

	Why should you choose an orthodontic specialist? At what age should I schedule an appointment for an orthodontic screening? Is it required that my family dentist schedule my appointment with the orthodontist? What happens if a patient is not ready for treatment? 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? Will I need to have teeth extracted for braces? How long will it take to complete treatment? How much will braces cost? Are payment plans available? How does my insurance work? How often will I have appointments? Can I schedule all of my appointments after school? Can I drop my child off for an appointment? Do braces hurt? 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? What happens if an appointment must be missed or canceled? 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 do I do to get started? 1. 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. Back to top 2. 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. Back to top 3. 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. Back to top 4. What happens if a patient is not ready for treatment? All patients not ready for treatment are placed in our Orthodontic Guidance Program. This allows patients to be recalled to the office periodically in order for Dr. Dietrich to assess their status in terms of orthodontic development. It is our goal to not start any patient until it is the most opportune time to treat them. By waiting for this time, a treatment plan which is the most efficient and economical can be delivered. Back to top 5. 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. Back to top 6. 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, our front office staff will request some basic information from you. Back to top 7. What will happen at the initial examination appointment? Upon arriving the patient will be met by one of our staff and digital photographs will be taken. Dr. Dietrich will then complete a complimentary examination. Dr. Dietrich will present to the parent /patient an initial diagnosis/treatment plan or place the patient in our orthodontic guidance program to monitor the patient’s development . To read more about your first visit, see our First Visit Page. Back to top 8. Will I need to have teeth extracted for braces? Removing teeth is sometimes required to achieve the best orthodontic result. Straight teeth and a balanced facial profile are the goal of orthodontics. However, because new technology has provided advanced orthodontic procedures, removing teeth is usually not necessary for orthodontic treatment. Back to top 9. How long will it take to complete treatment? Treatment time obviously depends on each patient's specific orthodontic problem. In general, treatment times range from 12 to 30 months. The "average" time frame a person is in braces is approximately 22 months. Back to top 10. How much will braces cost? Are payment plans available? How does my insurance work? It is impossible to give an exact cost for treatment until we have examined you. We will explain the cost and payment plans during the initial examination. We have many payment plans available to accommodate your needs, and we will review these with you. We will also review your insurance policy and help to maximize your benefit and file your claims. Back to top 11. How often will I have appointments? Appointments are scheduled according to each patient's needs. Most patients in braces will be seen every six to 10 weeks. If there are specific situations that require more frequent monitoring, we will schedule appointments accordingly. Back to top 12. 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. Back to top 13. Can I drop my child off for an appointment? Yes. We understand your busy schedule, and we are happy to help you make the most of your time. On some occasions, we may request to speak with a parent when they return, so we ask that parents check in with their receptionist before dropping off their child. Back to top 14. 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! Back to top 15. Can I return to school the day I receive my braces? Yes. There is no reason to miss school because of an orthodontic appointment. Back to top 16. 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. Back to top 17. 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. Back to top 18. 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 care for their teeth with braces and may also recommend Phosflur, a concentrated fluoride rinse, if necessary. Back to top 19. 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. Back to top 20. 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. Back to top 21. 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 lasts about 6-18 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. Back to top 22. 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. The period following Phase One treatment is called the "resting period," during which growth and tooth eruption are closely monitored. Throughout this period, parents and patients will be kept informed of future treatment recommendations. Back to top 23. What happens if an appointment must be missed or canceled? We request our patients to call us as soon as possible if a change in schedules arise. If the office is closed you may leave a message to cancel your appointment on our answering machine. You may then call back to reschedule or request the office to call you at your convenience. The sooner an appointment is rescheduled, the sooner a new appointment can be made which will keep treatment progress at the rate necessary for a speedy finish. One of the largest causes for extended treatment times is missing appointments. So if an appointment must be missed please call to cancel and reschedule as soon as possible. Back to top 24. Is it too late to have braces if I am already an adult? A surprising percentage of our patients are adults. In fact, 15 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! Back to top 25. 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. Back to top 26. What do I do to get started? Call us as soon as possible for a complementary evaluation appointment. When your appointment is made we will send a patient health information package which we request you fill out prior to your visit. When you come for the first appointment you will be met by one of the treatment coordinators who will brief you about the visit. Then Dr Dietrich will examine you (or your child) and determine the best course of treatment. If treatment is necessary, diagnostic records (digital photos, X-Rays and impressions) will be taken to evaluate. If the diagnostic records are indicated, and you would like to proceed, there will be charge for this service. Back to top