Dental Questions

Yes. We understand your busy schedule, and we are happy to help you make the most of your time. On some occasions, we may request to speak with a parent when they return, so we ask that parents check in with their patient manager before dropping their child off.

Unfortunately, we cannot schedule all appointments for students during after-school hours. However, because most appointments are scheduled 5 to 10 weeks apart, most patients will miss minimal school due to their orthodontic treatments. We will, however, make a sincere effort to meet your scheduling needs.

Appointments are scheduled according to each patient's needs. Most patients in braces will be seen every 5 to 10 weeks. If there are specific situations that require more frequent monitoring, we will schedule appointments accordingly.

If your braces are causing extreme pain or if something breaks, you should call our office. In most cases, we can address these issues over the phone. If you require an emergency appointment, we will set aside time for you. If you have an emergency that absoltely cannot wait until regular business hours, you may call our emergency line at 281-684-6097.

We have many financing options available to accomodate your needs, and we will review these with you.

We will also review your insurance policy and help to maximize your benefit and file your claims.

It is impossible to give an exact cost for treatment until we have examined you. We will cover the exact cost and financial options during the initial examination.

Some people need braces more than others. There are dental problems like crowding and rotations that are not so serious. There are skeletal problems(a problem in the growth of one or both jaws), alone or in combination with dental problems, which can be complicated to treat. Braces are elective, but people seldom grow out of orthodontic problems, in fact, most orthodontic problems get worse with age.

Yes. Once treatment begins, we will explain the complete instructions and provide a comprehensive list of foods to avoid. Some of those foods include: ice, hard candy, raw vegetables, etc and all sticky foods: caramel, taffy, etc. You can avoid most emergency appointments to repair broken or damaged braces by carefully following our instructions.

Yes. There is no reason to have to miss school after an orthodontic appointment.

Yes. We always recommend to wear a mouthguard during any sport. Mouthguards that you boil and mold to the mouth are not good to use with braces since the teeth are constantly moving into new positions. We can provide you with the appropriate mouthguard that is made for people in orthodontic treatment.

Never! Shots are not necessary in orthodontic treatment.

Absolutely not! It is our belief that each patient should be provided with their own braces to achieve the best orthodontic result possible.

Patients should brush their teeth at least four times each day-after each meal and before going to bed. We will also show each patient how to floss their teeth with braces.

Brushing with braces is more difficult! - Proper oral hygiene is even more important than ever. Poor brushing can leave your teeth with ugly discolorations, stains, or even cavities around the braces!

Toothbrushes- A regular toothbrush used properly will work just fine even with braces. We will show you how to brush. Electric toothbrushes can help you do a good job but they won't do all the work for you. Water-piks will also help, but they only remove large food particles- you still have to brush!!!

Toothpaste- Any type will do but make sure your toothpaste has fluoride. It is careful, active brushing that cleans the teeth (not the toothpaste), so take your time and brush well.

Brushing Method- Brush as you normally would (after every meal) but make sure to get above and below the brace on each tooth. It is especially important to clean between the braces and the gums. Don't forget to brush your tongue!

Flossing- Last, but not least! Yes, you can and must floss with braces. Again, we will show you how. As with brushing, this also takes a bit longer to do but is very important.

See Your Dentist More Often- Normally you should see your regular dentist twice a year for cleanings. With braces you should see your dentist three times a year (more often if you have problems cleaning).

Just as we inherit eye color from our parents, mouth and jaw features are also inherited. This can include problems in the growth of either or both jaws, missing teeth, too many teeth as well as many other factors. Local factors such as thumb sucking/finger habits, high cavity rate, gum disease, trauma, and premature loss of baby teeth can also contribute to a bad bite.

Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of dental and facial irregularities. It was the first recognized dental specialty. Braces are appliances or devices used to make corrections in the alignment of the teeth and the jaws.

It is most important to examine your child's teeth as the permanent teeth grow in. Although children mature at different rates, there are some averages for permanent tooth arrival. If you are unsure, ask your dentist. The general dentists and pediatric specialists that we work with are very knowledgeable about early problems. They will refer you to us if needed. Or, you can always make an appointment with our office and we will be glad to "take a look".

