Frequently Asked Questions
It’s recommended that children have their first orthodontic evaluation by the age of seven. By this age, most children have a mix of baby teeth and adult teeth, allowing orthodontists to identify any potential issues early and plan for future treatment if necessary.
During your child’s orthodontic consultation, our team will evaluate their dental needs and discuss the most suitable treatment options. Factors such as the severity of misalignment, oral health, and your child’s preferences will be taken into consideration when determining the best course of treatment.
The duration of orthodontic treatment varies depending on the complexity of the case and the treatment method chosen. On average, traditional braces may be worn for 18-24 months, while Invisalign treatment typically ranges from 6 to 18 months. During your child’s consultation, our orthodontists will provide a more accurate estimate based on their specific needs.
Both braces and Invisalign may cause some discomfort initially as your child’s teeth adjust to the pressure applied by the appliances. However, this discomfort is usually mild and temporary. Over-the-counter pain relievers and orthodontic wax can help alleviate any discomfort your child may experience.
Your child will typically need to visit the orthodontist every 4-6 weeks for adjustments and progress checks. These appointments are essential for monitoring your child’s treatment progress and making any necessary adjustments to ensure optimal results.
Yes, your child can still participate in sports while undergoing orthodontic treatment. However, we recommend wearing a mouthguard to protect their teeth and braces during physical activities. For Invisalign patients, the aligners can be removed during sports activities for added comfort and safety.
Maintaining good oral hygiene is essential during orthodontic treatment. Your child should brush their teeth after every meal and floss daily, paying special attention to cleaning around braces or aligners. Our team will provide detailed instructions on how to care for braces or Invisalign aligners to ensure optimal results and prevent dental issues.
Yes, wearing retainers is an essential part of maintaining the results of orthodontic treatment. After braces or Invisalign, your child will need to wear retainers to prevent their teeth from shifting back to their original positions. Our orthodontists will provide guidance on how often to wear retainers based on your child’s individual needs.
- Most children get their lower front teeth by the age of six to eight months.
- These are followed by the two upper front teeth. The rest of the teeth should appear within the next 18 to 24 months.
- At two to three years, all 20 of your child’s baby teeth should have erupted.
- The first adult teeth usually start to erupt by around age six.
- These include molars behind the baby teeth and the bottom front teeth.
- Most children will continue with this process until around the age of 14.
- Since all children are unique, the timing of eruption may vary from child to child.
- Variations in the time frame of eruption and tooth loss are common.
- If you have any concerns, feel free to talk to our office.
Formerly known as baby bottle tooth decay or nursing caries, Early Childhood Caries results from excessive consumption of sugary liquids. Severe cases are usually caused by putting a child to bed with a bottle of juice, soda, or milk, or allowing them to “graze” with a sippy cup. Another major cause is excessive breast feeding following the introduction of solids into their diet. Early Childhood Caries can lead to tooth decay and the need for significant dental treatment, and if untreated, may also harm adult teeth.
By following the guidelines listed below, you can prevent baby bottle tooth decay from occurring.
- Help your child start learning to drink from a regular cup by their first birthday.
- If your child “grazes,” only allow water in any bottles or sippy cups used.
- Clean your baby’s gums with a fresh gauze pad after each feeding.
- Begin brushing as soon as you see the first tooth.
- Never give your child a pacifier coated in sugar or dipped in honey.
- The bacteria that causes caries is transmissible, avoid sharing drinks or kissing your baby close to the mouth, especially if you have not seen your dentist for regular appointments.
- Before your child receives his or her first tooth, clean the gums after each feeding with a soft, damp washcloth
- As soon as the first tooth erupts, you can begin using a toothbrush. Be sure to use a brush with soft bristles and a small head.
- You can purchase toothbrushes specifically designed for infants at your local department store.
- Regular tooth brushing will remove plaque and bacteria that can lead to decay. Use the toothbrush twice a day at least once before bed.
For babies with their first tooth, use a small smear of fluoridated toothpaste. At age three, increase to a pea-sized dollop, and supervise brushing to ensure appropriate amounts. Excessive fluoride can cause tooth staining, so be cautious.
Certain bacteria live in the mouth of each person. When these bacteria come in contact with sugary food, they produce acids which dissolve the enamel of the teeth. The resulting holes in the teeth are called cavities.
