Frequently Asked Questions

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..

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 his or her orthodontic condition. At this early age, orthodontic treatment is rarely necessary, but careful examination can anticipate the most advantageous time to begin treatment.

No, generally they will not. The space available for the front teeth does not increase as a child grows. In most people, after the first permanent molars erupt, the space available for the front teeth decreases with age. In some circumstances, it is helpful to manage the eruption by enhancing a normal process of “borrowing” space during the sequence of eruption.

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. All your provide information is confidential.

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 usually not necessary for orthodontic 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 24 months.

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.

Appointments are scheduled according to each patient's needs. Most patients in braces will be seen every five to eight weeks. If there are specific situations that require more frequent monitoring, we will schedule appointments accordingly.

Unfortunately, we cannot schedule all appointments for students during after-school hours. However, because most appointments are scheduled five to eight 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.

Yes. We understand your busy schedule, and we are happy to help you make the most of your time. Many of our teenaged patients can walk to the office and manage themselves. Please make sure that our contact information is current with cell numbers or work numbers if we should need to contact you.

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 many visits, patients do not feel any soreness at all! We often remind our patients, “It does not have to hurt to work!”.

Can I return to school the day I receive my braces?

Yes. There is no reason to miss school after beginning treatment. It makes the most sense to carry on with “business as usual” to make for a better transition into braces.

No. Shots are not necessary in orthodontic treatment.

Absolutely NOT! This is an outdated option that is no longer even possible with modern braces because of the amount of precision that is lost.

Yes. We will recommend and provide a mouth guard for sports where facial contact is a regular possibility.

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.

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.

Patients should brush their teeth at least three times each day – morning, mid-day and before going to bed. It is important to brush vigorously and thoroughly. We will show each patient how to floss his/her teeth with braces and may also provide a prescription for a daily fluoride supplement, if necessary.

If your braces are causing extreme pain or if there is significant soreness, you should call our office. For after hours times, we can be paged through the office voice mail system. Please use good judgment in choosing this option. In most cases, we can address these issues with an appointment during regular office hours. If you require an emergency appointment, we will set aside time for you.

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. Many teenage patients will still have a few baby teeth remaining and be ready to start orthodontic treatment. In cases where space shortage is a problem, it is more productive to make space rather than wait too long for teeth to attempt to erupt improperly.

Phase One treatment, if necessary, is usually initiated on children between the ages of 7 and 10. Phase One treatment lasts about 10-18 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. It is not a full-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.

At the completion of the initial examination, we will determine whether a patient will need an expander.

A surprising percentage of our patients are adults. And this group is growing every day. Health, happiness and self-esteem are vitally important to adults. No patient is "too old" to wear braces!

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, straight roots and in many cases to close spaces.

Teeth, bite positions 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. Of course you want to be in the best hands.