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Is it required that my family dentist refer me for orthodontic examination?
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. Some seek out an orthodontist after speaking with teachers, speech therapists and their family physicians or simply their friends and relatives.
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At what age should I schedule an appointment for an orthodontic screening?
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends an orthodontic screening by age 7. By this age, in most children, permanent teeth have erupted in the back of the mouth as well as the front, allowing for a more accurate diagnosis of the orthodontic condition. Your dentist may refer you earlier than 7 if they see certain orthodontic problems developing.
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Will kids teeth straighten out as they grow?
Although this seems counter-intuitive, the space available in the front of our jaws for the teeth does not increase in size like the long bones do during the growth spurt. In most people, after the permanent premolars erupt, the space available for the front teeth actually decreases with age. Many adults will attest to this fact as they experience greater crowding of their teeth with age. Anterior jaw size growth is more closely associated with skull grown, which ceases at a relatively early age in response to the brain ceasing growth. This is why young children appear to be "all head" while older children become more proportionate as they grow and long bone size catches up with skull size.
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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 team will request some basic information from you to set up the visit, including your contact information and insurance policy numbers if applicable.
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What will happen at the initial examination appointment?
Upon arriving, each patient and parent will be seen by the front office team who will acquaint you with our office and prepare you for the initial exam. Digital photographs of the patient's teeth and face will then be taken to allow the doctor to make a proper initial diagnosis. The doctor will then complete a brief, but thorough, exam and a letter will be generated to your dentist and any other dental care providers who will be invovled with your treatment.
To read more about your first visit, see our First Visit Page.
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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, how severe is it?
- What must be done to correct the problem?
- How long will the treatment take to complete?
- How much will the treatment cost?
- If there is no need for treatment at this time, when will I be recalled?
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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, modern techniques and materials have made tooth extractions far less common for orthodontic treatment than they used to be.
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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 36 months. The "average" time frame a person is in braces is approximately 16-26 months. However, treatment times are heavily influenced by individual patient biology and cooperation. Patients who are careful with their braces, follow instructions and attend all of their appointments can be done with their braces ahead of schedule.
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How much will braces cost? Are financing options available? How does my insurance work?
It is impossible to give the exact cost for treatment until we have examined you and your orthodontic diagnostic records. We will provide an accurate cost estimate and financial options during the initial examination and provide you with exact figures well in advance of starting treatment. 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 for you. FSA, HRA, HSA, and MSA account administration information will also be reviewed with you if you bring this information with you to the initial consultation. These employer-sponsored plans can dramatically reduce your orthodontic expenditures when used properly. We'll help you to do that.
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How often will I have appointments?
Appointments are scheduled according to each patient's needs. Most patients in braces will be seen every four to 10 weeks. Patients in retainers are typically seen every three to six months. If there are specific situations that require more frequent monitoring, we will schedule appointments accordingly.
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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 several weeks apart, patients will miss minimal school in any given term due to their orthodontic treatments. We will, however, make a sincere effort to meet your scheduling needs, including offering before-school appointments and will always provide you with excused absence forms when appointments are during school hours. Our office offers more patient treatment hours each week than any other in the area and chances are good that we can minimize the need to miss school.
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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 briefly with a parent immediately before and after appointments, so we ask that parents alert the front office team when they will be dropping off their child and again when they return to pick them up. If children are to be picked up by another party, this will also need to be communicated in advance.
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Do braces hurt?
Generally, braces do not hurt while being placed or removed. A day or two after certain visits, teeth may be sore and this may last for a few days. In these situations, pain medications such as Advil or Tylenol, along with a soft diet, will ease the discomfort. However, after many visits, patients do not feel any soreness at all!
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Can I return to school the day I receive my braces?
Yes. There is typically no reason to miss school because of an orthodontic appointment.
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Do you give shots?
No. Shots are generally not necessary in orthodontic treatment.
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Can I still play sports with braces?
Yes. We recommend and provide special orthodontic mouth guards for our patients who play sports. Just ask us.
