| What is orthodontics? Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of dental and facial irregularities. What is an orthodontist? An orthodontist is a specialist who has completed an advanced education program following dental school, to learn the special skills required to manage tooth movement and guide facial development. What are some possible benefits of orthodontics?
What are some signs that braces may be needed?
At what age should orthodontic treatment occur? Orthodontic treatment can be started at any age. Many orthodontic problems are easier to correct if detected at an early age before jaw growth has slowed. Early treatment may mean that a patient can avoid surgery and more serious complications. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child first visit an orthodontist by age seven or earlier if a problem is detected by parents, the family dentist or the child's physician. 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. 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. 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. 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. What will I learn from the initial examination? There are five essential questions that we will cover during the initial examination:
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, because new technology has provided advanced orthodontic procedures, removing teeth is not usually necessary for orthodontic treatment. How long will it take to complete treatment? Treatment time obviously depends on each patient's specific orthodontic problem. The average time is from one to two years. Actual treatment time can be affected by rate of growth and severity of the correction necessary. Treatment length is also dependent upon patient compliance. Maintaining good oral hygiene and keeping regular appointments are important in keeping treatment time on schedule. 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 payment 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. How often will I have appointments? Appointments are scheduled according to each patient's needs. Most patients in braces will be seen every 4 to 6 weeks. If there are specific situations that require more frequent monitoring, we will schedule appointments accordingly. 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 4 to 6 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. Do braces hurt? Generally, braces do not "hurt." The placement of bands and brackets on your teeth does not hurt. Once your braces are placed and connected with the archwires you may feel some soreness of your teeth for one to four days. Your lips and cheeks may need one to two weeks to get used to the braces on your teeth. 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. Can I return to school the day I receive my braces? Yes. There is no reason to miss school because of an orthodontic appointment. Do you give shots? No. Shots are not necessary in orthodontic treatment. 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. Can I still play sports? Yes. We recommend a mouth guard for all sports. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. What is Phase One and Phase Two Treatment? Phase I, or early interceptive treatment, is limited orthodontic treatment (i.e. expander or partial braces) before all of the permanent teeth have erupted. Such treatment can occur between the ages of six and ten. This treatment is sometimes recommended to make more space for developing teeth, correction of crossbites, overbites, underbites, or harmful oral habits. Phase II Treatment is also called comprehensive treatment, because it involves full braces when all of the permanent teeth have erupted, usually between the ages of eleven and thirteen. Will my child need an expander? At the completion of the initial examination, we will determine whether a patient will need an expander. 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! 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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