Frequently Asked Questions
- An improved smile
- Increased self-confidence
- Decreased risk of injury to protruded front teeth
- Guidance of facial growth and development
- Improvement in the ability to clean your teeth
- Improved function and comfort of the bite
- Better force distribution and wear patterns of your teeth
- Complementing other dental treatment in adult patients by properly positioning teeth prior to restoration
- Teeth, and sometimes entire facial structures, are permanently changed by orthodontic treatment. It is important that the treatment be appropriate and completed to the highest standards. Orthodontists are dental specialists who have completed a full-time advanced post-doctoral program following dental school. Drs. Archambault & Morton each studied an additional 3 years in university to obtain their extensive and specialized training. This education and experience enables them to manage tooth movement and guide facial development in order to give you a radiant, healthy smile and harmonious jaw and bite relationships.
- Orthodontic treatment can start at any age. The Canadian Association of Orthodontists recommends an orthodontic exam at age 7. By this age, several permanent teeth have usually erupted in most children, allowing us to evaluate your orthodontic problems. However, if there are suspicions of a developing problem then it is beneficial to see an orthodontist at an earlier age so your child's oral health can be monitored. Some alignment problems can be intercepted and either reduced in severity or eliminated, if found early.
- If you think that you or your child could potentially benefit from orthodontic treatment, simply call or drop by our office, send us an e-mail or fill out our appointment request form online. We will be happy to schedule an appointment for you. When you call to schedule your appointment, our scheduling coordinator will request some basic information from you.
- Yes. Some orthodontic problems are significant enough to require early intervention. However, if a patient is not yet ready for treatment, we will follow that patient's growth and development until the time is right for treatment to begin.
- A large percentage of our patients are adults. In fact, 25% of all orthodontic patients are adults. Health, happiness and self-esteem are vitally important to adults. No patient is "too old" to wear braces! Modern techniques and materials, such as clear braces and Invisalign®, have made orthodontic treatment far less visible and much more comfortable. Orthodontic treatment can begin at any age, as long as your gums and surrounding bone are healthy.
- Treatment time depends on each patient's specific orthodontic problem and can be influenced by several factors such as the severity of the problem, growth rate of the jaws and patient compliance. In general, treatment times range from 12 to 30 months. The "average" time frame a person is in braces is approximately 24 months. Maintaining excellent oral hygiene and regularly attending appointments helps to keep you on schedule.
- Appointments are scheduled according to each patient's needs. The initial appointment for placing braces usually lasts 1 to 2 hours. Once braces have been bonded to the teeth, most patients will be seen for adjustments every 4 to 8 weeks. These appointments can range from 20 to 30 minutes. There are specific situations that require more frequent monitoring. We will let you know if you require more frequent visits for a period of time during your orthodontic treatment.
- If you have to reschedule an appointment, please call and let us know as soon as possible. Cancelling appointments may delay your treatment progress. We strive to be on time for our patients, and ask that you extend the same courtesy to us.
- Generally, braces do not hurt. After certain visits, when the wires are adjusted, teeth may be a little sore for a few days. In these situations, medications such as Advil or Tylenol will ease the discomfort. However, after most visits, patients do not report any discomfort at all.
- Yes, regular checkups with your family dentist are important while in braces. Your family dentist will determine the intervals between cleaning appointments while you are in braces. Usually this will require visiting your dentist at least every 6 months.
- Yes, once treatment begins, we will explain and provide a list of foods to avoid. Some of those foods include: ice, hard candy, whole raw vegetables (cut them thin!) and all sticky, sweet foods (i.e. caramel and toffee). You can avoid most emergency appointments to repair broken or damaged braces by carefully following our instructions.
- Yes. If you play a physical sport, we recommend you wear a protective mouth guard. As for musical instruments, there will be an initial adjustment period. With practice and time, playing your instrument will feel normal again.