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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. Typically these will remain at 6-12 months but can be as short as three months in certain cases.
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Are there foods I cannot eat while I have braces?
Yes. Once treatment begins, we will explain the complete instructions and provide a representative list of foods to avoid. Some of those foods include: ice, hard candy, raw vegetables, nuts and sticky foods (i.e. caramel, taffy and toffee). Sugarless gum is OK during braces but gum must not be chewed with most removable retainers in place. You can avoid most emergency appointments to repair broken or damaged braces by carefully following our instructions.
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How often should I brush my teeth while in braces?
Patients with braces should brush their teeth at least three times each day - particularly after sugary foods and before going to bed. Flossing should be done once a day at night before bed, just as without braces. We will show each patient how to floss their teeth with braces and may also provide you with a prescription-strength fluoride gel toothpaste, if necessary.
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What is an emergency appointment? How are those handled?
If your braces are causing you significant discomfort or if something breaks, you should call our office. In many cases, we can address these issues over the telephone. If you require an emergency appointment, we will set aside time for you, even over weekends and holidays.
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Can orthodontic correction occur while a child has baby teeth?
Yes. Some orthodontic problems are significant enough to require early intervention while there are still baby teeth present. 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. With less severe problems, it is generally best to wait for the baby teeth to be lost and all permanent teeth (except for wisdom teeth) to erupt before initiating treatment.
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What is phase one (early) treatment?
Phase One treatment, if necessary, is usually initiated on children between the ages of 7 and 11. Phase one treatment typically lasts about 6-18 months. The primary objective for phase one treatment is to address significant orthodontic problems in order to minimize the need for future permanent tooth extraction and corrective jaw surgery. Early treatment can also be done upon request by families to improve peer acceptance and self-image for children who may be struggling with these issues.
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Will my child need full braces if he/she has phase one treatment?
Experience has shown that if significant orthodontic problems have arisen with only a minority of the permanent teeth present, It is likely that your child may need additional treatment when the majority of the permenant teeth arrive in the future. The period following phase one treatment is called the "retention period," during which growth and tooth eruption are closely monitored. Throughout this period, parents and patients will be kept informed of any future treatment recommendations should they arise. Unlike in medicine and dentistry, future planning is commonplace in orthodontics and can help you manage future insurance purchases and FSA, HRA, HSA, and MSA account administration so that future care is more affordable.
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Will my child need an expander?
At the completion of the initial examination, we will determine whether a patient will need an expander to make the jaws wider and increase room for crowded teeth to be straightened and future permanent teeth to erupt properly.
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Is it too late to have braces if I am already an adult?
You will probably be surprised at the percentage of orthodontic patients who are adults. In fact, 25 percent of all orthodontic patients are adults. Health, happiness and self-esteem are vitally important to adults as well as children. Many adults have waited most of their lives to finally have their crooked teeth and bites corrected and they are doing so with increasing frequency. No patient is "too old" to wear braces! The best investments you will ever make are in yourself, whether it be education, fitness or healthcare services like orthodontics. You can do it and we will help you!
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Can I wear braces even though I have crowns and missing teeth?
Yes. A tooth with a crown will typically move just like a normal tooth. When teeth are missing, orthodontic treatment will aid in the alignment of the remaining teeth and correction of the bite which then helps your dentist to more easily and esthetically replace your missing teeth. Dentists commonly send patients with missing teeth for orthodontic treatment prior to replacing the missing teeth to insure the best result.
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Why should I choose an orthodontic specialist?
Orthodontics was dentistry's first specialty and has existed for over 110 years because of the complexity and expertise required to practice it effectively. Teeth and in some cases entire facial structures, are permanently changed by orthodontic treatment. It is important that the treatment be appropriate and properly carried out. Orthodontic specialists have extensive and specialized training that requires an additional three years beyond dental school in an accredited orthodontic residency program at a major university. Being a certified specialist in orthodontics enables them to provide their patients with technically sound and effective personalized treatments.
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