Questions and Answers
Questions from the patient
How do I know if my child is in need of orthodontic treatment?
It is usually difficult for you to determine if treatment is necessary because there are many problems that can occur even though the front teeth look straight. Also, there are some problems that look intimidating and complex which will resolve on their own. Asking your general dentist is good reference, but we are your best resource since orthodontics is our specialty. We would be more than happy to see your child and make any recommendations necessary.
What are the early symptoms of orthodontic problems?
Although determining if treatment is necessary is difficult for you to assess, the following symptoms may help in prompting you to seek our orthodontic advice.
Ask your child to open their mouth, and let you look at their teeth. If you see any signs of crooked teeth, gaps between your child's teeth or overlapping teeth, your child may need orthodontic treatment.
Ask your child to bite all the way down, but keeping their lips open so you can see their teeth. Do the front top teeth line up with the bottom? Do the top teeth protrude out away from the bottom teeth? Do the top front teeth cover more than 50% of the bottom teeth? Are the top teeth behind the bottom teeth? All these are indicators for potential orthodontic treatment.
Look at the alignment of your child's jaw. Does the jaw shift off center when your child bites down? If you see any misalignment or shifting of the jaw, your child may have a skeletal problem, which requires early orthodontic intervention.
Some behaviors may be indicative of a problem with your child’s bite and may include:
- Difficulty chewing
- Open-mouth breathing
- Thumb or finger sucking
- Overlapping or crowding of erupting teeth
- Jaws that click or pop
What age should my child be seen by an orthodontist?
The American Association of Orthodontists and American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommend that your child be evaluated by age 7. Early detection of some orthodontic problems is important in order to take early corrective action and avoid more difficult treatment later. For more information and official guidelines pleas visit www.braces.org or www.aapd.org.
Can you be too old for braces?
No, age is not a factor, only the health of your gums and bone which support your teeth. About 25% of our orthodontic patients are adults and that number is still growing! Click here to view our information on Adult Orthodontics.
Will it hurt?
Orthodontic treatment has improved dramatically. As a rule, braces make your teeth sore for a few days, but it is not painful. This annoyance can be relieved with an over-the-counter pain reliever. Today's braces are smaller, more comfortable and use technology that reduces the discomfort. We use the latest in miniature braces and the highest quality of orthodontic materials in order to reduce discomfort and treatment time.
Can I still have braces if I have missing teeth?
Yes. When teeth are missing, adjacent teeth will drift into the empty space. This will cause a functional, esthetic or periodontal problem. Orthodontic treatment will correct and prevent these problems and will also provide proper alignment for your dentist to replace the missing teeth.
Questions about the treatment
What is Phase I (Interceptive Treatment) and Phase II treatment?
Phase I or Interceptive Treatment usually starts while the child has most of their baby teeth and a few of their permanent front incisors. This stage in development is usually about the age of 7. The goal of Phase I treatment is to intercept a moderate or severe orthodontic problem early in order to reduce or eliminate it. These problems include skeletal dysplasia, crossbites and crowding. Phase I treatment takes advantage of the early growth spurt and turns a difficult orthodontic problem into a more manageable one. This helps reduce the need for extractions or surgery and delivers better long term results and treatment options. Most Phase I patients require a Phase II treatment in order to achieve an ideal bite.
Phase II treatment usually occurs a number of years later. Usually we are waiting for 12-16 more permanent teeth to erupt before Phase II begins. This most commonly occurs at the age of 11 or 13. The goal of Phase II treatment is to complete the precision alignment and functional fit of the teeth to achieve an ideal occlusion with all of the permanent teeth.
What is Full or Comprehensive Orthodontic Treatment?
This is another name for orthodontic treatment in the permanent dentition at any age. It is more commonly used when a Phase I treatment was not performed.
Does everyone need a Phase I treatment?
Absolutely not! Only certain bites require early intervention. All others can wait until most if not all their permanent teeth erupt.
Can I wait on Phase I/Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment until my child is older?
There are certain instances when waiting for all permanent teeth to erupt may limit treatment options, make treatment more difficult and compromise long term stability of the bite. Treatment of these problems at an early age will produce benefits such as: decreasing the chance of a traumatic occlusion or injury to (such as protruding or “buck” teeth), controlling harmful habits, shortening the treatment time for full braces during the critical “teen” years, facilitating proper jaw growth and enhancing the facial profile (proper growth relationship of the upper and lower jaws to each other), taking advantage of patients’ enthusiasm and cooperation at this age.
Our doctors will thoroughly review with you their recommendations for treatment and timing of treatment. They will answer any questions you may have regarding early orthodontic treatment or timing of treatment.
What is the length or duration of orthodontic treatment?
In general orthodontic appliances may be worn between 6 to 30 months. Our doctors will provide you with the estimated length of your treatment at your consultation appointment. Additionally, the doctors are available to provide you with updates as to the progress of your care at your regular visits. Variables affecting the duration of treatment include the age of the patient, the severity of the problem, genetics, the patient’s cooperation, missed appointments and broken appliances.
What are extraction and non-extraction therapy, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of each?
Extraction therapy is a technique where selected permanent teeth are removed in conjunction with Orthodontic treatment. Non-extraction therapy simply indicates that no permanent teeth are removed as a part of aligning teeth during treatment. Whether or not permanent teeth need to be removed during orthodontic treatment involves careful consideration of the severity of the orthodontic problem and how treatment will impact facial esthetics. Our doctors carefully study your orthodontic records (photos, molds, x-rays) to determine the treatment plan that will optimize both facial and dental esthetics for you.
Is orthodontic care expensive?
When orthodontic treatment is implemented at the proper time, treatment is often less costly than the dental care required to treat the more serious problems that can develop years later.
Orthodontic fees have not increased as fast as many other consumer products. Financing is usually available and our office offers many payment programs that will meet your needs. In addition, many insurance plans now include orthodontics. For more information visit our section on Financial Options available to our patients.