How much does an orthodontic exam cost? How much do braces cost? Will my health insurance cover the cost of braces? Can I go directly to an orthodontist, or does the dentist have to refer me? How do I know if I really need braces? Why should I see an orthodontic specialist? How do I choose an orthodontist? Am I too old for braces? How long does orthodontic treatment take? What are "lingual" braces? What are clear braces? Are they more expensive? Will I need to have any permanent teeth removed when I get braces? Do I need to have surgery on my jaw bones? What is TMJ? Is it harder to clean your teeth if you are wearing braces? Will I be able to floss my teeth after the braces are put on? Does it hurt when you put the braces on or take them off? Aren't people with braces teased a lot? What is a retainer? What are impressions? Why are so many young children in braces today? Can I wear colors on my braces? What is the proper age for a first visit? How much does an orthodontic exam cost? There is a charge for diagnostic records (dental molds, head and jaw x-rays and photographs) if they are necessary to determine your treatment needs. With this information, we can formulate an exact treatment plan and give you an exact fee. TOP How much do braces cost? Our fees are based upon treatment time and the severity of the case. Because there is such a range, 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. TOP Will my health 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. TOP Can I go directly to an orthodontist, or does the dentist have to refer me? 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. TOP 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 orthodontically beforehand. TOP Why should I see an orthodontic specialist? Orthodontists have two 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 legally 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 specialists for bite corrections. TOP How do I choose an orthodontist? There are many factors you should consider when deciding on an orthodontic specialist. Since you will be visiting their office at regular intervals throughout treatment for an extended period of time, make sure that you choose an office where you feel comfortable. You should know what is involved with each aspect of your treatment before you start and should feel comfortable asking questions. We truly care about each and every patient and will make every effort to insure their comfort throughout treatment. TOP Am I too old for braces? Teeth can be moved at any age. The oldest patients we have treated thus far were in their seventies. TOP How long does orthodontic treatment take? The length of treatment varies from 3 months to 3 years depending on complexity. Before you start treatment, we will let you know the length of time your treatment should take. TOP What are "lingual" braces? Lingual braces are braces placed on the inside of the teeth so they are not visible. We feel that lingual braces are not as effective as conventional braces and they are very hard on the tongue. For these reasons, we do not offer them. We do offer clear brackets, which are almost "invisible." TOP What are clear braces? Are they more expensive? The clear braces we use are of the highest quality porcelain material. They are just as effective as metal braces, but less visible. The clear braces are more fragile than the metal ones, but not so fragile that they break easily. There is an additional charge for porcelain braces and occasionally treatment with them does take longer. TOP Will I need to have any permanent teeth removed when I get braces? We definitely prefer to treat patients without removing any permanent teeth if at all possible. However, if the teeth are excessively crowded and are protruding, removing teeth is an option. Typically, if extractions are needed, most orthodontists choose to extract two upper back teeth (bicuspids) and two lower back teeth (bicuspids) to relieve crowding and enhance the profile. TOP Do I need to have surgery on my jaw bones? Surgery is necessary only when we find a very severe bite problem in a patient who is no longer growing. If either jaw is too large, too small, or too narrow, surgery is indicated. TOP What is TMJ? TMJ stands for Temporomandibular Joint, which is the name of the jaw joint associated with chewing. We use splints and braces to relieve problems associated with the jaw joints. TOP Is it harder to clean your teeth if you are wearing braces? Yes. It is normally more difficult to take care of your teeth because the braces are harder to clean around. We are committed to helping you take care of your teeth and will show you exactly how to clean around your braces at the appointment when we bond your braces. With proper technique, cleaning takes only a few minutes several times each day. TOP Will I be able to floss my teeth after the braces are put on? Yes, our clinical technicians will you teach you how to floss your teeth properly with braces. TOP Does it hurt when you put the braces on or take them off? It does not hurt to have the braces placed. We use a method called indirect bonding that maximizes patient comfort and minimizes chair time for the procedure. We use a special instrument to gently remove the braces and most patients report minimal discomfort with removal. TOP Aren't people with braces teased a lot? In this day and age, more and more people than ever before are wearing braces. Our patients include many adults with professional careers and children of all ages. They are generally very well accepted and we don't feel that there is the stigma associated with them as there once was. In many classrooms today, as many children have braces as do not. TOP 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 several months and then are worn just at bedtime for as long as the patient wants his or her teeth to remain as perfect as they were when their braces were removed. TOP What are impressions? Impressions of the teeth are taken to enable us to make a mold of the teeth, either for diagnosis or to construct an orthodontic appliance. Impressions are taken by filling a well- fitted metal tray with a pink substance called alginate that looks like frosting. The tray is then placed in the mouth for about a minute until the alginate starts to set. When the tray is removed, you can see dents or "impressions" of all your teeth. Later, in our lab we fill this tray with a special substance to make an exact model of your teeth. TOP Why are so many young children in braces today? Our office generally initiates early, sometimes called interceptive, treatment in children who do not yet have all of their permanent teeth when doing so will enable us to utilize their growth to achieve a better long-term result. Not all children need interceptive treatment. 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. TOP Can I wear colors on my braces? The colors you see on braces are elastic ties used to attach the brackets to the archwire. They are usually changed at each visit. We offer a kaleidoscope of colors and allow our patients to select as many different colors as they would like. We have gray or clear ties for those desiring a more discreet look. TOP What is the proper age for a first visit? The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child have an orthodontic screening by the age of seven. 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. TOP