1- If my teeth have been crooked for years, why do I need orthodontic treatment now ?

 

There is no age limit to begin an orthodontic treatment. Some patients begin their

 

treatment in their 30′s, others in their 50′s or 60′s. In fact, in 2010, adults

 

accounted for 22 percent of patients! (and increasing since 1994). Healthy teeth

 

can be moved at any age. It’s never too late if your teeth are healthy to treat

 

yourself with a beautiful smile and higher confidence. Click here for more info.

 

2- Do I need to change my oral hygiene routine during orthodontic treatment ?

 

Our approach is to make the treatment easy and simple for the patient. The

 

appliances are designed to be unobtrusive and easily maintained. We will show

 

you the easiest techniques to keep your teeth clean during your braces

 

treatment.

 

3- What are my options if I don't want braces that show ?

 

We have numerous options that will make your braces as esthetic as possible.

 

For instance, we provide the Damon Clear™ , Ceramic braces, the very esthetic

 

braces Inovation C, and Invisalign. We will be glad to show you all the live

 

models of these metal braces alternatives at your consultation appointment.

 

 

 

4- At what age should my child have an orthodontic evaluation ?

 

Since beginning a treatment at an earlier age makes the treatment easier and

 

often less costly, the American and Canadian Associations of Orthodontists

 

recommend an orthodontic evaluation for every child from the age of 7. Indeed,

 

there are certain procedures such as widening of the bone supporting the teeth

 

to make more room in crowded cases that is much easier to do at a young age.

 

5- What Causes Crooked Teeth ?

 

There are many factors that can cause crooked teeth. For example:

 

- The size of the teeth (too large) for the available space given by the jaws and

 

the gums

 

- The front teeth that have come out in a wrong position (too forward or too

 

backward) and therefore the bite is not “in line”

 

- The upper and lower jaws that have not grown in harmony can cause

 

interference with tooth eruption

 

- Bad habits such as thumb sucking, bad tongue posture, infantile swallow.

 

6- How Do Teeth Move ?

 

With gentle forces applied by the braces, teeth will relocate within the jaw bones.

 

There is also a reshaping of the gums surrounding the teeth that will occur.

 

7- Will orthodontic treatment hurt ?

 

Some discomfort may be felt during the days following the installation of the

 

appliances and the subsequent adjustments. If necessary, this can be easily

 

relieved with a regular painkiller (of the kind that one would take for a headache,

 

for example). Generally, the discomfort subsides after 3 to 5 days without any

 

intervention.

 

8- How does bite plate work ?

 

Typically, a bite plate will protect your teeth from causing damage to your

 

opposing teeth (ex. Keep the lower teeth from biting in the palate and keep them

 

from pushing the upper teeth more forward, or keep them from wearing each

 

other out)

 

9- How long would I have to wear braces ?

 

Generally, a treatment takes from 12 to 36 months to achieve ideal and stable

 

results, depending on the severity of the case. From the fourth appointment on,

 

only shorts visits are required for monitoring the progress and making

 

adjustments whenever needed. In any case, beginning the treatment at an early

 

age makes the treatment easier, thus shorter.

 

10 – How much does an orthodontic treatment cost ?

 

Fees vary depending on the case and treatment type. Consequently, an estimate

 

of the total costs of the treatment will be given at the consultation appointment

 

with your orthodontist. In many cases, a limited treatment will suffice to reach the

 

desired results. Many people are surprised to find out that an orthodontic

 

treatment is less costly than they expected.

 

The correction of your natural dentition is a change from which you could benefit

 

for a lifetime. In addition, we are glad to offer a flexible payment schedule

 

adapted to your financial needs.

 

11- What are the types of orthodontic appliances ?

 

We offer all sorts of appliances and will assist you in choosing the most suitable

 

ones that can correct your orthodontic problems. Among other, we will present to

 

you the following types of orthodontic appliances:

 

- Removable plates

 

- Self-ligating stanless miniature steel brackets

 

- White ceramic brackets

 

- Gold plated brackets

 

- Self ligating esthetic ceramics brackets

 

- Invisalign (clear trays)

 

12- What is Invisalign ?

