FAQ

1. What is orthodontics?
Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of dental and facial irregularities. Braces are appliances or devices used to make these corrections.

2. Are braces necessary?
No. They are elective but people seldom grow out of the more severe problems.

3. What are the early warning signs of a bad bite?
  1. Upper front teeth
  2. Top front teeth cover more than 25% of the bottom front teeth when the back teeth are biting together
  3. Top front teeth grow in the bottom front teeth exists between the top and bottom
  4. front teeth with the back teeth biting together color or overlapped teeth or extra teeth
  5. Baby teeth are slow falling out. The centers of the top and bottom front teeth
  6. Finger sucking habit continuing after 6 years old.
  7. Difficulty chewing.
  8. Teeth wearing unevenly
  9. Jaws that shift off center when the teeth bite together between teeth that persist after the top permanent canine teeth appear
  10. Teeth or smile often hidden by hands
4. When should I look for the early warning signs?
It is most important to examine your child's teeth as the permanent teeth grow in. Although children mature at different rates, there are some averages for permanent tooth arrival.

5. What causes crooked teeth?
Heredity is the main cause although local factors such as finger sucking high cavity rate, gum disease, trauma and premature loss of baby teeth can also contribute to a bad bite.

6. Why should I have my teeth straightened?
Poorly arranged teeth can break easily and can trap food particles that cause tooth decay and gum disease. They can also lead to poor chewing and digestion that can be bad for your overall health. Finally, poorly arranged teeth detract from your smile that is one of the more important features of your face.

7. How do braces straighten crooked teeth?
Braces use steady, gentle pressure over time to move teeth into their proper positions. They don't look like they're doing much just sitting there. Nevertheless, every moment of your orthodontic treatment, there is something happening in your mouth something good for you. The brackets we place on your teeth and the main archwire that connects them, are the two main components. The bracket is a piece of specially shaped metal or ceramic that we affix to each tooth. Then we bend the archwire to reflect your bite-what we want you to look like after treatment. The wire threads through the brackets and, as the wire tries to return to its original shape, it applies pressure to actually move your teeth. Picture your tooth resting in your jawbone. With pressure on one side from the archwire, the bone on the other side gives way. The tooth moves. New bone grows in behind. It may look like nothing is happening--but we're making a new smile here. Thanks to new materials and procedures, all this happens much quicker than ever before. It's kind of an engineering feat.

8. Will braces correct TMJ or jaw joint problems?
Braces may or may not improve jaw joint problems. More conservative approaches should be tried first.

9. Will orthodontics change my lifestyle?
You'll have to give up extremely hard and sticky foods including gum. These foods can get caught on the braces and pull the braces off. In addition, you'll have to spend a few extra minutes cleaning your braces after meals. But, for the most part, you'll find braces don't cramp your style. You'll still have fun. You'll still be able to sing, play your musical instrument, smile, play sports and of course, kiss.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. What will I learn from the initial examination?
There are five essential questions that we will cover during the initial examination: 16. 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 always necessary for orthodontic treatment.

17. 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 24 to 30 months.

18. 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.

19. How often will I have appointments?
Appointments are scheduled according to each patient's needs. Most patients in braces will be seen every four to six weeks. If there are specific situations that require more frequent monitoring, we will schedule appointments accordingly.

20. 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 six 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.

21. 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.

22. 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!”

23. Can I return to school the day I receive my braces?
Yes. There is no reason to miss school because of an orthodontic appointment.

24. Do you give shots?
No. Shots are not necessary in orthodontic treatment.

25. 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.

26. Can I still play sports?
Yes. We recommend a mouth guard for all sports which we have at our office. Free channel mouth guards can usually be found at most sporting goods stores.

27. 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.

28. 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.

29. 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.

30. 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.

31. 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.

32. What is Phase One (early) treatment?
Phase One treatment, if necessary, is usually initiated on children between the ages of 7 and 10. The primary objective for Phase One treatment is to address significant problems to prevent them from becoming more severe, such as providing more room for permanent tooth eruption, correcting underbite or overbite, improving facial profile and lip posture and boosting self-esteem and self-image.

33. Will my child need full braces if he/she has Phase One treatment?
Even with ideal cooperation and favorable growth response in Phase I most patients will benefit with continued Phase II treatment which is full braces. However, Phase II is generally less severe and may require a shorter treatment period. Both phases are important for the correction of problems, yet are distinctly different. The most important value of two-phase treatment is the end result.

34. Will my child need an expander?
At the completion of the initial examination, we will determine whether a patient will need an expander.

35. 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!

36. 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.

37. 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.

38. What do rubber bands do?
Rubber bands or elastics contribute a lot to straighter teeth. They are marvels of physics. Attached to your braces, elastics exert the energy force that creates the right amount of pressure to move teeth. It's important to wear your elastics all the time and change them every day so the force is constant which the teeth like. As for bouncing an elastic off someone across the room, it will happen (don't worry, your aim will improve).