If you’re thinking about getting braces either for yourself or your child, there are a few common questions that you should be prepared to ask at your consultation appointment with an orthodontist. At Thomas Orthodontics, we believe that the more informed our patients feel before treatment, the more their mind will be at ease throughout the entire process.
Here are the top orthodontic consultation questions we hear from patients and parents during their consultation appointment.
What Are My Options When It Comes to Braces and Alternative Orthodontics?
Thomas Orthodontics offers many different treatment options for straightening your smile. We will go over all of the potential options with you to help you decide which treatment option is best for you. Treatment options are based on the severity of your bite, the degree of dental misalignment and your hopes regarding treatment times.
Thomas Orthodontics offers the following orthodontic options:
Clear Aligners
Ceramic Braces
Traditional Metal Braces
Which Orthodontic Treatment Is Right For Me?
Whichever orthodontic treatment we determine is best for your case, your braces will straighten your teeth. Straighter teeth help you bite and chew correctly, improve your appearance and self-confidence, and improve your overall oral health. Determining which treatment option is best for you is something we help all of our patients with before beginning any treatment.
Are Braces Covered Under My Insurance?
Many insurance providers now cover orthodontic treatment under specific policies. We will assist you in reviewing your policy details and work with your provider to better understand what costs are covered and what you can expect your out-of-pocket costs to be before beginning any treatment. We help many of our patients make treatment affordable by offering payment plans and zero-percent financing.
How Long Does it Take To Get Braces Put On?
The appointment to put braces on takes around 2 hours. Your appointment will begin by first preparing the teeth for the brackets, and then your orthodontist will carefully position each bracket onto each tooth. Because this is such a serious step in the process, a considerable amount of time is invested into every small detail for the best results.
How Often Will I Require Orthodontist Appointments?
Follow-up appointments usually depend on the type of braces you select for your treatment. With traditional metal braces, for example, appointment intervals run every four weeks because the wires require adjustments to ensure the teeth are moving in the right direction. Routine checkups are helpful in making adjustments to your brackets, answering any questions, and checking your progress. Checkups usually take no longer than 15-20 minutes.
How Will Orthodontics Affect My Diet?
Having braces will affect your diet in specific ways, and one of the most important things to think about after getting braces is to change your eating habits, so your teeth do not suffer. Braces are not able to withstand the pressure that is put on them when you bite into certain foods so making some changes to the way you eat is necessary.
How Often Should I see a Dentist During Treatment?
While you might think your orthodontist is already regularly examining your teeth, what your orthodontist is monitoring is different than what your dentist is checking for during cleanings and exams. Your braces make you more prone to plaque and tartar accumulation, so your cleanings are more critical now than ever before. We recommend dentists see their patients for cleanings and exams between two and four times per year to avoid dental problems while you wear braces.
If you still have unanswered questions, bring them to your consultation appointment with Thomas Orthodontics. We will be more than happy to talk you through the entire process and put your mind at ease so you can begin your orthodontic treatment feeling confident.
