Is a referral necessary?
What is an orthodontist?
Why should I see an orthodontic specialist?
How do I choose an orthodontist?
Why should children have an orthodontic screening no
later than age 7?
What are the
benefits of early treatment?
Why are so many young children in braces today?
How can the cosmetic changes of orthodontic treatment
affect you?
Am I too old for orthodontic treatment?
How do I know if I
really need braces?
How much do braces cost?
Will my
insurance cover the cost of braces?
How long does orthodontic treatment take?
Do braces hurt?
Can I still play sports?
Will my braces interfere with playing musical instruments?
What is TMJ?
What is a retainer?
Do wisdom teeth cause crowding?
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No. If you think you have an orthodontic problem, you may contact us directly. We do require that patients have a current dental cleaning before beginning orthodontic treatment. As well, we require you to have regular biannual cleanings and dental check-ups by your dentist throughout orthodontic treatment.
What is an orthodontist?
To be a certified licensed specialist in orthodontics, strict criteria must be met. First, a degree in general dentistry is completed (4 years in length). After which, a two to three year university graduate Masters program in the specialty of orthodontics is undertaken, certified by the American Dental Association.
Orthodontist’s have a minimum of a 10 years of overall university education to qualify for there specialty status! It's important to note that any general dentist can limit his or her practice activity to orthodontics and even advertise his preference of practice to the public. Only orthodontists are certified specialists by law!
Why should I see an orthodontic specialist?
Orthodontists have two or three years of highly specialized training
above and beyond that of a general dentist in correcting jaw and
bite irregularities. An orthodontic specialist does only
orthodontics. Other types of dentists can offer braces to their
patients, but lack the intensive training and specialized experience
of an orthodontist. Just as we seek the opinions of medical
specialists, such as cardiologists and dermatologists, for specific
medical problems, it is important to choose the proper dental
specialist for cosmetic smile and bite correction.
How do I choose an orthodontist?
There are many factors that should be considered when deciding on an
orthodontic specialist. Most importantly, you should be provided
with a thorough explanation of what is involved and be informed
throughout your orthodontic treatment. You should feel comfortable
asking as many questions as you would like. We truly care about each
and every patient and will make every effort to insure their comfort
throughout treatment.
Why should children have an orthodontic
screening no later than age 7?
The American Associations of Orthodontists recommend that every
child have an orthodontic screening by the age of seven. By age 7,
enough permanent teeth have come in and jaw growth has occurred that
the orthodontist can identify current problems, anticipate future
problems and alleviate parents' concerns. For example:
- Crowding, misplaced or blocked out teeth
- Early or late loss of baby teeth
- Any ongoing finger sucking, mouth breathing, speech difficulty or other oral habits can be assessed
- Jaws and teeth are out of proportion to the rest of the face.
- Teeth that meet abnormally or not at all.
Even if treatment is not indicated at that age, this appointment will serve as a baseline from which we can monitor future growth and development.
What are the benefits of early treatment?
Early treatment presents the opportunity to:
- Influence jaw growth in a positive manner
- Harmonize width of the dental arches
- Improve eruption patterns
- Lower risk of trauma to protruded upper front teeth
- Correcting harmful oral habits
- Reducing or eliminate abnormal swallowing, or speech problems
- Improve self-esteem and esthetics
- Simplify and/or shorten treatment time for later corrective orthodontics
- Reduce likelihood of impacted permanent teeth
- Preserve or gain space for erupting permanent teeth
Why are so many young children in braces
today?
Initiating early interceptive treatment in children who do not yet
have all of their permanent teeth often enables us to utilize their
growth, allowing a better long-term result. Interceptive
orthodontics is geared towards children ages 6 to 9, when teeth and
jaw bones are most successfully influenced during this period of
rapid growth. Not all children need interceptive treatment. Typical
problems which can be addressed include: over-crowded teeth, cross
bite, overbite, under bite, and thumb sucking habits. These problems
can affect the function of the teeth and face and can cause
difficulty chewing, speaking, or swallowing.