Children who are actively involved in sports should wear a mouth guard. If your child plays a high-intensity sport such as basketball, hockey or football, ask us about obtaining a custom mouth guard to protect the lips, teeth and gums from injury. Make sure your child always wears a helmet when riding a bicycle to avoid damage to the head and oral structures.
Although many children suck their thumbs or fingers as infants, most grow out of the habit by the age of three without causing permanent damage. Pacifiers should be discontinued by the age of two. A pacifier habit is easier to discontinue than a thumb-sucking habit. If your pediatric dentist notices damage occurring to the teeth or oral structures, make every effort to help your child stop sucking his or her thumb or fingers by the age of three or sooner. If your child continues sucking after adult teeth have come in, we may recommend a retainer appliance to help your child break the habit.
Baby teeth serve multiple functions. Several of these are listed below.
- Baby teeth help the child chew his or her food well and to eat a balanced diet. Children whose baby teeth are suffering from multiple cavities may become underweight from an inability to eat a healthy diet. Cavities can cause toothaches that prevent a child from chewing certain foods.
- Fillings are important to repair cavities in baby teeth and help protect the development of the adult teeth below. Cavities that are left unattended will eventually reach the core of the tooth and destroy the nerve. The nerve will become inflamed and will eventually die. The result is a dental abscess that often results in the loss of the tooth and can damage the developing adult tooth below. The most severe cases will require emergency hospitalization. To help prevent abscesses, cavities in baby teeth should be cared for promptly.
- To help protect a child’s self-esteem, it’s important to give them the gift of a beautiful smile. Missing teeth or teeth with spots can have a negative impact on a child’s outlook in life.
- Baby teeth serve as placeholders for permanent teeth. Children who lose teeth prematurely are at risk of having their adult teeth come in crooked or misplaced.
- General health in all people is influenced by the heath of the teeth and gums. Thus, it is very important to maintain a healthy oral structure in your child’s mouth.
Your child should visit the dentist once every six months to prevent the formation of cavities and other dental problems. We may recommend more frequent visits if your child’s oral health requires more attention than average.
The single most important thing you can do as a parent to prepare your child for this first visit is to have a positive attitude. Children are remarkably adept at picking up attitudes from those around them and will tune in if you are nervous. If you make negative comments about dentists or dental visits in the child’s hearing, your child will anticipate a negative experience.
To help prepare your child for the visit, show your child a picture of the office and the dentist on the office’s website. Tell your child how important it is to have healthy teeth and that the dentist will help you in this goal. Consider a library visit to check out some children’s books on teeth, dentists and good dental care. If you wish, you can call us for suggestions. Remember that our pediatric dentist is specially trained in relieving the fears and anxieties of patients and that our staff is equally experienced at putting children at ease.
Sealants fill in the deep crevices on the chewing surfaces of each tooth. They block food particles from coming in contact with the teeth and causing cavities. Sealants are simple to apply and are an effective method of cavity prevention. We recommend sealants as a safe and effective way to prevent cavities in your child’s mouth.
The frequency of dental x-rays will depend on the health of your child’s mouth. Once the baby teeth in the back are able to touch one another, we recommend a series of x-rays to detect any cavities. We also recommend another set yearly dependent on if your child is at a high risk of developing dental problems, we may recommend more frequent x-rays.
Dental x-rays pose very little risk for children. Pediatric dentists are extremely careful about the amount of radiation to which their patients are exposed. Lead aprons and digital machines are used in our office to ensure the safety of the children and to minimize the amount of radiation to which your child is exposed.
Pediatric dentists are skilled in helping children feel at ease in the dentist’s chair. However, some children suffer from anxiety and may panic. In these cases, we will recommend nitrous oxide to help calm the child. If the child is especially fearful, we may recommend sedation or general anesthesia to ensure a safe and effective delivery of the necessary treatment.
The most important thing to do when a child knocks out a permanent tooth is to remain calm. Locate the tooth and hold it by the crown. Rinse the tooth with salt water or milk to remove debris, but do not use water. Be careful to avoid contact with the root. If the root is intact, you can try to reinsert it into the socket. If you are unable to do so, place the tooth in a glass of milk and take your child to the dentist immediately. If your child knocks out a baby tooth, don’t try to reinsert it; you may damage the developing adult tooth below it. You should still take your child to see the dentist for an evaluation as soon as possible if he or she knocks out a baby tooth.
