Locations
Office
Cave Creek, AZ
My office hours
Thursday: 12pm - 5:00pm
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Brigham Orthodontics
Scottsdale, AZ
About
Bio
Dr. Brigham is an Elite Premier Provider of Invisalign, which places him in the top 1% of all Invisalign providers in the world. For the past four years he has lectured across the United States to orthodontists and dentists on all aspects of Invisalign treatment.In addition to his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree and Orthodontic Specialty Certification, Dr. Brigham earned a Master of Science degree in Immunology at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH. For his research, he was awarded the Harry Sicher Award from the American Association of Orthodontics. Due to his unique background and education, Dr. Gary Brigham specializes in all fields and phases of orthodontic treatment. He has practiced in Scottsdale, Arizona since 1985, and is a past and present member of numerous professi
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Orthodontics
Doctor Q&A
131 Answers
2 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
Get a new retainer.: If a retainer has not been worn as directed, and teeth have relapsed as a result, it is prudent to consult with a dental professional to evaluate the ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
Multiple modalities: There are a number of treatment modalities used to address the symptoms of tmj, which must be distinguished between arthrogenic (joint disc), muscle s... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
Few: Nickel is the principal allergen involved in the fabrication of many braces. In addition, nickel is part of nickel-titanium wires used in conjunction ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 27-year-old male asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
No: There are multiple medical complications and patient treatment histories that eliminate certain patients as qualified candidates for implants. In addi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
Not automatic: Although many orthodontists offer tooth whitening as part of their services, there are many orthodontists that recommend that their patients undergo b... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
No: There is no research nor clinical evidence that demonstrates a relationship between symptoms of tmd and carpal-tunnel syndrome.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
Seek an opinion: Most people can benefit from some orthodontic tooth movement when they present with malposed teeth that can lead to excessive wear (attrition), bone l... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
It depends: The term accelerated orthodontics now includes non-invasive devices as well as orthodontics with surgical intervention. If surgery is involved, there ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
Depends.: The orthodontist with whom you elect to provide your treatment is in the best position to answer your question with regard to the various treatment mo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
Be careful: One of the common side effects of Accutane is dry mouth and bleeding gums. It has been shown to lead to increased decay. Whitening also promotes dryne... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
Absolutely: If you mean besides braces alone, then removable clear aligners ( such as invisalign) could be a possible alternative, if you mean besides any orthodo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
Medical necessity: Most medical insurances will not cover elective jaw surgery of any type, as they regard it as an elective /cosmetic procedure.
In rare instances, som... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
Ask the expert: The answer to your question is best answered by a qualified orthodontist extensive with experience in both treatments. A doctor with little experience... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
1 comment
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
Requires attention: If the 'spacer' is a separator, it could be lodged below the gums and create significant pain. Otc meds are a temporary measure only. Call to schedule... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A female asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
TMD: Your symptoms could be related to an arthrogenic problem(joint dislocation involving disc displacement) or a myogenic problem(muscle splinting/contrac... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
Take meds: Spacers create tooth movement that can create discomfort or pain that is transitory, and should resolve in a couple of days. To get you through the i... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
Highly effective: Invisalign has been demonstrated with over 2.5 million cases treated to be a highly effective treatment modality. However, each case is different, and... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
Tooth or jaw pain?: If the pain is discomfort associated with tooth movement, then tylenol (acetaminophen) or advil will alleviate the discomfort. Although many dental pr... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
Limited for adults: Expansion of the palate in adults is the subject of debate due to the palatal suture having fused in late teens, preventing expansion of the palatal s... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
Need help: Missing teeth without replacement often creates a cascading effect on the rest of the bite, leading to bite collapse, shifting and splaying upper ante... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
No: There are more effective antibiotics for tooth infections, the choice of which is determined by the dentist based upon dental and medical condition o... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 26-year-old male asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
Braces take time: Although many orthodontic cases appear to show resolution of crowded teeth quickly, this represents only the first stage of treatment. Root paralleliz... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
Experience varies: Adjustment to a palatal expander varies from patient to patient, depending upon a number of factors including patient age, attitude toward treatment,... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
Not normal: It is not normal to experience sores and a burning tongue with invisalign. Occasional irritations from the edge of the aligners are easily remedied by... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
Need Help: Pain can derived from the teeth, gums, facial muscles, and jaw joints. You should start by seeking the services of a dentist, who can determine the so... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsReviewed Sep 06, 2021
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
Absolutely: There is nothing about the appliance that would interfere with such activity or create any reason for concern.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
