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How much does a consultation cost?
Drs. Cooper and Chockley offer a free consultation for children and teens, which includes the use of diagnostic records (dental molds, head and jaw x-rays, and photographs) to determine your treatment needs. With this information, they can formulate an exact treatment plan and give you an exact fee. For adult patients, the consultation fee is $120, which is applied towards the cost of any future treatment.
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How much do braces cost?
Our fees are based upon treatment time and the severity of the case. Because there is such a range, we cannot quote a fee without first examining a patient. We do try to provide payment options that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate most financial situations.
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Will my health insurance cover the cost of braces?
Some dental insurance plans will assist with a portion of the fee. If you would like to call our office with your insurance information, Margaret, our insurance coordinator, will be happy to call your company and let you know what your policy covers.
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Can I go directly to an orthodontist, or does the dentist have to refer me?
If you think you have an orthodontic problem, you may contact us directly. We do require that patients have a current dental cleaning before beginning orthodontic treatment.
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How do I know if I really need braces?
Patients generally require orthodontic treatment for three different reasons.
1) They do not like the way their smile looks.
2) Their bite is incorrect and is putting extra pressure on the gums, teeth, and joints.
3) Their dentist needs to perform some restorative work and needs the teeth to be moved orthodontically beforehand.
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Why should I see an orthodontic specialist?
Orthodontists have two years of highly specialized training above and beyond that of a general dentist in correcting jaw and bite irregularities. An orthodontic specialist does only orthodontics. Other types of dentists can legally offer braces to their patients, but lack the intensive training and specialized experience of an orthodontist. A pediatric dentist has specialized knowledge of how to do fillings and crowns for children. A general dentist lacks specialized training in bite correction and jaw irregularities. Just as we seek the opinions of medical specialists, such as cardiologists and dermatologists, for specific medical problems, it is important to choose the proper dental specialists for bite corrections.
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How do I choose an orthodontist?
There are many factors you should consider when deciding on an orthodontic specialist. Since you will be visiting their office at regular intervals throughout treatment for an extended period of time, make sure that you choose an office where you feel comfortable.
You should know what is involved with each aspect of your treatment before you start and should feel comfortable asking questions. Drs. Cooper and Chockley truly care about each and every patient and will make every effort to insure their comfort throughout treatment.
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Am I too old for braces?
We like to say, "It's never too late to go straight!" Teeth can be moved at any age. The oldest patient we have treated thus far was in her seventies.
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How long does orthodontic treatment take?
The length of treatment varies from 3 months to 3 years depending on complexity. Before you start treatment, we will let you know the length of time your treatment should take.
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What are "lingual" braces?
Lingual braces are braces placed on the inside of the teeth so they are not visible. Drs. Cooper and Chockley feel that lingual braces are not as effective as conventional braces and they are very hard on the tongue. For these reasons, we do not offer them. We do offer clear brackets, which are almost "invisible."
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What are clear braces? Are they more expensive?
Our clear braces are constructed from man-made sapphires. They do not discolor during treatment, but may add a few months to total treatment time. They do cost more, as our suppliers charge more for them than they do for our metal braces.
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Will I need to have any permanent teeth removed when I get braces?
Drs. Cooper and Chockley definitely prefer to treat patients without removing any permanent teeth if at all possible. However, if the teeth are excessively crowded and are protruding, removing teeth is an option. Typically, if extractions are needed, most orthodontists choose to extract two upper back teeth (bicuspids) and two lower back teeth (bicuspids) to relieve crowding and enhance the profile.
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Do I need to have surgery on my jaw bones?
Surgery is necessary only when we find a very severe bite problem in a patient who is no longer growing. If either jaw is too large, too small, or too narrow, surgery is indicated.
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What is TMJ?
TMJ stands for Tempromandibular Joint, which is the name of the jaw joint associated with chewing. Drs. Cooper and Chockley use splints and braces to relieve problems associated with the jaw joints.
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Is it harder to clean your teeth if you are wearing braces?
Yes. It is normally more difficult to take care of your teeth because the braces are harder to clean around. We are committed to helping you take care of your teeth and will show you exactly how to clean around your braces at the appointment when we bond your braces. With proper technique, cleaning takes only a few minutes several times each day.
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Will I be able to floss my teeth after the braces are put on?
Yes, our clinical technicians will you teach you how to floss your teeth properly with braces.
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If two people with braces kiss each other, could they lock braces?
This question is often asked in a joking manner, and to the best of our knowledge it has never happened. Kissing is not something that has to be given up to have a healthy bite and a nice smile.
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Does it hurt when you put the braces on or take them off?
It does not hurt to have the braces placed. We use a method called indirect bonding that maximizes patient comfort and minimizes chair time for the procedure.
We use a special instrument to gently remove the braces and most patients report minimal discomfort with removal.
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Aren't people with braces teased a lot?
In this day and age, more and more people than ever before are wearing braces. Our patients include many adults with professional careers and children of all ages. They are generally very well accepted and we don't feel that there is the stigma associated with them as there once was. In many classrooms today, as many children have braces as do not.
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What is a retainer?
A retainer is a removable appliance that is fitted to your teeth to hold them in their new, corrected position after your braces are removed. Drs. Cooper and Chockley use retainers made of a clear plastic that are virtually invisible. They generally have patients wear retainers full time for six weeks after braces are removed, then every night for an additional six to twelve months. After that time, they will be instructed to wear the retainer 2 or 3 nights a week for as long as they want their teeth to remain as perfect as they were when their braces were removed.
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What are impressions?
Impressions of the teeth are taken to enable us to make a mold of the teeth, either for diagnosis or to construct an orthodontic appliance. Impressions are taken by filling a well-fitted metal tray with a pink substance called alginate that looks like frosting and is about the consistency of peanut butter. We offer a variety of flavorings for the alginate. The tray is then placed in the mouth for about a minute until the alginate starts to set like Jello. When the tray is removed, you can see dents or "impressions" of all your teeth. Later, in our lab we fill this tray with a special substance to make an exact model of your teeth.
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Why are so many young children in braces today?
Our office generally initiates early, or interceptive, treatment in children who do not yet have all of their permanent teeth when doing so will enable us to utilize their growth to achieve a better long-term result. Not all children need interceptive treatment.
Some common goals of early treatment include creating enough space for all of the permanent teeth to erupt, and correcting an imbalance in growth between the upper and lower jaws.
Children who have had early treatment generally will need to wear braces again when all of their permanent teeth are in. This second phase of treatment with full braces is generally shorter and far easier than treatment would have been if the patient had not had the benefit of early intervention. More importantly, we are able to achieve the best end result for these children.
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Can I wear colors on my braces?
The colors you see on braces are elastic ties used to attach the brackets to the archwire. The braces used in our office are called the Damon brackets. These brackets are self-ligating brackets; in other words, we do not need to use elastic rings or tiewires to hold wires in place like other "conventional" braces. The Damon braces have sliding doors that open and close to hold the wires in place. The doctor may have you wear something different called elastics or rubberbands to aid in bite correction, which come in a variety of colors that can be changed daily at home or a powerchain to aid in space closure, which is also provided in a variety of colors.
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What is the proper age for a first visit?
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child have an orthodontic screening by the age of seven. Even if treatment is not indicated at that age, this appointment will serve as a baseline from which we can monitor future growth and development.
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