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 1. Is it required that my family dentist schedule my appointment with the orthodontist?
2. At what age should I schedule an appointment for an orthodontic screening?
3. Will my teeth straighten out as they grow?
4. How do I schedule an appointment for an initial exam?
5. What will happen at the initial examination appointment?
6. What will I learn from the initial examination?
7. Will I need to have teeth extracted for braces?
8. How long will it take to complete treatment?
9. How much will braces cost? Are financing options available? How does my insurance work?
10. How often will I have appointments?
11. Can I schedule all of my appointments after school?
12. Can I drop my child off for an appointment?
13. Do braces hurt?
14. Can I return to school the day I receive my braces?
15. Do you give shots?
16. Do you use recycled braces?
17. Can I still play sports?
18. Do I need to see my family dentist while in braces?
19. Are there foods I cannot eat while I have braces?
20. How often should I brush my teeth while in braces?
21. What is an emergency appointment? How are those handled?
22. Can orthodontic correction occur while a child has baby teeth?
23. What is Phase One (early) Treatment?
24. Will my child need full braces if he/she has Phase One treatment?
25. Will my child need an expander?
26. Is it too late to have braces if I am already an adult?
27. Can I wear braces even though I have crowns and missing teeth?
28. Why should you choose an orthodontic specialist?
29. When
is the best time to begin orthodontics?
30. What
are the benefits of early orthodontic evaluation?
31. Why
is age 7 considered the optimal time for screening?
32. What
are the advantages of interceptive treatment?
33. Are
you a candidate for orthodontic treatment?
34. Why
should malocclusions be treated?
1. Is it required that my family dentist
schedule my appointment with the orthodontist?
No, it is not. Many of our patients are referred by their
family dentist, yet many other patients take the initiative
to schedule an examination themselves.
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2. At what age should I schedule an appointment
for an orthodontic screening?
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends an
orthodontic screening at age 7. By this age, several permanent
teeth in most children have erupted allowing us to effectively
evaluate your orthodontic condition.
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3. Will my teeth straighten out as they
grow?
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.
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4. How do I schedule an appointment for
an initial exam?
If you or your child can potentially benefit from orthodontic
treatment, simply call our office, send us an e-mail, or fill
out our appointment request form online. We will be happy to
schedule an appointment for you. When you call to schedule your
appointment, our front office staff will request some basic
information from you.
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5. What will happen at the initial examination
appointment?
Upon arriving, each patient and parent will be seen by
the staff and doctor who will acclimate you to our office and
prepare for the initial exam. We will take the necessary photographs
and x-rays to allow us to make a proper diagnosis. The doctor
will then complete a brief, but thorough, exam.
To read more about your first visit, see our First Visit Page.
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6. What will I learn from the initial examination?
There are five essential questions that we will cover during
the initial examination:
· Is there an orthodontic problem and if so, what is
it?
· What must be done to correct the problem?
· Will any teeth need to be removed?
· How long will the treatment take to complete?
· How much will the treatment cost?
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7. Will I need to have teeth extracted for
braces?
Removing teeth is sometimes required to achieve the best
orthodontic result. Straight teeth and a balanced facial profile
are the goal of orthodontics. However, because new technology
has provided advanced orthodontic procedures, removing teeth
is not always necessary for orthodontic treatment.
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8. How long will it take to complete treatment?
Treatment time obviously depends on each patient's specific
orthodontic problem. In general, treatment times range from
12 to 30 months. The "average" time frame a person
is in braces is approximately 22 months.
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9. How much will braces cost? Are financing
options available? How does my insurance work?
It is impossible to give an exact cost for treatment until
we have examined you. We will cover the exact cost and financial
options during the initial examination. We have many financing
options available to accommodate your needs, and we will review
these with you. We will also review your insurance policy, and
help to maximize your benefit and file your claims.
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10. How often will I have appointments?
Appointments are scheduled according to each patient's
needs. Most patients in braces will be seen every 5 to 10 weeks.
If there are specific situations that require more frequent
monitoring, we will schedule appointments accordingly.
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11. Can I schedule all of my appointments
after school?
Unfortunately, we cannot schedule all appointments for
students during after-school hours. However, because most appointments
are scheduled 5 to 10 weeks apart, most patients will miss minimal
school due to their orthodontic treatments. We will, however,
make a sincere effort to meet your scheduling needs.
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12. Can I drop my child off for an appointment?
Yes. We understand your busy schedule, 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.
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13. Do braces hurt?
Generally, braces do not "hurt." After certain
visits, teeth may be sore for a few days. In these situations,
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!”
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14. Can I return to school the day I receive
my braces?
Yes. There is no reason to miss school because of an orthodontic
appointment.
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15. Do you give shots?
No. Shots are not necessary in orthodontic treatment.
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16. Do you use recycled braces?
