods. Metal braces give Dr. Juan complete control over complex bites and never depend on remembering to put them back in.
Do I need a referral from my dentist?
No referral required. You can schedule your free consult with Seabreeze Orthodontics directly. Many general dentists in the Conway area do refer, and we're happy to coordinate records and share treatment updates with your dentist so your routine cleanings stay on track.
Does insurance cover orthodontic treatment?
Many dental plans include an orthodontic benefit, often with a lifetime maximum that applies to children, teens, or adults depending on the policy. Our team will review your coverage and explain what it applies toward your treatment. Whatever insurance doesn't cover, flexible payment options can spread across your treatment.
Book Your Free Consultation With a Conway Orthodontist
Ready to discover your smile? Scheduling takes about a minute. Request your free consult online or call our Myrtle Beach Office at (843) 903-3300, and if your calendar is packed, start with a virtual consult from your couch instead.
Dr. Juan Faja-Fernandez will examine your teeth, walk you through your options, and give you exact pricing before you decide anything. If you love the plan, same-day treatment means you can start your smile that same visit and get your dream smile moving.
No pressure. No surprise fees. Just a straight answer about what your smile needs.
Our Myrtle Beach Office welcomes families from Conway, Carolina Forest, and Myrtle Beach, and we'd love to meet yours.