Orthodontic FAQs

If you’re wondering whether orthodontic treatment is necessary for you or your child, don’t worry! During your first free consultation at Smile Studio, a specialist will tell you all the benefits of investing in your smile and how it will help your oral health.

The type of orthodontic treatment we recommend will vary from person to person, but the overall bottom line is, when you don’t take good care of your oral health, your overall health can suffer as well. For example, for those with crooked teeth or for those who don’t properly brush and floss, the likelihood of plaque buildup is inevitable. Over time, plaque build up can lead to gum disease, which can result in tooth loss.

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.

Thanks to technology, there are many orthodontic treatment options available to help suit your requirements and preferences. At Smile Studio Orthodontics, we offer many services from the traditional metal braces to the more advanced treatment such as invisalign, clear braces, self-ligating brackets, custom designed WildSmiles braces, iTero 3D Scans, laser recontouring and more. Depending on your alignment issues, we can help you understand the best options for you.

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.

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.

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.

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, the Smile Studio Orthodontics front office team will request some basic information from you.

We will welcome you to our practice, and Dr. Khan will give you their general thoughts on what may be the course of orthodontic treatment.

There are five essential questions that we will cover during the initial examination:

• Is there an orthodontic problem, and if so, what is it?
• What must be done to correct the problem?
• Will any teeth need to be removed?
• How long will the treatment take to complete?
• How much will the treatment cost?

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 orthodontic treatment.

The length of your treatment will depend on the type of orthodontic treatment that you’ll be undergoing and your particular alignment issue. Normally, Invisalign treatment can be completed within a year, while traditional metal braces can take up from 2 to 3 years. Your orthodontist will be able to explain your treatment term and the steps along the way.

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 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 benefit and file your claims.

Appointments are scheduled according to each patient’s needs. Most patients in braces will be seen every four to eight weeks. If there are specific situations that require more frequent monitoring, we will schedule appointments accordingly.

Our flexible hours here at Smile Studio make it possible for orthodontic appointments to be scheduled after school hours. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that all appointments for students will be scheduled during after-school hours.

However, because most appointments are scheduled four to eight weeks apart, most patients will miss minimal school due to their orthodontic treatments. You can always ask us for a school pass if needed.

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!”

Yes. There is no reason to miss school because of an orthodontic appointment.

Yes. We recommend a mouth guard for all sports.

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.

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.

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 floss their teeth with braces and may also provide a prescription for a special fluoride, if necessary.

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.

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.

Phase One, or Early Treatment, if necessary, is usually initiated on children between the ages of 7 and 10. Phase One treatment lasts 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.

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.

At the completion of the initial orthodontic examination, we will determine whether a patient will need an expander.

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!

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.