Brush and flush: Electric toothbrushes and water-piks are effective in removing food particles caught in braces. Small, convenient christmas tree-shaped toothbrushes c... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
No connection: An underbite refers to a malposition of jaws and/ or anterior tooth positions. Although severe tooth crowding can lead to decay when these teeth are n... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
Not a problem: Invisalign (as well as fixed braces) work well with 'capped' teeth (teeth with crowns). Adhesives used to attach braces to crowns sometimes fail due t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
Depends on question: If your question relates to dental restorations (i.e.Crowns), cosmetic dentistry, or periodontal disease, your dentist might be the appropriate author... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
You will be fine: The safety concerns are the same whether or not you have braces. You will be fine.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
Braces are limited: Although many mild open bite cases that are dental in nature can be effectively treated with braces alone, many more complicated cases require jaw sur... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
You need help: Spacers can occasionally become dislodged and migrate below the gum line into what is referred to as the gingival sulcus. Because they are used on the... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
It depends: Some mild overbites can be reduced by proclining the lower dental arch, and /or retraction of upper anterior teeth if space permits. Your orthodontist... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old female asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
No: The factors underlying dental decay include the patient's capacity to remove plaque and their capacity to limit foods that contribute to plaque format... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
With limitations: Whether you are referring to a palatal expander or braces that create arch expansion, there are specific food limitations that your orthodontist will ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
It depends: In many cases, it is better to close the space first with braces, and then undergo a frenectomy with the teeth held in their final positions. This is ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
Exam and records: Comprehensive orthodontic records including head x-rays(cephalometric film), jaw joint x-rays(cbct or i-cat), study casts, and a comprehensive exam by... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
Seek dental consult: Cheek biting could indicate a lack of a stable, repeatable chewing motion, which often can be related to bite problems including crossbites and premat... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 50-year-old female asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
Seek dental consult: Redness and swelling in the mouth usually indicates infection. White spots often indicate an inflammatory condition referred to as a stomatitis, viral... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
Are you confused?: Power chain is not the same as braces, but is used with braces to close spaces and consolidate teeth. Braces including the wires used to move teeth ca... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
Plaque causes spots: Braces do not cause white spots, but failure to carefully remove plaque during orthodontic treatment does. The white spots represent areas of tooth de... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
Not to worry: A hole in an invisalign retainer usually reflects excessive wear or tooth grinding in that area, but the retainer will still retain the tooth/teeth in... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
Consult your dentist: Your continued swelling may indicate a need to review or adjust your antibiotic to combat the infection. If your dentist determines that the dosage is... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old female asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
Infection: Puss pockets represent local areas of inflammation and infection. When these problems are localized in the jaw, they may indicate either tooth (dental... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 49-year-old female asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
Everything changes: Just as all the tissues of the body change with age, so do the teeth shift in response to the changes. These age-related changes can be augmented by e... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
It depends: The time in which you will notice change during the course of your invisalign treatment will depend upon the degree of difficulty of your case and the... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 22-year-old female asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
Not quite everyone: Most everyone is a potentially acceptable candidate for orthodontic treatment where they can receive significant health and aesthetic benefits. Howeve... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 33-year-old female asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
Ask your dentist: A clear retainer will not cause craze lines on teeth, but excessive grinding and /or clenching can produce adverse loads on teeth that can result in d... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Gary Brighamanswered
Orthodontics 53 years experience
Possible, not common: In cases where the patient has been meticulous with their hygiene and follow through with dental appointments, decalcifications and decay caused by p... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
6
Recommendations
148
Thank you notes
Mar 22, 2015
Great doctor. Consistently gives thoughtful, insightful and expert advice.
HealthTap member
Dec 16, 2012
Dr. Brigham is an exceptional orthodontist. His bedside manner is better than any other doctors that I have met. Dr. Brigham makes me feel like he's known me forever. He's extremely knowledgable, cari...Read More
HealthTap member
Jan 13, 2014
I am so grateful that Dr. Brigham is so detail oriented. He's such a kind, and caring person. I could tell that his interest truly is whatever is best for the patient. I have even personally recommend...Read More
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! Share thanks in your own words...
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! xx
HealthTap member
Thanks for your quick reply! Very helpful.
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine
Graduated 1976MD
Medical/Graduate school
Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine
Graduated 1976MD
Medical/Graduate school
Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine
Graduated 1974MD
Medical/Graduate school
Case Western Reserve University
Graduated 1970MD
Residency
Center for Craniofacial Anomalies
Completed 1978
Awards
Phoenix Top 100 Dentist, Phoenix Magazine
Everyday Hero Award, Align Technology
Certificate of Recognition, top 100 Invisalign Providers, Align Technology
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