Frequently Asked Questions
Any age that you have an Orthodontic question is a good age to get an expert opinion. The American Association of Orthodontists, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentists, and the American Dental Association, recommend that ALL children should have their first Orthodontic Examination at eruption of their first permanent tooth, but not later than their 7th birthday. In our office the Initial Orthodontic Examination and subsequent observation appointments are complimentary. It is important to note:
- The timing of Orthodontic treatment is exquisitely important to the prognosis of treatment. Some children would benefit from early treatment. Others may need to begin treatment just before the last of the baby teeth fall out. And for a very few not until all growth has ceased. As Orthodontists are Dento-Facial Growth and Development experts, let me make the treatment timing decision with you. I have been doing Tele-Dentistry now for over 5 years, and I can tell you that there is nothing that compares to an actual physical examination.
- For approximately 15% of the patients that we see, early treatment can simplify the overall course of treatment, shorten corrective treatment time, and/or result in a better treatment result.
- Although the optimum time to begin most Orthodontic care is just before the last of the baby teeth fall out, as many as 1/3 of all Orthodontic patients today are adults. It’s never too late to begin Orthodontic care. And for adults there are esthetic alternatives such as clear braces or clear trays.
Orthodontics is that specialty of Dentistry that diagnoses and treats dental and facial structural abnormalities as well as anomalies in growth and development of the teeth, their supporting structures, and mal-relationships of the jaws. “Orthodontics” means “straight teeth.” As Orthodontists we treat “malocclusions,” which means “bad bites.” Our goals are optimum function, pleasing esthetics, and maximized post-treatment stability.
An Orthodontist is a dental specialist with two to three years of full time Orthodontic training after Dental School. While all Dentists receive 60-100 hours of Orthodontic educational training as part of their general dental curriculum, Orthodontists receive 5,000 hours or more of intense Orthodontic training during their residency. While the General Dentist may see a few Orthodontic patients mixed in with their general dental patients, the Orthodontist limits his/her practice to Orthodontics exclusively. While all Dentists, generalists and specialists alike, take post-graduate continuing education course, the Orthodontist’s choice of topics is weighted toward the specialty practice of Orthodontics.
Not so. While all Orthodontists are Dentists, only about 5% of all Dentists have gone on to take the training to specialize in Orthodontics. That’s like saying that a General Physician that delivers babies is the same as a specialist OBGyn. It’s your or your child’s face. Make your decision with the primary consideration being quality of care.
Braces, either metal or clear, are handles that we put onto each tooth so that we can optimally move each tooth within each arch, and each arch in relation to the other arch, into optimum relationships to each other. Braces are still the gold standard, allowing the Orthodontist to work with you to achieve maximum resolution of your malocclusion.
Almost. While marvelous changes can be achieved with aligners, and while aligner effectiveness has improved dramatically since their intervention, there are many things braces do better than aligners. If the only tool you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. If the only appliance you have available are aligners, your treatment choices are limited. I will be able to advise you as to which appliance (fixed, removable, semi-removable, functional, expander, TAD, headgear, elastics, etc.) will provide you or your family member with the outcome that you desire.
A few days of soreness at the beginning of treatment, and occasionally during treatment, is to be anticipated. If you follow my instructions carefully, I will significantly reduce your discomfort. Exemplary oral hygiene, a soft high-protein diet, and an occasional OTC analgesic will do wonders. I recommend an electric toothbrush used twice daily for 2 full minutes by the clock, and also a water-flossing device used once each day. It is also imperative that you see your General Dentist regularly during Orthodontic care for evaluation and professional cleaning. The healthier your mouth, the less risk of permanent tooth or gum damage, the less discomfort you will have, the faster your teeth will move, the sooner your appliances can come off.
Length of time in treatment depends on the training, experience, and skill of the practitioner, the complexity of the malocclusion, and patient compliance. While average time in treatment is 18 (tweens/teens) to 24 (adults) months, time in corrective appliances can range from 6 to 36 months. I must take a moment here to remind you that when evaluating advertisements, or recommendations made by non-Orthodontists, if it sounds too good to be true….
Sometimes appliances can temporarily alter the way that you sound while talking, singing, or playing a wind instrument, but more than 95% of the change will be gone in 48 hours. As to contact sports, a mouth guard is essential, and must be worn for all practices and games, whether organized or pick-up. Please ask us for a free special Orthodontic mouth guard.
Only if you don’t want your teeth to shift. Our bodies change constantly. An adult has an entirely new skeleton every 7-8 years. The better you follow retainer instructions, the less chance of shifting.
That’s a complex question. The cost of Orthodontic treatment depends on the anticipated time in treatment, the complexity of the treatment plan, the choice of appliances and your geographic location. While the average cost of Orthodontic treatment nationally as about $5,500, treatment can cost anywhere between $2,000 and $9,000. Please understand that malocclusions are like snowflakes, no two are exactly alike. Orthodontic treatment is a service, not a commodity, and in this office is exquisitely individualized for each and every patient’s individualized needs.
It may pay in whole or in part. That depends on the coverage that you (your employer) have chosen. Your coverage may have a maximum lifetime cap, an age cap, or the requirement for review before determining benefit. We will be happy to explore your coverage with you, and inform you, before treatment starts, the level of your out-of-pocket expense.
Call us. 267-810-0989. We will be pleased to schedule you or your family member for a no-cost, no-obligation, Initial Orthodontic Examination with Dr. Malerman. Please bring a list of questions with you. Orthodontics is Dr. Malerman’s second most favorite thing to talk about (#1 = his family). We look forward to meeting you and answering your questions. And remember, We Make Smiles!