FAQ's

Do I need a referral to see you?
At what age should I schedule an appointment for my child?
What is the best age for kids treatment?
Will my child's teeth straighten out on their own as they grow?
How do I make an appointment for an initial exam?
Is there a cost for the initial examination?
What will happen at the initial examination?
What will I learn from the initial examination?
Will I have to have any teeth removed for braces?
How long will it take to complete treatment?
How much will braces cost?
How often will I have appointments?
Can kids have appointments after school?
Can I drop my child off for an appointment?
Will it hurt?
Can I return to work or school the day I receive 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 while in braces?
What is a comfort call?
Can orthodontic correction start while a child still has some 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? headgear?
Can adults be treated?
Can I be treated even with crowns and missing teeth?
Why should I choose an orthodontic specialist?

Answers:

Do I need a referral to see you?
No. Many people schedule themselves for an exam to have their need for orthodontic care evaluated.
At what age should I schedule an appointment for my child?
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends an orthodontic screening at age seven. By this age, the six-year molars and several permanent teeth in most children have erupted allowing the doctors to effectively evaluate most developing orthodontic problems.
What is the best age for kids treatment?
Most problems are treated easily and comfortably at age 11-12 for girls, and at age 13 for boys, or any time later. Very early treatment is rarely needed and may actually cause longer treatment times.
Will my child's teeth straighten out on their own as they grow?
No, they will not. The space available for the front teeth does not increase as a child grows. In most people, after the permanent 6-year molars erupt, the space available for the front teeth actually decreases with age.
How do I make an appointment for an initial exam?
Call our office - we will be happy to schedule an appointment for you. Or, simply use our Email link right now, while you're thinking about it.
Is there a cost for the initial examination?
No, there is no cost for the initial examination to evaluate the need for braces. If you decide to start, treatment fees will be discussed in detail.
What will happen at the initial examination?
You will see our facilities, meet our staff and orthodontists,and have questions thoroughly answered. A brief but thorough exam by the orthodontist, followed by photographs of your teeth, will help you understand your individual condition.
What will I learn from the initial examination?
- Is there an orthodontic problem?
- What must be done to correct the problem?
- Can I have clear braces? Yes!
- Can kids have colors on braces? Yes!
- Will any teeth need to be removed?
- How long will the treatment take to complete?
- How much will the treatment cost?
- Other questions you may have.
Will I have to have any teeth removed for braces?
Removing teeth is sometimes needed to get the best orthodontic result. Straight teeth and a balanced facial profile are always the goal. However, because today's technology has resulted in advanced orthodontic procedures, the need for removing teeth has been greatly reduced.
How long will it take to complete treatment?
Treatment time obviously depends on your specific orthodontic problem, usually from 12 to 20 months. "Average" time a person is in braces is 17 months, at our office.
How much will braces cost?
It is impossible to give an exact cost until the doctor has examined you. The exact cost and financial options will be discussed at the initial examination. Many financing options are available to meet most needs and we will be happy to review them with you.We file insurance on the patient's behalf, and also offer a discount for fees paid in full at the beginning of treatment. Proper orthodontic treatment to correct a problem is often less costly than the additional dental care required to treat the more serious problems that can develop in later years.
How often will I have appointments?
Appointments are scheduled according to each individual patient's needs. Most patients in braces will be seen every 6 to 8 weeks. OrthoClear and other removable treatment tools require different schedules. We respect your valuable time. Appointments will be made to minimize the number of visits to our office-mom's taxi does not need to run every week!
Can kids have appointments after school?
Unfortunately, we cannot schedule all appointments for students after school hours. However, because most appointments are scheduled 6 to 8 weeks apart, most patients miss very little school for orthodontic treatment.
Can I drop my child off for an appointment?
Yes, just be sure to check with us before leaving so the next appointment is scheduled to your satisfaction.
Will it hurt?
After some visits, teeth may be sore for a few days. In these situations, pain medications such as Advil or Tylenol may be used to ease the discomfort. However, after most visits, patients do not feel any soreness at all - it does'nt have to hurt to work!
Can I return to work or school the day I receive braces?
Yes. There is no reason to miss school because of an orthodontic appointment.
Do you give shots?
No. Placing and adjusting brackets and wires is not painful.
Do you use recycled braces?
No
Can I still play sports?
Yes. We can recommend a special mouthguard for all sports.
Do I need to see my family dentist while in braces?
Yes! Regular checkups with your family dentist are very important while in braces. Teeth still need professional cleaning on a regular basis. Adults with gum (periodontal) problems should schedule more frequent prophylaxes.
Are there foods I cannot eat while I have braces?
Yes, but only a few. Ice, hard candy, raw vegetables (cut up is fine) and all sticky foods (i.e. caramel and taffy).
How often should I brush while in braces?
After every meal. You will want to do this, because all forms of braces catch food and you won't want to go around with a lettuce mouth smile. Collapsible portable toothbrushes are a simple solution to brushing away from home.
What is a comfort call?
If something is loose or broken, you should call our office. With modern technology, sometimes teeth move faster than expected which may cause a wire to "poke" out the back, and we'll simply clip it.
Can orthodontic correction start while a child still has some baby teeth?
Yes, last baby teeth may not be shed until after the beginning of the pubertal growth spurt, which is the ideal time to treat some problems. The presence of only a few baby teeth is not a reason to delay this treatment.
What is Phase One (early) Treatment?
Phase One treatment, when needed, is usually done between age 8-10.
Will my child need full braces if he/she has Phase One treatment?
Usually, even after Phase One treatment. Early treatment usually can only address some of the developing problems.
Will my child need an expander? headgear?
All the tools of orthodontic treatment are not needed for every case. Usually, simple braces with a few months wearing light elastics (rubber bands) is enough to correct a malocclusion. Adults never need a headgear.
Can adults be treated?
A high percentage of our patients are adults. Health, happiness and self-esteem are vitally important to adults. No one is too old to wear braces!
Can I be treated even with 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 so that the space where the teeth are missing can be properly restored.
Why should I choose an orthodontic specialist?
Teeth and sometimes entire facial structures are permanently changed by orthodontic treatment. It is very important that the treatment be appropriate. Orthodontic specialists have extra years of extensive and specialized training that enables them to provide all types of orthodontic treatment, not just specific methods learned in manufacturer's classes. And, surprisingly, fee surveys show orthodontists' fees are usually no higher than others.