FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS(FAQs)

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.

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.

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.

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.

Absolutely. A growing percentage of our patients are adult. New, more cosmetic appliances like Invisalign, are making adult treatment much more comfortable and convenient.

We have special programs and fees for multiple patients from the same family.

Yes.

No.

Yes, retainers are worn full-time for about 6 months followed by nighttime wear indefinitely.

Research has shown this not to be true.

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.

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.

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.