- 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?
- 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?
- 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?
- Why should I choose an orthodontic specialist?
1. Is it required that my family dentist schedule my appointment with the orthodontist?
No, it is not. While many of our patients are referred by their family dentist, we always welcome new patients who take the initiative to schedule an examination themselves.
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2. At what age should I schedule an appointment for an orthodontic screening?
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a screening by an orthodontist at age seven. However, we will be happy to see your child at an earlier age if you have any concerns regarding their orthodontic needs.
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3. Will my teeth straighten out as they grow?
Generally not. The space available for the front teeth does not increase as you grow, and crowding increases in most patients as they age.
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4. How do I schedule an appointment for an initial exam?
A referral is not needed to schedule an appointment with our office. You can call at any time during normal office hours to schedule an appointment, or email us at mail@harperbraces.com and leave us a message with your contact infomation and we we get in touch with you.
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5. What will happen at the initial examination appointment?
Upon arriving, both the patient and parent will be met by our new patient coordinator and Dr. Harper will complete a brief, but thorough exam. He will give you a summary of his findings and his recommendations. If treatment is indicated, and you are ready to proceed, we can make diagniostic records (photographs, models and X-rays) to allow Dr. Harper to make a complete and proper diagnosis.
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 four essential questions that we will cover during the initial examination:
- Is there an orthodontic problem, and if so, what it is
- What must be done to correct the problem
- How long will the treatment take to complete
- How much the treatment cost
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7. Will I need to have teeth extracted for braces?
In most cases extractions can be avoided. However, removing teeth is sometimes required to achieve the best orthodontic result. Straight teeth, good function, and a balanced facial profile are the goal of orthodontics, and with today's technology, we are able to achieve this in most patients without extractions.
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8. How long will it take to complete treatment?
Treatment time obviously depends on each patient's specific orthodontic problem, the patient's compliance while in their braces, and coming to regular orthodontic visits. 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 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 benefits and assist you with filing 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 four to ten 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?
In an effort to see as many patients as possible before and after school hours, we see longer appointments during hte middle of the day. Unfortunately, we cannot schedule all appointments for students before or after school hours. Since most appointments are scheduled four to ten weeks apart, most patients will miss a minimal amount of school due to their orthodontic appointments. Remember, we start seeing patients as early as 7:15AM on most days.
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12. Do braces hurt?
Generally, braces do not "hurt." After some visits, teeth may be sore for a few days. In these situations, over the counter pain medications such as Advil or Tylenol will ease the discomfort.
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13. Can I return to school the day my braces are placed?
Yes. You may experience some soreness, but there is no reason to miss school because of an orthodontic appointment.
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14. Do you give shots?
No. Shots are not necessary in orthodontic treatment.
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15. 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. The brackets used in our office come directly from the manufacturer. Because they come in their own tamper-evident, single use packaging, you can be sure the brackets are new and used only for you!
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16. Can I still play sports?
Yes. We recommend a mouth guard for everyone in all sports, not only those patients in braces.
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17. Do I need to see my family dentist while in braces?
Absolutely!! 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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18. Are there foods I cannot eat while I have braces?
Yes. Once treatment begins, we will explain the complete instructions. Some examples of foods to avoid 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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19. 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 brush and floss their teeth with braces, and will also provide a special fluoride gel.
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20. What is an emergency appointment? How are those handled?
If a bracket breaks, or a wire is poking and causing you pain, 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.
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21. 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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22. What is Phase One (early) treatment?
Phase One treatment, if necessary, is usually initiated on children between the ages of 7 and 10 years of age and normally takes 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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23. 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. Until your child is ready for full treatment, he or she will be well monitored and you will be kept informed of future treatment recommendations.
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24. 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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25. Is it too late to have braces if I am an adult?
A surprising percentage of our patients are adults. In fact, 25 percent 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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26. 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 align the remaining teeth and provide space to have the missing teeth replaced by your general dentist.
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27. Why should I choose an orthodontic specialist?
Orthodontic specialists have years of extensive and specialized university training after dental school that enables them to provide their patients with the absolute best care and treatment. Teeth, and sometimes entire facial structures, are permanently changed by orthodontic treatment. Remember, you only get one chance to do it right the first time, see an orthodontist to take advantage of this opportunity.
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