- Is it required that my dentist schedule my appointment with the orthodontist?
- At what age should I schedule an appointment for orthodontic screening?
- Will my teeth straighten out as they grow?
- How do I schedule an initial exam appointment?
- What will happen at the initial examination?
- 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 my appointments after school or work?
- Can I drop my child off for an appointment?
- Do braces hurt?
- Can I return to school or work 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 dentist while in braces?
- Are there foods I can't eat while I have braces?
- How often should I brush my teeth while I have 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 I choose an orthodontic specialist?
1. Is it required that my dentist schedule my appointment with the orthodontist?
No, it's 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 have usually surfaced, allowing us to effectively evaluate your orthodontic condition.
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3. Will my teeth straighten out as they grow?
No, they won't. The space available for front teeth doesn't increase as you grow. With most people, after the permanent molars surface, the space available for front teeth decreases with age.
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4. How do I schedule an initial exam appointment?
Simply call our office, send us an e-mail, or fill out our appointment request form; we'll be happy to schedule an appointment for you. When you call to schedule your appointment, our clerical staff will just request some basic information from you.
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5. What will happen at the initial examination?
Upon arriving, each patient and parent will be seen by the staff and doctor. They will familiarize you with our office and prepare you for the initial exam. We'll take the necessary photographs and X-rays to make a proper diagnosis. The doctor will then complete a brief, but thorough, exam. Read more about your first visit.
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6. What will I learn from the initial examination?
There are five essential questions that we'll 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?
· How much will it 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 goals of orthodontia. However, because new technology has provided advanced orthodontic procedures, removing teeth is not always necessary for treatment.
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8. How long will it take to complete treatment?
Treatment time obviously depends on each patient's specific needs. But in general, treatment times range from 12 to 30 months. The average time frame a patient has braces is approximately 22-24 months.
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9. How much will braces cost? Are financing options available? How does my insurance work?
It's impossible to give an exact cost for treatment until we've examined you, but we'll cover the exact cost and financial options during initial examination. We have many financing options to accommodate your needs, and we'll review these with you. We'll also review any insurance policy tmaximize your benefit and file your claims.
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10. How often will I have appointments?
Appointments are scheduled based on each patient's needs. Most patients with braces will be seen every 6 to 12 weeks. If there are situations that require more monitoring, we'll schedule appointments accordingly.
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11. Can I schedule all of my appointments after school or work?
Unfortunately, we cannot schedule all appointments for students during after-school hours. However, because most appointments are scheduled 6 to 12 weeks apart, most patients will miss minimal school. 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 busy schedules, and we definitely want to make the most of your time. On some occasions, we request to speak with a parent, so we ask that parents check in with the clerical 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 like to remind our patients that braces don't have to be painful to work.
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14. Can I return to school or work the day I receive my braces?
Yes. There's 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's our belief that each patient should be provided with their own braces to achieve the best results possible.
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17. Can I still play sports?
Yes. But we recommend a mouth guard for all sports.
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18. Do I need to see my dentist while in braces?
Yes! Regular checkups with your family dentist are very important while in braces. Your dentist will determine the intervals between cleaning appointments while you have braces.
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19. Are there foods I can't eat while I have braces?
Yes. Once treatment begins, we'll provide the list of foods to avoid. Some of these foods include: ice, hard candy, raw vegetables and sticky foods (suc 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 I have 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. We can usually address these issues over the phone. If you require an emergency appointment, we'll be sure to 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'll follow that patient's growth and development until the time is right for treatment.
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23. What is Phase One (early) Treatment?
Phase One Treatment, if necessary, is usually started on children between the age 7 and 10. Phase One lasts about 12-21 months. The primary objective for this phase is to address significant problems to prevent them from becoming more severe and improve self-esteem.
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24. Will my child need full braces if he/she has Phase One Treatment?
It's best to assume that your child will need full braces even after Phase One Treatment. The period following phase one is called the "resting period," during which growth and tooth surfacing are closely monitored. Throughout this period, patients and parents 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'll 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 and self-image are 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 I choose an orthodontic specialist?
Teeth, and sometimes entire facial structures, are permanently changed by orthodontic treatment. It's 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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