Teeth and sometimes entire facial structures are permanently changed by orthodontic treatment. It is important that the treatment be appropriate and properly completed. Orthodontic specialists have extensive and specialized training that enables them to provide their patients with professional, personalized treatments.

No, they will not. The space available for the front teeth does not increase as you grow. In most people, after the permanent molars erupt, the space available for the front teeth decreases with age.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends an orthodontic screening at age 7. By this age, several permanent teeth in most children have erupted, allowing us to effectively evaluate your orthodontic condition.

If you or your child can potentially benefit from orthodontic treatment, simply call our office. We will be happy to schedule an appointment for you. When you call to schedule your appointment, our front office staff will request some basic information from you.

No, it is not. Many of our patients are referred by their family dentist, yet many other patients take the initiative to schedule an examination themselves.

Upon arriving, each patient and parent will be seen by the staff and doctor who will acclimate you to our office and prepare for the initial exam. We will take the necessary photographs and x-rays to allow us to make a proper diagnosis. The doctor will then complete a brief, but thorough, exam.

There are five essential questions that we will cover during the initial examination:

Is there an orthodontic problem, and if so, what is it?
What must be done to correct the problem?
Will any teeth need to be removed?
How long will the treatment take to complete?
How much will the treatment cost?

Yes. A tooth with a crown will move just like a tooth with a simple filling. When teeth are missing, orthodontic treatment will aid in the alighnment of the remaining teeth.

Yes. Some orthodontic problems are significant enough to require early intervention. However, if a patient is not ready for treatment, we will follow that patient's growth and development until the time is right for treatment to begin.

Generally braces do not "hurt". After certain visits, teeth may be sore for a few days. In these situations, pain medications such as Advil or Tylenol will ease the discomfort. However, after most visits, patients do not feel any soreness at all! We often remind our patients, "It does not have to hurt to work!"

Yes! Regular checkups with your family dentist are important while in braces. We recommend that while in active treatment with braces, you visit you dentist every 3 to 4 months. This only adds 1 to 2 extra visits per year, but will be beneficial in making sure there are no problems through out treatment, which can save you additional expenses in the future.

Treatment time obviously depends on each patient's specific orthodontic problem. In general, treatment time ranges from 12 to 30 months. The "average" time frame a person is in braces is approximately 22 months.

Give clear, tooth colored braces(ceramic braces)a try. We have the latest in tooth colord brackets if you prefer the ultimate in cosmetics. They cost a little bit more than the metal brackets, but some people prefer them. Our metal brackets are low profile and very small, so they are very cosmetic as well!

A surprising percentage of our patients are adults. In fact, 25 percent of all orthodontic patients are adults. Health, happiness and self-esteem are vitally important to adults. No patient is "too old" to wear braces!

Rubber bands or elastics contribute a lot to straighter teeth. They are marvels of physics. Attached to your braces, elastics exert the force that creates the right amount of pressure to move teeth in the directions that the braces alone can't. It's important to wear your elastics as prescribed and change them several times throughout the day, so the force is constant, which the teeth like. A lack of consistency in wearing rubber bands can bring treatment to a standstill.

Phase One treatment, if necessary, is usually initiated on children between the ages of 7 and 10. Phase One treatment lasts about 12 to 21 months. The primary objective for Phase One treatment is to address significant problems to prevent them from becoming more severe and to improve self-esteem and self-image.

Removing teeth is sometimes required to achieve the best orthodontic result. Straight teeth and a balanced facial profile are the goals of orthodontics. However, because new technology has provided advanced orthodontic procedures, removing teeth is not always necessary for orthodontic treatment.

At the initial examination, we will determine whether a patient will need an expander.

It is best to assume that your child will need full braces even after Phase One treatment. The period following Phase One is called the "resting period", during which growth and tooth eruption are closely monitored. Throughout this period, parents and patients will be kept informed of future treatment recommendations.