| Frequently Asked Questions |
|
1. Why Should I Get Braces?
Braces will align un-sightly, crooked teeth and promote a brighter smile that leads to more self-confidence. Aligning the teeth will eliminate gum problems often caused by overcrowded and overlapping teeth. Braces will line-up and improve the bite and healthier bite enables easier chewing and better oral functon.
2. Will Braces Effect Playing Sports?
Usually not. We recommend wearing a mouthguard in any sport where you may get hit in the mouth. We have mouth pieces that can be adapted to braces.
3. How Much Do Braces Cost?
The fee for each situation is determined by the type of appliances used, the complexity of the growth pattern and the estimated treatment time. Most patients will wear braces between
1 and 2 years.
4. What is An Appliance?
It is the type of braces, expanders, or any other device used to make the teeth or jaws move to the position pre-determined by the Orthodontist.
5. Do Braces Hurt?
There may be some soreness or mild discomfort for the first few days after braces, expanders, and/or wires are placed. All the appliances and wires that we use are high-tech and cutting-edge, and exert very light, continuous, and biologically sound forces that greatly decrease any sorenes associated with orthodontic treatment.
Each person will quickly and gradually adapt to the mild discomfort associated with the orthodontic tooth movement.
6. Why Are Retainers Important ?
A retainer is used to hold the teeth in a desired position after the braces come off to ensure the stability of that new position. If the retainers are not worn as directed, the teeth will quickly shift out of position we worked so hard to obtain due to lack of stability.
7. How Long Do I Have To Wear Retainers After Braces?
The retainers are worn 14-16 hours a day for about nine months to a year. After that, we recommend wearing them just at night, and gradually part time (every second or third night), as teeth settle according to your bite. Remember as we all get older teeth tend to shift, whether you had orthodontic treatment or not, its just a normal part of getting older. Teeth are there for you to use and some adaptive changes may occur. This is not failure of the treatment, but nature's changes that we learn to expect from the body, as we grow older. If you wish to insure the stability and permanence of the results achieved with orthodontic treatment, life-time retainer wear should be considered. Yes, retainers are like diamonds – they're forever! So, just think of them as pajamas for your teeth and wear them consistently when you sleep.
If worn consistently long-term, retainers will help you keep that straight smile for life.
8. What Age are Braces Placed and When Am I Too Old.?
Depending on the problem, limited braces, expanders, or growth appliances may be placed as early as age 6 or 7. Treatment of early signs of crowding, premature loss of "baby" teeth, tooth eruption abnormalities, harmful oral habits, crossbites (reverse bite relationships), and any problem where dental arches need to be developed, jaws need to be widened, and/or jaw growth needs to be "stimulated", or modified, would be started before all permanent teeth are in. In these cases the treatment is broken down into two phases. Phase I, usually ages 7-10, is a brief (about 12 months), interceptive treatment prior to eruption of all permanent teeth. It is followed by Phase II (2-4 years later), with braces on all permanent teeth, once all the permanent teeth are in, usually around the ages 11 to 13.
As long as bone support is good, teeth can be moved at about any age.
9. How Are The Instruments Sterilized?
Instruments are sterilized with dry heat, or steam heat, according to OSHA standards. Our office complies with all the requirements and our staff are constantly in training to maintain the
highest level of sterilization.
|
|
|
