FAQ

1 At what age should I schedule an appointment for an orthodontic screening ?

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends an orthodontic screening at age 7orthodontiste , Some troubles require an early treatment, for some others we need to wait the eruption of the permanent teeth..

2 Is it too late to have braces if I am already an adult ?

No patient is too old to wear braces ! traitement orthodontique :The teeth can be moved all along the life, sometimes braces are needed before prosthetic work or an adult who has not been treated as a child wants to align his teeth. A great smile brings happiness and self-esteem ! .
In our office, a surprising percentage of our patients are adults. .

3 How do I schedule an appointment for an initial exam ?

You just need to give a phone call to our office.
Some patients are refered by their family dentist, some take the initiative to schedule an examination themselves.
However, it is not required to go first to you family dentist or physician before making an appointment with an orthodontist.

4 The initial examination

examen clinique.Upon arriving, each patient and parent will be seen by the doctor who examines the mouth.If there is a trouble which requires to be treated now or later, we need to take photographs, X-Rays and impression to allow us to make a proper diagnosis and set a treatment plan.
After that, the doctor will be able to answer your main questions : 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 coast ?

5 Will the teeth straighten out spontaneously during the growth ?

Most of the time, they will not. The space available for the front teeth does not increase as you grow.

6 Do braces hurt ?

Bondind the braces on your teeth is painless. appareillages
But the next 2 or 3 days, teeth may be sore, specially while eating. Pain medications such as Advil will ease the discomfort.

7 How long will it take to complete treatment ?

Treatment time obviously depends on each patient’s specific orthodontic problem. It ranges from 6 to 30 months. The average time frame a person is in braces is approximately 24 months.
After the active period (moving teeth), it is essential to maintain the teeth in their new position : this is the retention period which lasts 1 year.

8 What is the retention ?

‘appareillages Teeth have a natural tendancy to go back to their initial position.So, it is essential to maintain them in the final position ; to do that, we bond a wire behind the lower teeth and we give a removable appliance to the patient who needs to wear it only for the night.

9 Why early treatment ?

Early treatment, if necessary, is usually initiated on children between the ages of 8 and 10. The primary objective is to address significant problems to prevent them for becoming more severe and to reduce the time of braces ; early treatment can also prevent fractures of the upper teeth and improve self-esteem and self-image.

10 How much will braces cost ? How does my insurance work ?

The coast depends on the lenght, the difficulty, the type of appliance. A written estimate is always established.

1 : a) if the patient is under 16 :the french Sécurité Sociale gives you an amount of 193,50 € for a period of 6 months treatment (limited to 6 semesters) and 161 € for the retention year.A part of the remainder is given by your private insurance.

2 : b) If the patient is over 16 :
the french Sécurité Sociale does not pay for your treatment.In some cases, your private insurance might pay a part of the coast but this is not the average rule.

give an estimate for the all treatment.
Usually, we ask for two payments for each semester but different agreements can be found if you prefer, just ask our secretary.

11 Will I need to have teeth extracted for braces ?

Removing teeth is sometimes required to get the best orthodontic result even though new technology has provided advanced orthodontic procedures. Straight teeth, a balanced facial profile and stability of the result are the goals of orthodontics.

12 How often will I have appointments ?

12 How often will I have appointments ?

Most patients in braces will be seen every 4 to 10 weeks, the average is 6 weeks but appointments are scheduled according to each patient’s needs.

13 Can I schedule all of my appointments after school ?

We make a sincere effort to meet your scheduling needs but there are some long appointments like bonding braces which can’t be done during after-school hours. In the average, we only ask for a morning or beginning of the afternoon appointment twice a year.

14 Do you use recycled braces ?

Absolutely not ! We think that our patients deserve the best available product.

15 Can I still play sports ?

You can’t play sport with an extra-oral appliance but we recommend to put it for after-school hours and night.
With braces, you can play every sport, It’s better to use a mouth guard each time there is a risk of injuring your face.

16 What is the psychological impact of an orthodontic treatment ?

Appearance has been related to popularity, social behaviors, self-expectation, personality style and self-esteem.Orthodontic therapy may lessen the likelihood that a child or a teen-ager will be picked on by others.

17 Do I need to see my family dentist while in braces ?

Yes ! Regular checkups with your family dentist are important while in braces.Your family dentist will determine the intervals between appointments while you are in braces but in the average we recommend 2 visits a year.

18 What is an emergency appointment ?

If your braces are causing pain or if something is broken, you should call our office. We can address these issues over the telephone or give an emergency appopintment if required.

19 Why should you choose an orthodontic specialist ?

Orthodontic specialists have extensive and specialized training (4 years after graduating in DDS) .