If your child is suffering from a toothache, rinse the affected area with warm water and use floss to remove any food from the surrounding gum areas. If necessary, give your child Children’s Tylenol or Motrin according to package instructions to control the pain. Never place aspirin directly on teeth or gums. If the child’s face is swollen, call our office immediately. A swollen face indicates a serious infection requiring immediate attention.
Everyone has to wear braces for different lengths of time, but most people usually wear braces for about 1-2 years.
Braces straighten teeth by putting steady pressure on your teeth and by staying in place for a certain amount of time. Most kids just need regular braces with wires and rubber bands that keep pressure on the teeth. The wires on the braces help to move the teeth, and the rubber bands help to correct the alignment.
After braces are removed, a retainer is usually necessary to keep the teeth in their new position.
It depends on what type treatment is needed. We do accept insurances. Please come in for your complimentary consultation to have your child evaluated.
After evaluating your case, picking a treatment option, and determining the length of treatment, we will determine a price that fits your orthodontic needs and you will be offered an affordable payment plan that meets your financial needs.
- We offer flexible payment plans and automatic bank drafts.
- We will check your insurance and bill your insurance for their portion.
- We are happy to help you with all insurance and financial questions and concerns.
We wrote a great article to help with this mystery.
What can I eat with braces?
This first consultation will leave you informed, and is personalized to fit your needs and wants. It is for this reason that we allow approximately one hour for the Initial Examination appointment. The appointment begins with a review of a completed dental health form, after which the doctor will examine the teeth, mouth, and profile. If necessary to analyze your dentition, we will recommend a panoramic x-ray be taken in the office free of charge, unless you have had one taken in the past 6 months. If so, please have your panoramic x-ray emailed to the office at dr.an.orlando@gmail.com
She will have a discussion with you about how your teeth and bite can be corrected and explain all of the available appliances – such as metal traditional braces, ceramic braces, Invisalign, Invisalign teen, hidden braces (InBRACE/Incognito). You will also be able to touch and feel these appliances to better help you decide which is the right choice for you.
Your discussion will go over the differences between the options, the different outcomes, and the process from the initial records-taking – such as digital scans and photographs – to the day the appliances are placed, and the process throughout.
If doctor recommends orthodontic treatment, she will review the best treatment options, estimated treatment length and the approximate time to begin treatment. A financial coordinator will also be available to review the cost of treatment and financial arrangements with you. If you have dental insurance, please forward your insurance information prior to your appointment to verify your orthodontic benefits.
insurance + financing
You may fill out the patient forms here, or fill them out in the office.
This depends on the appliance you choose to have. During your “tightening” visit, we will change your elastics (the wrap around the wire to hold it in place) and may adjust or replace your wire. Your visit intervals may vary but on average if you have:
- Metal or ceramic braces you will be seen every 6-8 weeks
- Lingual braces (InBrace or Incognito), you will be seen every 6-12 weeks
- Invisalign/ aligners you will be seen every 8-14 weeks
There are many factors that play a role in your treatment length. We are only able to estimate the length of your treatment, and will give you an estimated timeline during your complimentary initial consultation.
In order to maintain your teeth in their proper position you will need to wear a form of a retainer for life. Our bodies are alive and are in constant movement and so are our teeth, they tend to move forward and inward as we get older.
If you have a fixed lingual retainer, this is enough to hold your teeth in place.
If you choose not to have a fixed lingual placed you will need to wear your retainer 12-22 hours a day for the first 2 months, then 12 hours a day for up to a year. Once the first year has passed, we recommend wearing your retainer 3-5 nights a week.
Once growth and development has stopped, some maintenance is still required to maintain the orthodontic results. We will help you make an informed decision on the best way for you to keep your orthodontic results. Some choices may include fixed lingual retainers, Essix retainers or a mix of both.
You are never too old to begin orthodontic treatment, but if you start at an earlier age, there are certain problems that may be easier to correct. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that a child should see at orthodontist for an evaluation around the age of 7, or as soon as the child’s adult or permanent teeth begin to come in.
