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Frequently
Asked Questions
- Why should you choose an orthodontic
specialist?
- At what age should I schedule
an appointment for an orthodontic screening?
- Will my teeth straighten out
as they grow?
- How do I schedule an appointment
for an initial exam?
- What will happen at the initial
examination appointment?
- What will I learn from the initial
examination?
- Will I need to have teeth extracted
for braces?
- How long will it take to complete
treatment?
- How much will braces cost? Are
financing options available? How does my insurance
work?
- How often will I have appointments?
- Can I schedule all of my appointments
after school?
- Can I drop my child off for
an appointment?
- Do braces hurt?
- Can I return to school the day
I receive my braces?
- Do you give shots?
- Do you use recycled braces?
- Can I still play sports?
- Do I need to see my family dentist
while in braces?
- Are there foods I cannot eat
while I have braces?
- How often should I brush my
teeth while in braces?
- What is an emergency appointment?
How are those handled?
- Can orthodontic correction occur
while a child has baby teeth?
- What is Phase One (early) Treatment?
- Will my child need full braces
if he/she has Phase One treatment?
- Will my child need an expander?
- Is it too late to have braces
if I am already an adult?
- Can I wear braces even though
I have crowns and missing teeth?
- Is it required that my family
dentist schedule my appointment with the orthodontist?
1. 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.
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2. 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.
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3. 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.
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4. 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.
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5. 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.
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6. What will I learn from the
initial examination?
There are five essential questions that we
will cover during the initial examination:
· Is there an orthodontic problem and if
so, what is it?
· What must be done to correct the problem?
· Will any teeth need to be removed?
· How long will the treatment take to complete?
· How much will the treatment cost?
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7. 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. We are extremely
conservative when it comes to the extraction of
the permanent teeth and usually resort to it when
it is absolutely the only way to resolve
the problem.
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8. 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 12 to 30 months. The "average"
time frame a person is in braces is approximately
22 months.
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9. 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.
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10. How often will I have appointments?
Appointments are scheduled according to each
patient's needs. Most patients in braces will be
seen every 5 to 10 weeks. If there are specific
situations that require more frequent monitoring,
we will schedule appointments accordingly.
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11. Can I schedule all of my
appointments after school?
The majority of your routine office visits
are almost always scheduled during after-school
hours, yet some extended appointments like the placement
of braces may need to be scheduled in the morning.
However, these appointments are infrequent, and
we will make every effort to meet your scheduling
needs.
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12. 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.
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13. 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!”
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14. Can I return to school
the day I receive my braces?
Yes. There is no reason to miss school because
of an orthodontic appointment.
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15. Do you give shots?
No. Shots are not necessary in orthodontic
treatment.
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16. 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.
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17. Can I still play sports?
Yes, we will provide you with a special orthodontic
mouth guard once the appliances are in place.
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18. 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.
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19. 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.
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20. 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.
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21. What is an emergency appointment?
How are those handled?
At your appliance placement visit, Dr. Lipkin
will provide you with an emergency kit which includes
his cell phone and pager numbers. Should you or
your child experience extreme pain or discomfort,
you will be able to reach the doctor immidiately.
If the problem can not be resolved over the phone,
Dr. Lipkin will come to see you at the office, regardless
of the time of day or weekend. During vacation time,
adequate emergency coverage is always provided.
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22. 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.
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23. What is Phase One (early)
Treatment?
Phase One treatment, if necessary, is usually
initiated on children between the ages of 7 and
10. Phase One treatment lasts about 12-21 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.
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24. Will my child need full
braces if he/she has Phase One 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.
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25. Will my child need an expander?
At the completion of the initial examination,
we will determine whether a patient will need an
expander.
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26. Is it too late to have
braces if I am already an adult?
A surprising percentage of our patients are
adults. In fact, 25% of all orthodontic patients
are adults. Health, happiness, and self-esteem are
vitally important to adults. No patient is "too
old" to wear braces!
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27. 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.
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28. 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.
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