Frequent questions

1. At what age should a child be seen for an orthodontic exam?
Age seven (our patients range from age 6 to 78).

2. Is there a best age for treatment to begin?
An early exam visit allows us to determine the best time. In some cases, early treatment achieves results that are not possible once the face and jaws have finished growing.

3. Do all children need to be treated at an early age?
No. Many problems should wait until a child has reached their pubertal growth spurt, but each child is different. A rule of thumb is age 10 1/2 for girls and age 12 for boys when early treatment is not indicated.

4. How much does orthodontic treatment cost?
The cost of care is usually based on the length of treatment. Early Treatment (age 6 to 8) may be very short. Full Treatment (ages 10 and over) will require 20 to 28 months. Fees are determined on a case to case basis dependent upon difficulty and length of treatment.

5. How do you pay for orthodontic treatment?
We have outside financing plans through the following:

Care Credit
Pay for co-payments, deductibles, and treatment not covered by insurance
Start treatment immediately and pay over time with low minimum monthy payments
Pay for other healthcare expenses for you and your family without having to reapply (subject to credit approval)
Have no annual fees

Chase Health Advance
No down payment required
Payments plans to fit your budget
A generous credit line for household use
No pre-payment penalties

These plans feature no downpayment, low fixed rate financing and you can apply for credit on line through their site.

6. How about "invisible" braces?
Invisalign© is a California company that makes a series of clear plastic trays worn at least 22 hours per day to straighten teeth. Each "aligner" is worn for 2 weeks and then replaced with a new one. We have a number of patients using this approach but it will not work for all problems. Severe problems still need braces but we can use "tooth colored" braces that are very esthetic and attractive. Our adult patients usually prefer Invisalign or "tooth colored" braces.
Invisalign will also work for many teenagers. Invisalyn teen is a great way for many teenagers to create straight teeth.

7. Are braces just for kids?
Absolutely not. A person can have treatment at any age if their mouth is healthy. Thirty percent of our patients are adults.

8. Why is treatment important?
Every parent wants their child to have a beautiful smile. Untreated malocclusions may contribute to conditions which cause tooth decay, diseased gums, bone destruction, loss of teeth and jaw joint problems.