- 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?
- Can I drop my child off for an appointment?
- 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 you choose an orthodontic specialist?
1. 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.
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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, in most children, several permanent teeth have erupted allowing us to effectively evaluate your orthodontic condition.
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3. 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.
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4. 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 at (619) 21-ORTHO, click here to send us an e-mail, or fill out our appointment request form online. We are happy to schedule an appointment for you.
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5. What will happen at the initial examination appointment?
Upon arriving, each patient and parent is seen by the staff and doctor. The staff gets you familiar with our office and prepares you for the initial exam. We take the necessary photographs and x-rays to allow us to make a proper diagnosis. The doctor then completes a brief, but thorough exam. For more information please refer to our First Visit page.
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6. What will I learn from the initial examination?
There are five essential questions that are covered during your initial examination:
- Is there an orthodontic problem and if so, what is it?
- What must be done to correct your problem?
- Will any teeth need to be removed?
- How long will your treatment take to complete?
- How much will the treatment cost?
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7. 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 not always necessary for your orthodontic treatment.
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8. How long will it take to complete my treatment?
Treatment time obviously depends on your specific orthodontic problem. In general, treatment times range from 12 to 24 months. The "average" time frame a person is in braces is approximately 18 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 cover the exact cost and financial options during your initial examination. There are many financing options available to accommodate your needs, which we will go over with you. We also review your insurance policy to help maximize your benefits and file your claims.
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10. How often will I have appointments?
Appointments are scheduled according to your needs. Most patients in braces are seen every 4 to 12 weeks. If there are specific situations that require more frequent monitoring, your appointments will be scheduled accordingly.
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11. 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 4 to 12 weeks apart, most patients miss minimal school due to their orthodontic treatments. We do make a sincere effort to meet your scheduling needs. For more information about our appointment policy please refer to our Office Policies page.
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12. 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 patient manager before dropping off their child.
We offer a pager service for busy parents. We are committed to making visits in our office productive for not only your child, but for yourself as well.
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13. 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 Tylenol ease the discomfort. However, after most visits, patients do not feel any soreness at all! We often remind our patients, “It does not have to hurt to work!”
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14. Can I return to school the day I receive my braces?
Yes. There is no reason to miss school because of an orthodontic appointment.
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15. Do you give shots?
No. Shots are not necessary in orthodontic treatment.
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16. Do you use recycled braces?
Absolutely not! It is our belief that you should be provided with your own braces to achieve the best orthodontic result possible.
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17. Can I still play sports?
Yes. We recommend a mouth guard for all sports.
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18. Do I need to see my family or pediatric dentist while in braces?
Yes! Regular checkups with your family dentist are important while in braces. Your family or pediatric dentist will determine the intervals between cleaning appointments while you are in braces.
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19. Are there foods I cannot eat while I have braces?
Yes. Once treatment begins, we 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.
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20. 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 show each patient how to floss their teeth with braces and may also provide you with a prescription for a special fluoride, if necessary.
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21. 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.
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22. 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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23. What is Phase One (early) treatment?
Phase One treatment, if necessary, is usually initiated with children between the ages of 7 and 10. Phase One treatment lasts about 12 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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24. 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 "supervision period," during which growth and tooth eruption are closely monitored. Throughout this period, parents and patients are kept informed of future treatment recommendations.
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25. Will my child need an expander?
This question is answered after the initial examination when the doctor determines whether you’ll need an expander or not.
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26. Is it too late to have braces if I am already an adult?
A surprising percentage of our patients are adults. In fact, 25% 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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27. Can I wear braces even though I have crowns and missing teeth?
Yes. A tooth with a crown moves just like a tooth with a simple filling. When teeth are missing, orthodontic treatment aids in the alignment of the remaining teeth.
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28. 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, like Dr. Hoss, have extensive and specialized training that enables them to provide their patients with professional, personalized treatments.
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To make your or your child’s first appointment with Dr. Hoss, call (619) DENTIST (336-8478) today!