Answers Before You Even Have to Ask
Starting orthodontic treatment usually comes with a long list of questions, and that's completely normal. Below, our Provo team has answered the questions patients bring up most often, from what happens at your first visit to what life looks like day to day in braces. Don't see your question here? Give our office a call, and we'll walk you through it.
Not at all. Some patients hear about us through their general dentist, but plenty of others reach out to our Provo office directly without any referral.
Around age 7 is the general recommendation from the American Association of Orthodontists. By then, enough adult teeth have usually come in for our team to get an accurate read on bite and jaw growth.
Not typically. The space along the front teeth doesn't grow as a child does, and it can actually get tighter once the back molars erupt.
It's simple. Call or email us, and we'll get you scheduled at a time that works.
We'll take any needed X-rays and photos and give your teeth and bite a thorough evaluation. That information becomes the foundation for a treatment plan built around you.
By the end, you'll understand whether treatment is recommended, which approach fits best, whether anything needs attention beforehand, roughly how long treatment will run, and what it's likely to cost.
Not necessarily. Extractions are part of some treatment plans, but many patients finish treatment without losing a single tooth, thanks to how far orthodontic techniques have come.
It varies by case, but most treatment plans run somewhere between 12 and 30 months, averaging close to 22 months.
It depends entirely on your treatment plan, so we won't have a firm number until after your exam. From there, our Provo team will go over financing and how your insurance may help offset the cost.
Most patients in braces visit every five to ten weeks, though some cases call for closer, more frequent check-ins.
Not every visit can be scheduled that late, since treatment involves more appointments than after-school hours could realistically cover. That said, we try to minimize missed class time wherever we can.
Yes, that's completely fine. We may need a quick word with a parent afterward on occasion, so it helps to check in with our front desk before you head out.
Generally, no. Some soreness after an adjustment is common for a couple of days, but over-the-counter pain relief usually handles it, and most patients feel normal again quickly.
Not at all. They can head straight back to class the same day.
No. There's no injection involved in orthodontic care.
Never. Every patient gets a brand new set of braces made for their treatment alone.
Yes, and we recommend a mouthguard while you're in braces and staying active.
Yes, definitely. Regular dental checkups should continue throughout treatment, and your dentist can tell you how often to come in while you're in braces.
Yes. Once treatment begins, our Provo team will give you a list of foods to steer clear of, like hard candy, ice, and sticky sweets such as caramel, since these can damage brackets and wires.
Aim for at least four times a day, ideally after meals and before bed. Our team will show you techniques suited for braces and may recommend a toothbrush that makes it easier.
If you're dealing with real discomfort related to your braces, call our office right away. A lot of issues can be handled over the phone, but we'll get you in quickly if an in-person visit is needed.
Sometimes, yes. Certain concerns are worth addressing early. If your child isn't quite ready for full treatment yet, we'll simply keep monitoring their growth until the timing is better.
Phase One is usually recommended for kids between 7 and 10 years old. It typically runs nine to twelve months and targets significant issues before they become harder to treat later on.
In most cases, yes. Following Phase One, kids usually enter a monitoring stage while we track how their teeth and jaw continue developing, with guidance provided along the way.
That's something we'll determine after the initial exam. Whether an expander makes sense depends on how their jaw and teeth are developing.
None at all. A large number of our patients are adults, and it's never too late to feel good about your smile.
Yes. Crowned teeth can be moved with a small attachment just like natural teeth, and treatment can still improve your overall bite even with missing teeth in the mix.
Because orthodontic treatment permanently changes how your bite and jaw align, precision really matters. Specialists complete years of additional training beyond dental school specifically for this kind of care.