Some common goals of early treatment include creating enough space for all of the permanent teeth to erupt, and correcting an imbalance in growth between the upper and lower jaws. Children who have had early treatment generally will need to wear braces again when all of their permanent teeth are in. This second phase of treatment with full braces is generally shorter and far easier than treatment would have been if the patient had not had the benefit of early intervention. More importantly, we are able to achieve the best end result for these children. Early interceptive treatment often prevents the need to extract permanent teeth and/or surgery of the jaws during later adolescent comprehensive orthodontic treatment.
How can the cosmetic changes of
orthodontic treatment affect you?
How one feels about his/her looks has an impact on self-esteem and
career success. Orthodontic treatment can make a tremendous
life-long change in the appearance of a persons smile, teeth, face
and overall well being.
Am I too old for orthodontic
treatment?
More and more adults are seeking orthodontic treatment
in order to make cosmetic improvements to their smile. Adults
comprise over 30% of patients in orthodontic practices today.
Moving teeth with braces is not limited by age. The teeth and bones
of adult patients respond to orthodontic movement in a similar
fashion to younger patients. Technological advances in orthodontic
materials allow us to offer cosmetic alternatives such as clear
braces or invisible removable ‘aligners.’ Occasionally adults
require a combination of orthodontic and jaw surgery treatment to
correct severe bite problems. The surgical treatment positions the
jaw in the proper position utilizing the expertise of an oral
surgeon in partnership with the orthodontist.
How
do I know if I really need braces?
Patients generally require orthodontic treatment for three different
reasons. 1) They do not like the way their smile looks. 2) Their
bite is incorrect and is putting extra pressure on the gums, teeth,
and joints. 3) Their dentist needs to perform some restorative work
and needs the teeth to be moved beforehand.
How much do braces cost?
Our fees are based upon treatment time and the severity of
the case. Because there is such a wide range in individual treatment
complexity, we cannot quote a fee without first examining a patient.
We do try to provide payment options that are sufficiently flexible
to accommodate most financial situations.
Will my
insurance cover the cost of braces?
Some dental insurance plans will assist with a portion of the fee.
If you would like to call our office with your insurance
information, we will be happy to call your company and let you know
what your policy covers.
How long does orthodontic treatment take?
The length of treatment varies from 3 months to 3 years depending on
complexity with the average treatment time being approximately 24
months. Before you start treatment, we will let you know the length
of time your treatment should take.
Do braces hurt?
Technological advances in orthodontic materials have led to new
wires that generate a light consistent force for tooth movement.
Generally, patients experience little or no pain. The greatest
period of adjustment occurs during the first week of braces while
the cheeks, lips, and tongue become accustomed to the braces.
Can I still play sports?
Yes, however we ask patients to wear a protective mouth guard while
playing any contact sports. We recommend a specific mouth guard for
braces.
Will my braces interfere with playing musical instruments?
Playing wind or brass instruments, such as the trumpet, will require
some adaptation to braces. With practice and a period of adjustment,
braces typically do not interfere with the playing of musical
instruments.
What is TMJ?
TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint. It is the joint which
attaches your lower jaw to the base of the skull and is used for
chewing. Like any other joint in the body, some people develop
problems with there TMJ such as clenching, grinding, locking,
cracking noises, and associated muscle or headache pain. We use
splints and braces to improve or relieve problems associated with
the jaw joints.
What is a retainer?
A retainer is a removable appliance that is fitted to your
teeth to hold them in their new, corrected position after your
braces are removed. We use retainers that, depending on the
patient's preference, are highly colorful with different designs or
are made of clear plastic that are virtually invisible. Typically,
retainers are worn full-time for 12 months and gradually reduced to
bedtime wear 2-3 nights a week.
Do wisdom teeth cause crowding?
Wisdom teeth do not directly cause crowding. However, they sometimes
push the 2nd molars out of line causing instability in the bite
which can lead to shifting of the teeth. Also, impacted wisdom
teeth can lead to infection and damage of the surrounding healthy
teeth. Therefore, in consultation with your dentist, we often
suggest having wisdom teeth removed at approximately 15-18
years of age. In most cases, this is a couple of years after we have
finished your orthodontic treatment.