Office Policies
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Treatment Time Treatment times vary from patient to patient, depending on the difficulty of the existing problem, age of the patient, certain physiological characteristics of the patient, and, most importantly, patient cooperation during treatment. The average time for full (comprehensive) orthodontic treatment is usually 18-27 months. In cases where early-age interceptive treatment is necessary, treatment will be broken down into two phases. A first phase of treatment usually takes 8-12 months and is followed by a second phase, usually when most secondary teeth have erupted. This final phase continues for 18-24 months. Appointments We know that most people have important commitments and we understand that your biggest responsibilities usually revolve around school and work. Your consideration is requested in making and keeping all appointments. Unlike many offices, we make every effort, including block scheduling patients, so we can run on time. When treatment begins, most treatment plans require that each patient be seen for a few longer appointment times. It is possible that these appointment times may conflict with school and work schedule. But let us reassure you that the longer appointment times are few and far between. We schedule the longer appointment to place your appliance/braces so that we can proceed within your comfort range and have time for questions and care instructions. Subsequent adjustment appointments will usually be at 4- to 8-week intervals for adjustments which take 15 to 30 minutes. Our regular office hours are:
If an appointment must be broken due to illness, accident, or unforeseen circumstances, our office team should be informed immediately and another appointment reserved. Whenever possible, advance notice of 24 hours is appreciated if an appointment must be changed. Regular Dental Check-Ups It is strongly recommended that regular 6-month dental check-ups be continued by your dentist during treatment. 3-month hygiene appointments with your dentist will be recommended for patients with poor home hygiene care. We are providing a service to you for your dentist and are not a replacement for the continued care your dentist provides. Cooperation The success of orthodontic treatment is greatly impacted by patient cooperation. It is very important that all instructions be carefully and completely followed. The main areas of concern include:
Oral Hygiene Orthodontic braces and wires are food-catchers. It is therefore important that the teeth be carefully brushed after each meal and snack. After brushing, the appliances should be checked to see if they appear clean and shiny with no food particles or plaque. Failure to keep the mouth clean increases the likelihood of dental decay and etching of the enamel around the edges of the brackets and bands. Prescriptions for fluoride toothpastes are available. Each patient should use a fluoride rinse daily during treatment. Broken Braces Any breakage of the appliances (loose bands or brackets, broken wires, etc.) should be reported immediately to our office team so we can schedule an appropriate amount of time for the repair. Please do not wait until your next scheduled appointment. (Save brackets in a plastic bag and bring with you.) Excessive breakage can lengthen treatment time. Food and Snacks Foods which are hard or chewy should be avoided during orthodontic treatment in order to prevent appliance breakages. Appliance breakages will complicate and thus prolong treatment. We provide every patient with a food list outlining which foods are okay and which ones are not. Retention The period of time following the removal of the orthodontic brackets is extremely important. Retainers must be worn as prescribed in order to maintain the stability of the finished result. Failure to wear the retainers faithfully invites relapse of the teeth. Teeth shift in position throughout our lives as a normal biological process. For this reason, long-term retention is recommended. |
