What is an Orthodontist?
An orthodontist is someone who has received additional training beyond dental school to become a specialist. To become a dentist, you need to attend a four-year dental school program. To become an orthodontist, you need to do two to three more years of additional graduate residency training. During this specialist program, one learns how to safely, effectively, and efficiently move teeth through bone to straighten teeth for better oral hygiene, function, and chewing. It is also critical that the orthodontist aligns both the upper teeth with the lower teeth, not only for better function but to align them as they are designed to fit so there is no abnormal wear and tear. The ultimate goal is to set the patient up for a stable and healthy bite to prevent future negative dental issues, for example cavities, bone loss, abnormal wear, etc. This effort not only eliminates pain and suffering but also saves the patient thousands of dollars in dental costs.
At what age should my child first be seen for an orthodontic evaluation?
Seven years of age, when the permanent front teeth and the permanent first molars have erupted, is an appropriate age for your child’s first orthodontic visit.
At this initial appointment, your child’s growth and development is assessed and it will be determined whether any early treatment (Phase One treatment) is truly necessary.
At Clermont Orthodontics, early treatment needs include cross bite issues in which the top teeth are behind the bottom teeth. These situations can cause abnormal wear on the teeth, bone loss, and gum recession. If a cross bite or cross bites are present, they are easily fixed at this young age, generally within three to six months. Then, your child’s braces are removed and they are allowed to resume a normal diet and dental care.
Good news is that for most children, no early treatment is necessary. For most children, they are placed on a six-month or 12-month recall and their growth and development is monitored as they continue to grow. Then, once all the permanent teeth erupt, they are evaluated for full treatment with braces.
Does orthodontic treatment or braces hurt?
When you first get braces, you will experience soreness. That soreness is your body getting used to the new sensation of teeth moving through bone. That soreness goes away completely within a week or two after treatment. The number one thing to do to help minimize soreness and help it go away even faster is proper brushing and flossing with braces. If needed, Dr. Adams does recommend taking Advil, an anti-inflammatory and pain medication for the temporary relief of any discomfort. Please go to the Treatments Tab/Brushing and Flossing to learn more about braces and what you can do to ensure a healthy and lasting lifetime smile.
Do I still need to see my dentist when I have braces?
Absolutely. It is very important to continue being seen by your family dentist every six months for regular dental checkups and thorough cleaning.
When you receive your braces, we will teach you how to brush and floss with braces. It is very important to maintain healthy gum tissues and teeth during orthodontic treatment. By not brushing and flossing properly and enough, the gum tissues will become swollen, and treatment will involve more discomfort.
What is the best treatment option – Braces or Clear Aligners/Invisalign®?
During your consultation, Dr. Adams will assess your bite. Achieving a heathy and stable bite is the number one priority for any orthodontist. If you are an adult with a healthy and stable bite but have crowding issues, you are a candidate for braces or clear aligners. However, for those who do not have a healthy and stable bite, braces are the only option to effectively and consistently achieve an excellent result. Dr. Adams does not recommend clear aligners for teens due to lack of compliance issues with needing to wear the clear aligners for 22 out of 24 hours per day. Teenagers’ diets of continual snacking and consuming high sugar drinks does not lend to them wearing clear aligners enough to experience any benefit and the clear aligners trap those high sugar sodas, which only promote tooth decay.
Bottom Line: braces cost much less, braces produce superior results, and braces treatment times are significantly shorter.
Braces options are traditional stainless-steel brackets and the more aesthetic clear ceramic brackets.
Clear aligners, commonly known as Invisalign, will be more thoroughly explained in the Clear Aligners/Invisalign section under the Treatments Tab.
How long does orthodontic treatment last?
Early orthodontic treatment (Phase One Treatment), when baby teeth are still present, usually lasts no more than three to six months.
Full orthodontic treatment or Phase Two treatment, after the permanent teeth have erupted, may last anywhere from 12 to 24 months. The more severe the issues to correct, the longer the treatment time.
How much do braces or orthodontic treatment cost?
During these times of inflation and rising costs, it seems like everything is getting more expensive. However, Dr. Adams has not increased his prices in years and he will not increase them at any time in the near future. Dr. Adams charges fair and reasonable prices for his treatments and offers interest free in-house financing, discounts, and referral rewards to make treatment even more affordable. Please go to the New Patients Tab and learn more in the Financial Information section.
Does insurance pay for orthodontic treatment?
Generally speaking, most insurance plans will pay up to a lifetime maximum for your orthodontic treatment. What does that mean? For example, if your insurance company states it has a $1,000 lifetime maximum coverage, it will only pay $1,000 toward the treatment fee.
Many insurance plans also set the treatment fee that an orthodontic practice may charge for treatment. These are known as discounted fee insurance plans.
It is very important to understand that you must continue to pay your monthly insurance premiums during treatment for the insurance benefits to be paid.
If the insurance policy terminates for any reason during treatment, the remaining insurance benefit not paid by the insurance company will then have to be paid by the responsible party.