Dr. Gonzales, Sharecare Editorial Advisory Board Member, received his bachelor's degree from U.C.L.A. and attended Tufts University School of Dentistry. His postgraduate residency and masters degree was completed at the orthodontics program in the University of the Pacific, in San Francisco. Dr. Gonzales is a diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics and a member of the American Association of Orthodontists. Currently, Dr. Gonzales is in private practice in Dublin, California. Education: • Bachelor’s Degree: UCLA • Post Graduate: Tufts University School of Dentistry • Masters Degree: Orthodontics, University of the Pacific, San Francisco Residency: • University of the Pacific Certification: • American Board of Orthodontics • American Association of Orthodontists
Activity
-
Dante Gonzales, DMD answered:What does orthodontic high pull headgear treat?High pull headgear is used in conjunction with braces that are attached to the molars. The high pull headgear is usually used to treat patients with large discrepancies between the upper and lower jaws. When the upper jaw is too far forward (producing a large overjet) in addition to being down too... Full Post -
Dante Gonzales, DMD answered:Will having orthodontic high pull headgear hurt?High pull headgear as with other orthodontic appliances will usually produce some mild soreness of the teeth during the first few days of wearing. After the first few days the teeth and mouth will usually adapt to the appliance, and the pain and soreness will dissipate. Ibuprofen or any pain... Full Post -
Dante Gonzales, DMD answered:Will having orthodontic cervical headgear hurt?Cervical headgear as with other orthodontic appliances will usually produce some mild soreness of the teeth during the first few days of wearing. After the first few days the teeth and mouth will usually adapt to the appliance, and the pain and soreness will dissipate. Ibuprofen or any pain m... Full Post -
Dante Gonzales, DMD answered:Does insurance cover an orthodontic chin cup?Orthodontic insurance plans usually do not dictate what type appliances the orthodontist can use. Most insurance plans will only cover a portion of the orthodontic treatment fees. The orthodontist is required to describe the treatment objectives when submitting an insurance claim, but not specify... Full Post -
Dante Gonzales, DMD answered:Does insurance cover orthodontic high pull headgear?Orthodontic insurance plans usually do not dictate what type appliances the orthodontist chooses to use. Most insurance plans will only cover a portion of the orthodontic treatment fees. The orthodontist is required to describe the treatment objectives when submitting an insurance claim, but... Full Post -
Dante Gonzales, DMD answered:Does insurance cover orthodontic cervical headgear?Orthodontic insurance plans usually do not dictate what type appliances the orthodontist chooses to use. Most insurance plans will only cover a portion of the orthodontic treatment fees. The orthodontist is required to describe the treatment objectives when submitting an insurance claim, but... Full Post -
Dante Gonzales, DMD answered:What are orthodontic braces made of?The traditional metal braces are made of stainless steel. The arch wires that go into the braces are made of different types of material. Some of the wires placed early on in the orthodontic treatment are made of an alloy of nickel, copper and titanium, some of the wires are made of titanium and
... Full Post -
Dante Gonzales, DMD answered:What does orthodontic cervical headgear treat?Cervical headgear is used to treat maxillary prognathism, where the upper jaw is much more forward than the lower jaw. This is commonly referred to as an "overbite". Cervical headgear is an orthopedic appliance used to help pull back on the upper jaw (maxilla) and correct the "overbite". The cervical... Full Post -
Dante Gonzales, DMD answered:Will having orthodontic reverse pull headgear hurt?Reverse pull headgear as with other orthodontic appliances will usually produce some mild soreness of the teeth during the first few days of wearing. After the first few days the teeth and mouth will usually adapt to the appliance, and the pain and soreness will dissipate. Ibuprofen or any pain m... Full Post -
Dante Gonzales, DMD answered:What does orthodontic reverse pull headgear treat?Reverse pull headgear is an orthopedic appliance used to treat maxillary retrognathia which is where the upper jaw (maxilla) is too far back when compared to the lower jaw (mandible). These patients will ususally have a concave profile and also may have an anterior crossbite, or "underbite". The... Full Post -
Dante Gonzales, DMD answered:How is orthodontic high pull headgear fitted?High pull headgear is fitted to the bands that are placed on the upper first molars. The upper jaw is measured and an appropriate size of headgear is chosen. The inner bow of the headgear is adjusted by the orthodontist to fit into tubes that are attached to the bands. The bands (braces) which are... Full Post -
Dante Gonzales, DMD answered:Is orthodontic treatment necessary?Orthodontic treatment can be very beneficial for a number of reasons. Correcting the alignment of the teeth and the bite can have significant long term benefits. The cleansibility of the teeth, the long term wear, the function, the periodontal status, and of course, the esthetics can all be improved... Full Post -
Dante Gonzales, DMD answered:What do bleeding gums indicate?Bleeding gums usually indicate inflammation of the gums. This is usually due to plaque buildup on the teeth and gums due to poor brushing and flossing. If the gums are bleeding when brushing or flossing it usually indicates that there needs to be more frequent and improved oral hygiene. When women... Full Post -
Dante Gonzales, DMD answered:Can I use Listerine instead of brushing my teeth before bed?Listerine, as well as many other mouthwashes, are most effective after physically removing the plaque from the teeth and gums by brushing and flossing. It is the accumulation of plaque that causes cavities, gum disease, and bad breath. Plaque, the bacterial buildup on the teeth and gums, is very... Full Post -
Dante Gonzales, DMD answered:What are Invisalign braces?Invisalign is a brand name of an orthodontic appliance that is used to align the teeth and bite. The Invisalign appliance is a series of clear plastic trays that are custom made for each patient. Using a 3-D computer image created from an impression of the patients teeth, the dentist, or orthodontist,... Full Post


Online: