- Is it required
that my family dentist schedule my appointment with the
orthodontist?
- At what age should I schedule
an appointment for an orthodontic screening for my child?
- 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?
- Do braces hurt?
- Can I return to school or
work the day I receive my braces?
- 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 for my child?
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 their 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 or send us an email. We
will be happy to schedule and appointment for you.
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5. What will happen at the initial examination
appointment?
Your initial appointment will consist of a thorough examination
and a discussion of potential treatment options. This important
30-minute visit will give us insight into your orthodontic
needs.
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 performed the diagnostic procedures necessary to develop
a treatment plan. We will review the exact cost and financial
options once the treatment plan has been presented to you.
We will also review your insurance policy and help you 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 six 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 six 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. 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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13. Can I return to school
or work the day I receive my braces?
Yes. There is no reason to miss school or work because
of an orthodontic appointment.
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14. 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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15. Can I still play sports?
Yes. We recommend a mouth guard for all sports.
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16. 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. We
recommend you see your dentist twice a year.
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17. 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, 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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18. 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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19. 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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20. 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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21. What is Phase One (early) Treatment?
Phase One treatment, if necessary, is usually initiated
on children between the ages of 7 and 10. 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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22. 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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23. 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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24. 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!
We even offer the Invisalign system at our office for adult
patients with certain orthodontic bite problems. Invisalign
straightens your teeth without wires and brackets, using a
series of clear, customized, removable appliances called aligners.
It’s virtually undetectable, which means hardly anyone
will know that you’re straightening your teeth.
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25. 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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26. 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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