What is the best age to start treatment?
The American Association of Orthodontics recommends that every child first visit an orthodontist at age 7. An early examination allows the orthodontist to determine how and when a child's particular problem should be treated for maximum improvement. In some cases, early treatment achieves results that are unattainable once the face and jaws have completed growing.

How long will treatment take?
Treatment can vary depending on the severity of each case and on the cooperation of each patient. Dr. Kuperman will be able to determine your specific length of treatment during your initial appointment with us.

Does it hurt to have braces?
Discomfort results from the teeth moving through the bone to their new positions. Technology advances provide much gentler forces which have greatly reduced tooth soreness. Most of the time, Tylenol or warm salt water rinses will ease any discomfort.

Do habits like thumb sucking cause a problem?
Prolonged habits can indeed affect the way the teeth grow in and will ultimately affect the bite. Other habits such as open mouth breathing, finger sucking, or lip biting can also cause complications. Early examination by an orthodontist will determine if treatment will aid in getting habits stopped.

Should I be concerned about a bad bite or misfit of my teeth?
Bad bites can be detrimental to a patient's dental health by possibly causing premature wear on the teeth, asymmetrical jaw growth, difficulty in hygiene, or malfunctioning bite. Orthodontics will align your teeth for optimum function, hygiene, and appearance.

Will I have to wear retainers?
Orthodontics is a process of moving teeth through the bone into their new position. Following active orthodontic treatment, retainers will be placed. This is very important to maintain the new position of your teeth! Once stabilization occurs, continued retainer wear is recommended. Like all parts of the body, teeth are constantly changing and adapting. Only conscientious wear of the retainers will keep movement to a minimum.

Do I need to have teeth extracted for braces?
Straight teeth and a balanced profile are the goal of orthodontics. New technology has provided advanced orthodontic techniques that greatly reduce the need for removing any teeth.

Will my child need an expander?
At the completion of the initial examination, we will determine if a patient needs an expander. The purpose of an expander is to create necessary room for permanent teeth to erupt.


General Questions

Why should I choose an Orthodontic Specialist?
Teeth, and sometimes entire facial structures, are permanently changed by orthodontic treatment. It is important that the treatment is appropriate and properly completed. Orthodontists are specialists who have extensive and specialized training that enables them to provide their patients with professional and personalized treatments.

Do you use recycled braces?
Absolutely not! It is our belief that each patients should be provided with their own braces to achieve the best orthodontic result possible.

Can I still play sports?
Yes. We recommend a mouth guard for all sports. The Shock Doctor is a great mouth guard because it protects the jaw joints as well. It can be generally found at most sporting good stores.

Do I still need to see my family dentist while in braces?
Yes! Regular check-ups and examinations with your family dentist are very important while in braces. Your family dentist will perform cleanings and monitor for any necessary restorations/decay while you are in treatment. Working closely with both your dentist and your orthodontist will provide you not only a straight smile, but a healthy smile too!

Are there foods I cannot eat while wearing braces?
Yes. Once treatment begins, we will explain which foods must be avoided in order to keep your braces in great shape. Many foods like ice, hard candy, crusty breads, and chewy foods can damage or break your braces. Most emergency appointments can be avoided by carefully following our instructions.

Is it too late to have treatment if I am an adult?
A surprising percentage of our patients are adults. In fact, 30% of all orthodontic patients are adults. Health, happiness, and self-esteem are vitally important at any age. Not patient is ever “too old” to wear braces and enjoy the benefits of a beautiful, well-fitted smile!


Appointment Scheduling Questions

What will I learn from the Initial Examination?
There are several essential questions that we will cover during the initial exam: Is there an orthodontic problem and if so, what is it? What must be done to correct the problem? How long will treatment take to complete? How much will the treatment cost? And finally, what type of financial arrangements can be made?

How often will I have appointments?
Appointments are scheduled according to each patient’s needs. Most patients in braces will be seen every 5-10 weeks. If there are specific situations that require more frequent monitoring, we will schedule appointments accordingly.

Can I schedule all my appointments after school?
Unfortunately, we cannot schedule all appointments for students during after-school hours. However, because most appointments are scheduled 5-10 weeks apart, most patients will miss minimal school due to their orthodontic treatment. We will, however, make a sincere efforts to meet your scheduling needs.

What is an emergency appointment? How are those handled?
If something breaks, you should call our office. In many cases, we can address these issues over the phone. If not, we will schedule and "emergency" or extra appointment to take care of you, or add extra time to your existing appointment.


Financial Questions

Will insurance pay for my treatment?
Today many dental policies include orthodontic benefits. Once eligibility has been determined, the remaining balance is divided out for the patient to pay without interest.

Do you accept credit cards?
Yes. We accept credit cards and, for your convenience, can set your account up to automatically charge your card your monthly payment.

How much does treatment cost?
Treatment fees differ depending on the severity of treatment needs and the prescribed treatment plan.

Do you offer a free initial examination?
Yes! Our initial examination is very comprehensive and will provide answers to all your orthodontic questions.

Do you have any additional questions?