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Orthodontics / Clear Aligners

Pursue Your Goals With Confidence

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Improve Your Smile & Oral Health With Orthodontics in Wilmington

Straight teeth aren't just more attractive, they are healthier too. By correcting your dental alignment, you improve your oral function and give bacteria fewer places to hide. Patients of all ages can benefit from orthodontics in Wilmington. This treatment will:

  • Help your child avoid future orthodontic issues
  • Make it easier for you to thoroughly brush and floss your teeth
  • Help you feel more confident about your appearance
  • Reduce your TMJ symptoms by getting your bite into alignment
  • Improve your chance for success for career or social aspirations

Call us today for an appointment. No insurance? No problem! Join our Membership Club for savings.

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Understand How Orthodontic Treatment Improves Alignment

Orthodontic care does more than straighten teeth. Proper alignment helps balance your bite, support jaw comfort, and improve how your teeth function together over time.

Treatment can be beneficial at nearly any age, whether you're addressing early developmental concerns or correcting long-standing alignment issues as an adult.

A personalized evaluation looks at spacing, crowding, bite patterns, and jaw positioning to determine the most effective approach.

By addressing alignment early or proactively, you can reduce wear on their teeth and enjoy easier oral hygiene for years to come.

Straighten Your Teeth With Our Orthodontic Options

Whether you're a child, teenager, or adult, our practice has a wide range of solutions to address your orthodontic concerns. Dr. Shumate has years of experience helping patients achieve the alignment that improves their teeth's appearance and function. He can even help your little ones avoid orthodontic problems. Your options include:

  • Invisalign® - As a silver-level Invisalign provider, Dr. Shumate has lots of experience in achieving fantastic results with this popular treatment. Invisalign uses a series of clear aligners to shift your teeth into their proper place. Treatment typically takes about 12 to 18 months to complete.
  • Space Maintainers - Prevent future orthodontic issues by using space maintainers to stop problems created when your child loses a tooth too early. This device will help guide your child's adult teeth into their proper positions. This helps ensure a well-aligned set of teeth as they get older.
  • Dentofacial Orthopedics - Our dentofacial orthopedic treatment focuses on correcting jaw development and overall facial structure. It's ideally done at a young age, but it can also be helpful for adults. Dr. Shumate will discuss what's involved and whether it's right for you or your child.

If your alignment problems are purely cosmetic, veneers may be a good alternative to orthodontics. Veneers can close small gaps and correct minor overlaps, giving you amazing results in as few as two appointments. Dr. Shumate will review which treatment is right for your smile, advising you on what to expect throughout the entire process.

Schedule a consultation today for orthodontics in Wilmington.

5 out of 5 stars - 682 votes

5 Stars (682 Reviews)

Read Why Patients Love Us

Patients appreciate the special care they receive from our team. Check out what they have to say!

5

I went in for my 6 month cleaning yesterday. The hygienist, Lindsey, was running behind, but worked very efficiently to perform my cleaning. She was thorough, and did a great job. The office personnel is always friendly and welcoming. Dr. Shumate is kind and understanding. I’ve been going to...
I went in for my 6 month cleaning yesterday. The hygienist, Lindsey, was running behind, but worked very efficiently to perform my cleaning. She was thorough, and did a great job. The office personnel is always friendly and welcoming. Dr. Shumate is kind and understanding. I’ve been going to their office for nearly 10 years. If there are ever any issues, they work well to resolve whatever needs attention,

5

The team at Porters Neck Dentistry is always amazing. They are professional, friendly, courteous and always find a way to address any urgent Dental needs I have had. The care my family gets is superb and I would highly highly recommend them.

5

Dr Shumate recently capped 2 of my front teeth. He did a beautiful job with them and went over and above what others dentists have done. I am so very happy with them!! His staff is kind and warm and caring. My husband and I have been going to him for several years and we highly recommend him.

5

Dr. Lauren is an excellent addition to Porter’s Neck Dentistry. I had a very nervous teen getting her first cavity filled. Dr. Lauren took time to answer every one of her questions seriously and reassuringly. She worked quick! My daughter left smiling and feeling confident!

5

This office was wonderful. Staff was friendly and patient with a very nervous daughter. They took the time to explain every procedure and the treatment plan for the future. Dr. Shumate made my daughter feel at ease with his engaging manner. Thank you!

5

Very nice staff. Could not work on my son due to age and was able to refer to another office and was very helpful in doing so. I am horrified of dentist however I will be making an appointment here for myself.

5

My experience here was excellent. They really care about people. They take your oral hygiene and health seriously. The doctor started my care right away to get the ball rolling with my dental issue. He is very professional and friendly. You can tell he is a person that really cares about his...
My experience here was excellent. They really care about people. They take your oral hygiene and health seriously. The doctor started my care right away to get the ball rolling with my dental issue. He is very professional and friendly. You can tell he is a person that really cares about his patients and that goes a long way. I would recommend family friends and anyone that's looking for a good experience with dental care.

5

If you’re looking for a dentist, this is the place to go! I waited years to get much needed work done because of allergic reactions at a prior dentist. I also had HIGH anxiety. The entire office is very caring, patient and managed my treatment unconventionally, to consider my allergies and...
If you’re looking for a dentist, this is the place to go! I waited years to get much needed work done because of allergic reactions at a prior dentist. I also had HIGH anxiety. The entire office is very caring, patient and managed my treatment unconventionally, to consider my allergies and anxiety. This is the ONLY dentist I’ll go to.

Patient Resources

Commonly Asked Questions About Orthodontics/Clear Aligners

How effective are orthodontics?
Our orthodontic solutions have shown great success in addressing dental alignment concerns for all ages. We provide treatment options that help you achieve the smile you've always wanted. We even have preventive options for children. Many of our orthodontic options will allow you to enhance your smile in a shorter timeframe than you might expect.
Can orthodontics change your face?
It’s possible that orthodontic treatment will result in slight changes to the appearance of your face. Once your bite is adjusted, it can affect the appearance of your jaw, especially in younger patients. Realigning teeth can also sometimes change how your lips look, making them appear slightly more or less full.
Are orthodontics worth it?
Our patients think so! We’ve treated many patients who have been unhappy with their smiles for years because of gaps, crooked teeth, and other orthodontic issues. Orthodontic treatment not only improves the appearance of your smile, it often improves its function too by moving teeth into proper alignment. Misaligned teeth can contribute to health problems such as TMJ disorders.