Absolutely not! It is our belief that each patient should
be provided with their own braces to achieve the best orthodontic
result possible.
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17. Can I still play sports?
Yes. We recommend a mouth guard for all sports.
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18. Do I need to see my family dentist
while in braces?
Yes! Regular checkups with your family dentist are important
while in braces. Your family dentist will determine the intervals
between cleaning appointments while you are in braces.
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19. Are there foods I cannot eat while
I have braces?
Yes. Once treatment begins, we will explain the complete
instructions and provide 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 emergency appointments to repair broken or damaged braces
by carefully following our instructions.
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20. How often should I brush my teeth while
in braces?
Patients should brush their teeth at least four times each
day: after each meal and before going to bed. We will show each
patient how to floss their teeth with braces, and may also provide
a prescription for a special fluoride if necessary.
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21. What is an emergency appointment? How
are those handled?
If your braces are causing extreme pain, or if something
breaks, you should call our office. In most cases we can address
these issues over the telephone. If you require an emergency
appointment, we will set aside time for you.
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22. Can orthodontic correction occur while
a child has baby teeth?
Yes. Some orthodontic problems are significant enough to
require early intervention. However, if a patient is not yet
ready for treatment, we will follow that patient's growth and
development until the time is right for treatment to begin.
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23. What is Phase One (early) Treatment?
Phase One treatment, if necessary, is usually initiated
on children between the ages of 7 and 10. Phase One treatment
lasts about 12-21 months. The primary objective for Phase One
treatment is to address significant problems to prevent them
from becoming more severe, and to improve self-esteem and self-image.
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24. Will my child need full braces if he/she
has Phase One treatment?
It is best to assume that your child will need full braces
even after Phase One treatment. The period following Phase One
treatment is called the "resting period," during which
growth and tooth eruption are closely monitored. Throughout
this period, parents and patients will be kept informed of future
treatment recommendations.
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25. Will my child need an expander?
At the completion of the initial examination, we will determine
whether a patient will need an expander.
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26. Is it too late to have braces if I
am already an adult?
A surprising percentage of our patients are adults. In
fact, 25% of all orthodontic patients are adults. Health, happiness,
and self-esteem are vitally important to adults. No patient
is "too old" to wear braces!
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27. Can I wear braces even though I have
crowns and missing teeth?
Yes. A tooth with a crown will move just like a tooth with
a simple filling. When teeth are missing, orthodontic treatment
will aid in the alignment of the remaining teeth.
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28. Why should you choose an orthodontic
specialist?
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.
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29. When is the best time to begin orthodontics?
Though an orthodontist can enhance a smile at any age, there
is an optimal time period to begin treatment. Beginning treatment
at this time ensures the greatest result and the least amount
of time and expense. The American Association of Orthodontists
recommends that the initial orthodontic evaluation should occur
at the first sign of orthodontic problems or no later than age
7. At this early age, orthodontic treatment may not be necessary,
but vigilant examination can anticipate the most advantageous
time to begin treatment.
30. What are the benefits of early orthodontic
evaluation?
Early evaluation provides both timely detection of problems
and greater opportunity for more effective treatment. Prudent
intervention guides growth and development, preventing serious
problems later. When orthodontic intervention is not necessary,
an orthodontist can carefully monitor growth and development
and begin treatment when it is ideal.
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31. Why is age 7 considered the optimal
time for screening?
By the age of 7, the first adult molars erupt, establishing
the back bite. During this time, an orthodontist can evaluate
front-to-back and side-to-side tooth relationships. For example,
the presence of erupting incisors can indicate possible overbite,
open bite, crowding, or gummy smiles. Timely screening increases
the chances for an incredible smile.
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32. What are the advantages of interceptive
treatment?
Some of the most direct results of interceptive treatment are:
creating room for crowded, erupting teeth; creating facial symmetry
through influencing jaw growth; reducing the risk of trauma
to protruding front teeth; preserving space for unerupted teeth;
reducing the need for tooth removal; and reducing treatment
time with braces.
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33. Are you a candidate for orthodontic
treatment?
Orthodontics are not merely for improving the aesthetics of
the smile; orthodontic treatment improves bad bites (malocclusions).
Malocclusions occur as a result of tooth or jaw misalignment.
Malocclusions affect the way you smile, chew, clean your teeth
or feel about your smile.
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34. Why should malocclusions be treated?
According to studies by the American Association of Orthodontists, untreated malocclusions can result in a variety of problems. Crowded teeth are more difficult to properly brush and floss, which may contribute to tooth decay and/or gum disease. Protruding teeth are more susceptible to accidental chipping. Crossbites can result in unfavorable growth and uneven tooth wear. Openbites can result in tongue-thrusting habits and speech impediments. Ultimately, orthodontics does more than make a pretty smile-it creates a healthier you.
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