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1. At what age should I schedule an appointment for an orthodontic screening?


2. How long does orthodontic treatment take to complete?


3. How often will I have appointments?


4. Can I schedule all of my appointments after school?


5. What are some possible benefits of orthodontic treatment?


6. Will I need to have teeth extracted for braces?


7. How much will braces cost?


8. Are financing options available?


9. What types of braces does your office use?


10. Should I see my general dentist while I have braces?


11. Will braces interfere with playing brass musical instruments?


12. Will braces interfere with playing sports?


13. Will braces hurt?


14. Am I too old for orthodontics?


15. Will my child need full braces if he/she has a 1st phase of orthodontic treatment?


16. Are there foods that I shouldn’t eat while I’m wearing braces?


17. Can I return to school on the same day I receive my braces?

1. At what age should I schedule an appointment for an orthodontic screening?

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends an orthodontic screening at age 7 or earlier if a problem is detected by the family dentist or physician.
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2. How long does orthodontic treatment take to complete?

Treatment time depends on the patient’s orthodontic problem and their level of cooperation. In general, treatment times range from 12-30 months. The average time frame a person is in braces is approximately 22-24 months.
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3. How often will I have appointments?

Appointments are scheduled according to each patient’s needs. Most patients in braces will need to be seen every 5-6 weeks.
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4. Can I schedule all of my appointments after school?

Unfortunately, we cannot schedule all appointments for students during after school hours. By scheduling longer appointments during the morning and early afternoon hours, we are able to schedule most of the quick adjustment appointments during after school hours so missed school time is kept to a minimum.
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5. What are some possible benefits of orthodontic treatment?


• A more attractive smile
• Better confidence and self-esteem
• Increased ability to clean the teeth
• Reduce the risk of injury to protruded front teeth
• Aid in optimizing other dental treatment
• Better function of the teeth
• Better long term health of teeth and gums
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6. Will I need to have teeth extracted for braces?
Removing teeth is occasionally required to achieve the best orthodontic result. We work very diligently to minimize the need for these extractions by using space maintainers and other techniques in our 1st phases of orthodontic treatment.
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7. How much will braces cost?
It is impossible to give an exact cost for treatment until we have examined you. We will give you a rough estimate during the initial exam and an exact cost at the treatment conference appointment.
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8. Are financing options available?
We have several interest free payment options, with a low down payment. We will accept assignment of insurance, and we will help you to maximize your benefits and file your claims. We provide a 10% prepayment discount for those who prefer to prepay their account. Our office also accepts Visa and MasterCard.
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9. What types of braces does your office use?
In our office we have three types of braces to choose from: stainless steel braces (patient can change “colors”/alastics at each appointment), low friction (no alastics/colors), and clear braces (for an additional fee). We also offer Invisalign as an option, depending on the occlusion.
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10. Should I see my general dentist while I have braces?
Yes, you should continue to see your general dentist every six months for a cleaning and dental checkup.
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11. Will braces interfere with playing brass musical instruments?
No. However, there may be an initial period of adjustment. In addition, brace covers (plastic or wax strips) can be provided to prevent discomfort.
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12. Will braces interfere with playing sports?
No. It is recommended, however that patients protect their smiles by wearing a mouth guard when participating in any sporting activity. Mouth guards are inexpensive, comfortable, and come in a variety of colors and patterns.
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13. Will braces 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 take one to two weeks to get used to the braces on your teeth.
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14. Am I too old for orthodontics?
About 25% of orthodontic patients today are adults, ranging in age into the 70s. Many adults are correcting problems that were never treated when they were children. As long as your supporting bone and gums are reasonably healthy, you can still undergo orthodontic treatment.
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15. Will my child need full braces if he/she has a 1st phase of orthodontic treatment?

Most 1st phase patients will need a second “finishing” phase of braces. Usually this second phase is less complicated, and less likely to involve extractions of permanent teeth, due to the work done in the 1st phase.
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16. Are there foods that I shouldn’t eat while I’m wearing braces?

Yes. Once treatment begins, we will provide a comprehensive list of foods to avoid. Some of those foods include: ice, hard candy, bubble gum, uncut raw carrots, caramel and taffy. Most emergency appointments can be avoided by carefully following our instructions on foods to avoid.
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17. Can I return to school on the same day I receive my braces?

Yes. The amount of discomfort from orthodontic care is not an excused absence from school.
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