- 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?
- 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 seven. By this age, several permanent teeth in most children have erupted, allowing me 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?
We will be happy to schedule an appointment for you. When you call to schedule your appointment, my administrative staff will request some basic information from you. Also, there is no charge for the initial visit.
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5. What will happen at the initial examination appointment?
Upon arriving, each patient and parent will be seen by my Treatment Coordinator who will acclimate you to our office and prepare for the initial exam. She will take the necessary photographs and X-rays to allow me to make a proper diagnosis. I 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?
It will depend on exactly what your problems are, but in most cases, no.
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8. How long will it take to complete treatment?
Total time in braces will depend on several factors, including the severity of the problems and the level of cooperation the patient gives. Average time will be 20 to 24 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 I 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.
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10. How often will I have appointments?
Depending on what problems are present, what treatment is done and what stage of treatment is performed, appointments are typically 8-10 weeks apart, but may be more frequent as needed.
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11. Can I schedule all of my appointments after school?
Although we strive to meet your scheduling needs, there are some orthodontic procedures that require longer appointments. We schedule these appointments earlier in the day allowing more time in the afternoons for the shorter appointments.
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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; therefore, we ask that parents check in with the administrative staff 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?
No! Every patient who starts treatment in our office get their own new set of braces. The only recycling we do is to re-use your own brackets if it is loose, or if we need to remove it to a better position later in treatment.
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17. Can I still play sports?
Yes, but a special orthodontic mouthguard is recommended for all contact sports or activities where mouth injuries are possible.
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18. Do I need to see my family dentist while in braces?
ABSOLUTELY! You should see your family dentist for examinations and cleanings at least as often as you did before braces. Your dentist may want to see you even more, if needed.
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19. Are there foods I cannot eat while I have braces?
When your braces are placed, you will receive full instructions on foods to avoid. In general, stay away from hard/sticky/sugary/chewy foods. One of the best ways to finish your treatment on time is to avoid the foods that cause damage to your braces.
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20. How often should I brush my teeth while in braces?
Taking proper care of your teeth and braces by brushing and flossing is critical to avoid the dreaded "white spots" that will form if bacterial plaque is not removed daily. Extra cleansing tools, such as mechanical toothbrushes (Sonicare, Rotodent, etc.) and special medicated/fluoride rinses may be useful. We may recommend them if needed, but they do not take the place of brushing and flossing.
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21. What is an emergency appointment? How are those handled?
We do our best at each appointment to do whatever is necessary to avoid most problems and if we expect you to be somewhat uncomfortable, we try to warn you. However, the nature of orthodontics is that it is done with pieces and parts made of metal, and these are placed in one of our bodies’ most sensitive areas - our mouths. Some lip, cheek and tongue irritation is expected. If your braces are causing any extreme or severe discomfort, we will do what it takes to get you comfortable. Be aware that most emergencies are the result of damage to the braces from eating the wrong foods (see #19 above).
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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?
Some problems are best treated as soon as they are discovered and can be treated effectively. These include certain growth related problems, habit problems and tooth eruption problems. If left untreated until later, when all permanent teeth have erupted (usually around age 11-13), we may need to do more treatment, more complex treatment (perhaps surgery or tooth extractions), or may be unable to do certain treatment at all. Early treatment can sometimes reduce the overall severity of treatment, give a better treatment result and reduce total costs of needed treatment.
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24. Will my child need full braces if he/she has Phase One treatment?
Usually, yes. Phase One treatment is limited to treating a specific problem (or several problems) that is best treateed early, before all permanent teeth have erupted. Once all these teeth are in, there is almost always some additional orthodontic work to do.
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25. Will my child need an expander?
Expanders are used in our practice only for certain patients with specific orthodontic problems (usually a back tooth crossbite). The percentage of our patients needing expanders is low, but we will only know for certain after your exam.
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26. Is it too late to have braces if I am already an adult?
Nationwide, about a quarter (25%) of all orthodontic patients are adults. My own experience includes patients in their 60s and 70s. If health, happiness and self-confidence are important to you, you are NOT "too old" for braces.
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27. Can I wear braces even though I have crowns and missing teeth?
Yes. In fact, orthodontic treatment can be an important part of your dentist’s overall plan to restore your teeth to an optimum condition. Occasionally, spaces can be closed, teeth positioned more ideally and bite improved, making your final results look better, fit better and feel better.
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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 your treatment be appropriately planned and properly completed. Orthodontic specialists have 2 -3 years of extensive and specialized training that enables them to provide their patients with professional, personalized treatments.
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