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FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
 1. Is it required that my family dentist schedule my appointment with the orthodontist?
2. At what age should I schedule an appointment for an orthodontic screening?
3. Will my teeth straighten out as they grow?
4. How do I schedule an appointment for an initial exam?
5. What will happen at the initial examination appointment?
6. What will I learn from the initial examination?
7. Will I need to have teeth extracted for braces?
8. How long will it take to complete treatment?
9. How much will braces cost? Are financing options available? How does my insurance work?
10. How often will I have appointments?
11. Can I schedule all of my appointments after school?
12. Can I drop my child off for an appointment?
13. Do braces hurt?
14. Can I return to school the day I receive my braces?
15. Do you give shots?
16. Do you use recycled braces?
17. Can I still play sports?
18. Do I need to see my family dentist while in braces?
19. Are there foods I cannot eat while I have braces?
20. How often should I brush my teeth while in braces?
21. What is an emergency appointment? How are those handled?
22. Can orthodontic correction occur while a child has baby teeth?
23. What is Phase One (early) Treatment?
24. Will my child need full braces if he/she has Phase One treatment?
25. Will my child need an expander?
26. Is it too late to have braces if I am already an adult?
27. Can I wear braces even though I have crowns and missing teeth?
28. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
7. Will I need to have teeth extracted for braces?
Removing teeth is required less-frequently to achieve
the best orthodontic result since we use the Damon
System. Straight teeth and a balanced facial profile
are both goals of orthodontic care. This new
technology provides advanced orthodontic procedures
and removing teeth is usually not necessary.
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 18 to 20
months.
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.
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.
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 four to 12 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.
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.
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!”
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.
15. Do you give shots?
No. Shots are not necessary in orthodontic treatment.
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.
17. Can I still play sports?
Yes. We recommend a mouth guard for all sports.
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.
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. Foods to avoid.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
25. Will my child need an expander?
At the completion of the initial examination, we will
determine whether a patient will need an expander.
However, with the Damon System, expanders are used
less-often.
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!
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.
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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