FAQ

Frequently asked questions and answers

Orthodontics is a special branch of dentistry that deals with studying, diagnosing and treatments of orofacial and jaw growth disorders, as well as correction of irregular tooth positions.

First orthodontic examination should be at age 7. By this age, most children have several permanent teeth that have erupted which will allow us to effectively evaluate a child’s orthodontic condition. Additionally, we have an opportunity to assess your child’s facial growth pattern. It is always better to be seen early than late. In some instances where treatment is growth dependant, we may be able to avoid the need for jaw surgery or the acceptance of a compromised result or no treatment.

There are five essential questions that are covered during the initial examination:
• Is there an orthodontic problem? And if so, what kind of malocclusion is it?
• What should be done to correct the problem?
• Will any teeth need to be extracted?
• How long will the treatment take?
• How much will the treatment cost?

Crowded teeth, pushing the tongue forward or thumbs sucking, premature loss of decidous teeth, mouth breathing. All these can lead teeth to be distorted. After that an important factor is the legacy.

• Lack of spce in the jaw to accommodate all of the teeth in adequate position.
• Premature loss of milk teeth.
• Deep bite.
• Speech difficulties
• Chewing and Swallowing Difficulties.
• Bruxism.
• Insufficiency of tooth (tooth not grown).

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.This is determined individually. Check-up appointments are usually scheduled every 4 to 6 weeks.

It is impossible to give an exact cost for treatment until we have examined you. We will cover the exact cost and financial options during the consultation appointment. We have many financing options available to accommodate your needs, and we will review these with you. Our friendly staff will also structure your payment schedule to maximise your health fund rebate.

• Straight teeth and normal bite can improve the functions of the mouth. Teeth and TMJ can work more efficiently;
• Straight teeth make it easier to keep your teeth clean.
• If ever need crown restoration by dentist, it is easier if the teeth are straight.
• The look of the smile and the face is improved. A nice smile enhances the self-confidence and feeling of belonging in everyday life.

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! We often remind our patients, „It does not have to hurt to work!

To understand how braces work, you need to first understand how teeth move. Teeth are connected to the bone by tiny ligaments that allow for slight movement in the teeth. Acting as small shock absorbers, these ligaments allow for when you accidentally bite down too hard by sending a signal to your brain. As pressure is applied by your braces to a tooth, the body will aid that tooth in repositioning in the bone. This process is what allows your teeth to relocate into the desired positions.

A surprising percentage of our patients are adults. In fact, a significant percentage of all orthodontic patients are adults. Health, happiness and self-esteem are vitally important to adults. No patient is “too old” to wear braces!

Yes. We recommend a mouth guard for all sports.

Each treatment is a way to address crowding of the teeth. Extraction therapy is a technique where one or more permanent teeth are removed to make room for the other teeth in the mouth. This is in contrast to non-extraction therapy where one expands a patient’s jaw and/or adjusts the size and shape of some teeth to make them fit within the jaw. Our office’s treatment philosophy is very conservative, and we do make every effort to avoid extraction. However, for severe crowding and severe jaw discrepancy, the extraction approach may be required.

Yes. A tooth with a crown will move just like a tooth with a simple filling. When teeth are missing (due to previous extractions), orthodontic treatment will aid in the alignment of the remaining teeth.

Yes, Panoramic or Ceph X-Ray (in some cases) are necessary to be done how to show what is under the gum line. Without this, a consult is just guess work. Based on a precise analysis of the X-rays we get an individual diagnosis which is important for future orthodontic treatment.

Absolutely – Yes. Regular controls with your dentist are very important during orthodontic therapy. In fact, it’s even more important than ever for you to visit your dentist regularly. Since food and plaque can get trapped in the brackets and wires, bacteria may build up, ultimately leading to cavities and gum disease. We recommend seeing your family dentist every six months throughout your orthodontic treatment.

At the completion of the initial examination, we will determine whether a patient will need need to wear other orthodontic appliance beside braces: rapid maxillary expander, mini-screws, trans-palatal arch…etc

Whether you’ve worn traditional metal braces, or embraced the new trend for clear braces, once you’ve achieved the straight teeth you always dreamed of you’ll want to keep them that way. Your teeth will naturally want to move back to their original position after your braces are removed. Тhe most important thing you can do to keep your teeth straight after braces is to wear your retainers. There is more than one type of retainer that may be appropriate for you:
• Permanent glued retainer: This is a thin stainless steel wire bonded to the back of your front teeth, so that it’s invisible to everyone. Having one of these means you need to be extra careful about cleaning around the area, but it also means that you don’t have to remember to wear it.
• Clear removable retainer: These look like delicate plastic gum shields and they are made to fit your teeth exactly. If you don’t wear your retainer for a while and try to fit these over them only to find that you teeth have moved, you can snap the plastic trying to force them so it’s essential that you wear them all the times you are supposed to.
The removable retainer have to be worn full time for the first year and then every night for the second year. After that removable retainer need to be worn just 2-3 times per week indefinitely. Teeth will always have a tendency to move, so it is important you follow the Dr’s instructions regarding retainer wear. Retainers guarantee that your teeth will last forever.

We will explain the complete instructions and provide a comprehensive list of foods to avoid. For example: avoid foods that contains a lot of sugar, avoid sticky foods (i.e. caramel, gummy bears, chewing gums), hard foods (hard candy, nuts, ice cubes), also avoid to bite off raw vegetables as well as food that could possibly get stuck in your braces (popcorn).

BE INVISIBLE system offers digitalization of your tooth movements on a 3D model of your mouth. We’ll show you your virtual treatment plan and what your smile will look like when you’re finished. BE INVISIBLE creates customized, clear, plastic aligners based on their specifications. Each set of aligners is programmed to gently apply pressure to move teeth in a certain a way and as you go through your aligners, your smile shifts into place.

We recommend wearing your BE INVISIBLE aligners for about 20-22 hours per day for the best results. You’ll take them out to eat and brush and floss your teeth. Every one to two weeks, depending on your needs, you’ll switch to a new set of aligners.