Good links:
- How do I know if I need orthodontic treatment?
- Is it required that my family dentist schedule my appointment with the orthodontist?
- 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?
- 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?
- 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 full braces still be needed after Phase One treatment?
- Will I 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?
- What is TMJ or TMD?
- Why should you choose an orthodontic specialist?
If your smile is less than what you want, orthodontics may be the answer. No one will deny the importance of a beautiful smile. It makes a pleasing appearance, promotes self-esteem and is valuable to social and career success. It is what people see first and remember most. You may also have signs of improper functioning of your bite and jaw. The health of your jaw joint is very important to your overall comfort as well as the long-term stability of your bite. Orthodontic treatment may help address these bite or jaw problems. Some of the signs to look for include:
a. Worn or sore teeth
b. Jaw joint clicking
c. Jaw and/or neck pain
d. Sore facial muscles
e. Frequent or severe headaches or migraines
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2. 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 usually referred by their friends.
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3. 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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4. 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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5. 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, we will request some basic information from you.
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6. What will happen at the initial examination appointment?
Dr. Wong would like to find out your concerns and determine your goals for orthodontic treatment. He will then complete a brief, but thorough, examination to evaluate your orthodontic status then share these findings with you.
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7. How much will braces cost? Are financing options available? How does my insurance work?
Our office is dedicated to serving you as an individual so our fees vary based upon your individual needs. It is impossible to provide a fee without an initial evaluation to determine your orthodontic needs. Once a fee is determined, our office is prepared to make payment arrangements for your orthodontic treatment. We offer flexible financial policies that allow our patients to customize their financial arrangements in a manner that fits their budget. We will also review your insurance policy and help to maximize your benefit and file your claims.
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8. 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 eight weeks. If there are specific situations that require more frequent monitoring, we will schedule appointments accordingly.
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9. 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 five to 10 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.
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10. 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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11. Can I return to school or work the day I receive my braces?
Yes. There is no reason to miss school or work because of an orthodontic appointment .
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12. Do you give shots?
No. You can be assured that we do not even stock any needles in our office. Orthodontic treatment does not need it.
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13. 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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14. Can I still play sports?
Yes. We recommend a mouth guard for all sports to avoid serious injury.
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15. 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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16. 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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17. 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.
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18. 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 to make you comfortable.
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19. 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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20. 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 usually lasts about one year or less. 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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21. Will full braces still be needed after Phase One treatment?
Most of the time, full braces will be needed even after Phase One treatment but in rare circumstances, it may not be needed. The period following Phase One treatment is called the "resting period," during which time 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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22. Will I need an expander?
An expander is used for specific types of orthodontic problems. At the completion of the initial examination, Dr. Wong will determine whether a patient will need an expander.
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23. Is it too late to have braces if I am already an adult?
Every year we have an increasing number of adult patients in our office. In fact, 25 percent of all orthodontic patients in the U.S. are adults. Health, happiness and self-esteem are vitally important to adults. No patient is "too old" to wear braces!
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24. 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. Sometimes orthodontic treatment can enhance the outcome of a plan to replace any missing teeth by your dentist.
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25. What is TMJ or TMD?
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the technical name of the jaw joints. The jaw joints are what allow you to open and close your jaw. Temporomandibular disorder or disease (TMD) can be any sign or symptom of a potentially unhealthy joint, which can show itself as jaw pain, facial muscle soreness, headaches and/or jaw clicking. Sometimes TMD problems can be alleviated with orthodontic treatment but only the appropriate evaluation and diagnosis can determine its effectiveness. Dr. Wong has taken advanced courses in evaluating your bite and its relationship to the TMJ. He has helped numerous patients in diagnosing and resolving their TMJ problems.
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26. 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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