FAQ
- Is it required that my
family dentist schedule my appointment
with the orthodontis
- At what age should I schedule
an appointment for an orthodontic screening?
- Will my teeth straighten
out as they grow?
- How do I schedule an appointment
for an initial exam
- What will happen at the
initial examination appointment?
- What will I learn from
the initial examination?
- Will I need to have teeth
extracted for braces?
- How long will it take to
complete treatment?
- How much will braces cost?
Are financing options available? How does
my insurance work?
- How often will I have
appointments?
- Can I schedule all of
my appointments after school?
- Can I drop my child off
for an appointment?
- Do braces hurt?
- Can I return to school
the day I receive my braces?
- Do you give shots?
- Do you use recycled braces?
- Can I still play sports?
- Do I need to see my family
dentist while in braces?
- Are there foods I cannot
eat while I have braces?
- How often should I brush
my teeth while in braces?
- What is an emergency appointment?
How are those handled?
- Can orthodontic correction
occur while a child has baby teeth?
- What is Phase One (early)
Treatment
- Will my child need full
braces if he/she has Phase One treatment?
- Will my child need an
expander?
- Is it too late to have
braces if I am already an adult? Can
I wear braces even though I have crowns
and missing teeth?
- Why should you choose
an orthodontic specialist?
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 five 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
five 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 percent 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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