 

Invisalign braces are a new type of adult braces whose main advantage is that

 

they are almost not visible compared to regular types of braces. They are easy to

 

clean, and you can remove them whenever you want, for brushing, flossing, or

 

for other reasons (taking important pictures, important interviews…). In fact, they

 

look like a series of bleaching trays (but in a different material) the dentist would

 

use to bleach your teeth. Another aspect to keep in mind about Invisalign is that

 

they are very efficient in correcting your teeth, although it is highly recommended

 

to wear them as much as possible in order to enjoy the best results and it might

 

not be suitable for all.

 

13- Will I be able to eat normally with braces

 

Most of the time, you are allowed to eat almost everything. You will come to

 

realize that an orthodontic treatment is much more comfortable than most of

 

people think. In fact, you must only change the way you eat certain hard foods

 

and cut them in pieces in order not to bite directly in them, and avoid damaging

 

the orthodontic appliances. Follow these simple tips:

 

1) Cut into small pieces all hard foods, such as carrots and other raw vegetables,

 

also apples, pizza crust ( you must let it get soft in your mouth before chewing),

 

pretzels, and all meats and steaks

 

2) Avoid chewing directly into meat that is on a bone: remove the meat from the

 

bone instead

 

3) Avoid chewing directly into the following foods, instead let them melt in your

 

mouth: Chips like Doritos, ice hard candies, popcorn.

 

4) Corn niblets must be removed from the cob before eating the corn

 

14- Do I wear my braces when I go to sleep

 

Yes if you have chosen fixed braces: they are glued on to your teeth enamel and

 

will only be unglued once your treatment is finished. If you have chosen

 

removable appliances, the requirement for night time wear will depend on the

 

stage of your treatment. We will obviously advise and guide you every step of the

 

way.

 

15- What is the step by step routine procedure to brush my teeth

 

1) Brush your teeth 3 times a day. Pay extra attention to clean around each

 

bracket and along the gum line.

 

2) Use the dental floss at least one a day. You can use floss threaders sold at all

 

major brand pharmacies to help you pass the floss under the metal wire. Again,

 

we will demonstrate to you on your own teeth the proper technique and obviously

 

advise and guide you every step of the way.

 

16- What are orthodontic retainers

 

Braces are usually needed to correct the alignment of teeth, but, after they are

 

removed, retainers must be employed to keep the teeth in the new position.

 

Teeth are dynamic entities. Therefore they tend to move throughout the whole

 

lifetime of an individual.

 

17– What are the recommended best types of retainers ?

 

We have all types of retainers. The fixed wire on the back of the lower teeth are

 

the most widely used because you do not have to remember to wear them and

 

they are relatively more comfortable. However, it is a bit harder to keep clean.

 

The removable retainers have the advantage of easier oral hygiene (you can

 

take them off to brush your teeth and put them back on after) but if you are not

 

disciplined enough to wear them, your teeth might shift. To view different types of

 

retainers that we offer, click here.

 

18- Do I need to see my orthodontist every week during treatment ?

 

No. Typically, the appointment frequency is once every 6 to 9 weeks, or on

 

average 8 times a year.

 

19- Are braces only for children ?

 

NO! There is no age limit to begin an orthodontic treatment. Some patients begin

 

their treatment in their 30′s, others in their 50′s or 60′s. In fact, in 2010, adults

 

accounted for 22 percent of patients! (and increasing since 1994). Healthy teeth

 

can be moved at any age. It’s never too late if your teeth are healthy to treat

 

yourself with a beautiful smile and higher confidence. However, since beginning

 

a treatment at an earlier age makes the treatment easier and often less costly,

 

the American and Canadian Associations of Orthodontists recommend an

 

orthodontic evaluation for every child from the age of 7.

 

20- Does the orthodontic treatment vary from children to adult ?

 

Generally, a treatment in a child will require a shorter treatment time because of

 

the lower density of the bone surrounding the teeth.