The best time according to oral surgeons is when approximately 2/3 or so of the root is formed. Some time after age 16 or 18 seems to be the average.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
INITIAL VISIT AND THOROUGH EXAMINATION
No fee for this. As a courtesy to you and your family dentist, we will always discuss the benefits of Invisalign, braces or tooth straightening esthetic options without charging a fee. Other diagnostic lab or 3D imaging procedures may be indicated.
As a rule of thumb, we like to evaluate young patients after the 6-year molars erupt and the front permanent teeth just start to appear. This is usually between the ages of 6 and 8.
The purpose of early evaluation is to inform and observe, more than to start treatment. At this early age, the eventual needs may be identified and discussed. A small percentage of this young group may need some form of intervention. Habits are evaluated, medical issues are discussed and an observation schedule is arranged. For more information, (American Association of Orthodontists). www.braces.org (American Association of Orthodontists)
Between 45-60 minutes for lots of information.
Yes, clinicians are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, even during the holidays to be available to you for any emergency visit.
Yes we do. We handle a patient transferring into our office from another city just like a new patient. We gather complete diagnostic records to show the current status and propose treatment to complete the work that has been started. Unlike most practices, we do not ask for a large down payment but merely assess a monthly fee to complete the treatment in progress. Our office is well known nationally, so many doctors send patients to us from other locations.
Absolutely. A growing percentage of our patients are adult. New, more cosmetic appliances like Invisalign, are making adult treatment much more comfortable and convenient.
An orthodontist is a general dentist that has had at least 2 more years of full-time training in orthodontics resulting in a nationally accepted specialty certificate. Your orthodontist is a specialist in their field. The orthodontist then limits his practice to straightening teeth and dentofacial orthopedics.
In order to have early and late appointments available for the majority of patients, some procedures need to be accomplished during the hours of 9 and 3. We will do our best to work with your schedules and accommodate your family needs. We offer appointments Monday through Friday and both early morning and late day choices to try and accommodate everyone’s schedules.
FINANCIAL
Yes. Whether or not you have insurance or a dental plan, we will structure a convenient payment plan that will allow you to pay for necessary services over a period of time that usually coincides with your treatment plan.
After verification of coverage, we will agree to bill and collect from an insurance carrier. However, we ask patients to understand that if coverage ceases or changes, the patient is still responsible for the agreed upon fee.
Yes, we accept all major credit cards.
Yes, we have arrangements for direct debit, charge card posting, as well as automatic withdrawals from your checking/savings and payments over the internet.
No we do not.
We have special programs and fees for multiple patients from the same family.
MOVING OF TEETH (MECHANICS)
Yes.
Quite simply, crooked teeth are gradually moved into desired positions by taking shaped wires and attaching them to brackets on the teeth. Brackets don’t move teeth, our gentle memory wires effectively move the teeth into a straight arch shape over time and with several archwire adjustments throughout treatment. To learn more about how we straighten your teeth, check out this video: How Do Braces Work?
MISCELLANEOUS
RETAINERS
Yes, retainers are worn full-time for about 6 months followed by nighttime wear indefinitely.
Teeth move throughout life whether you have worn braces or not. It is part of the natural aging process. This is why retainer wear is recommended indefinitely to maintain your orthodontic results over lifetime.
WISDOM TEETH (THIRD MOLARS)
Research has shown this not to be true.
Wisdom teeth do not cause crooked teeth but they can cause gum problems, swelling if impacted, and trap food below the gum tissue causing infection. It is much nicer to plan for their removal rather than have them removed under emergency conditions.
TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT DISORDERS (TMJ AND TMD)
Scientific literature has documented that there is not a direct link between orthodontic treatment or occlusion and TMJ. Problems with TMJ can be present or absent in the presence of all types of good and bad bites.
HEALTH IMPACT
Orthodontics helps to improve the comfort of the bite, make it easier to brush and floss your teeth for good dental health, and many times helps to balance the facial musculature. The positive self-esteem benefits are immeasurable.
Mouth breathing, as a result of enlarged adenoids or tonsils or allergies, may cause your upper and lower jaws to grow apart and elongate facial form during growth, resulting in crowding and often narrow arches. Evaluating for these conditions early on is optimal for best patient care.
The effects are similar to enlarged adenoids. Plus, the pressure on front teeth from the tongue thrusting can aggravate protrusion and spacing.
Q & A WITH DR. W
Phase 1 treatment is delivered early and before all permanent teeth have erupted. The purpose of this early care is to provide jaw orthopedics and to start correcting harmful malocclusions that may be more difficult or impossible to correct later without surgery. Phase 1 treatment does not eliminate the need for conventional orthodontics done during adolescence. Examples of phase 1 treatment include correcting individual tooth or jaw crossbites and severe underbites and overbites where function, esthetic or psychological concerns are identified.
Phase 2 treatment is conventional orthodontic treatment. It may start while the last baby teeth are falling out and continue until the 12 year molars have been evaluated or straightened. This treatment usually lasts between 2 and 3 years and can be treated either braces or Invisalign Teen.
An early visit is suggested. About 10 to 20 percent of young patients may benefit from phase 1 treatment. Most other patients are observed until the appropriate time to initiate care. We do the right thing at the right time.
Not always. Experience and research shows that early treatment achieves meaningful goals but the quality of the result is determined at the end of care. For this reason, we do not encourage early treatment unless significant benefits can be achieved.
Complete treatment can usually be accomplished in within 18-36 months. Sometimes, this active movement is divided into two or more periods (Phase I and Phase II) of time with a rest of 6 to 18 months in between. (See phase 1 and 2 treatment above).
North Location
- 9820 N Nevada St Spokane, WA 99218
South Location
- 2801 E 31st Ave Spokane, WA 99223
PHONE
- 509-232-7223
