1.
Is it required that I be referred by my family dentist to schedule
an appointment?
No, it is not. Most of our patients are referred by their family
dentist, however many patients are concerned about their health
and appearance, and take the initiative to schedule themselves
for an examination to have their need for orthodontic care evaluated. Back to top
2. At what age should I schedule an appointment
for an orthodontic screening?
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends an orthodontic
screening at age seven. By this age, the six-year molars and
several permanent teeth in most children have erupted allowing
the doctors to effectively evaluate most developing orthodontic
problems. Back to top
3. Will my child's teeth straighten out on
their own as they grow?
No, they will not. The space available for the front teeth does
not increase as a child grows. In most people, after the permanent
6-year molars erupt, the space available for the front teeth
actually decreases with age. Back to top
4. How do I schedule an appointment for an
initial exam?
If you think you or your child would benefit from orthodontic
treatment, simply call our office at 804-747-0137 or send
us an e-mail at info@villaorthodontics.com
and we will be happy to schedule an appointment for you. When
you call to schedule your appointment, our front office staff
will request some very basic information concerning you and
your child. Back to top
5. Is there a cost for the initial examination?
No, the initial exam is complimentary. Back to top
6. What will happen at the initial examination
appointment?
Upon arriving each patient and parent will be seen by one of
our Treatment Coordinators who will acclimate you to our clinic
and prepare for the initial exam. Necessary photographs and
x-rays will be taken to allow us to make a proper diagnosis.
A brief but thorough exam will then be completed by Dr. Villa.
Building a comfortable and trusting relationship with Dr. Villa
and his staff is a significant goal of our initial exam.
7. What will I learn from the initial examination?
There are five important questions that will be answered during
the initial examination:
Is
there an orthodontic problem and if so, what is it?
What
must be done to correct the problem?
Will
any teeth need to be removed?
How
long will the treatment take to complete?
How
much will the treatment cost?
In addition
to these, Dr. Villa will take the time to answer any other questions
a patient or parent may have. Back to top
8. Will I have to have any teeth removed
for braces?
Removing teeth is sometimes needed to get the best orthodontic
result. Straight teeth and a balanced facial profile are always
the goal. However, because today's technology has resulted in
advanced orthodontic procedures, the need for removing teeth
has been greatly reduced. Back to top
9. How long will it take to complete treatment?
Treatment time obviously depends on each patient's specific
orthodontic problem. In general, treatment times range from
12 to 30 months. An "average" time a person is in braces is
approximately 22 months. Back to top
10. How much will braces cost? Are financing
options available? How does my insurance work?
It is impossible to give an exact cost for treatment until Dr.
Villa has actually examined you or your child. The exact cost
and financial options will be discussed at the initial examination.
We have many financing options available to meet most needs
and we will be happy to review them with you.We file insurance
on the patient's behalf, and also offer a discount for fees
paid in full at the beginning of treatment. Proper orthodontic
treatment to correct a problem is often less costly than the
additional dental care required to treat the more serious problems
that can develop in later years. Back to top
11. How often will I have appointments?
Appointments are scheduled according to each individual patient's
needs. Most patients in braces will be seen every 4 to 6 weeks.
If there are specific situations that require more frequent
monitoring, appointments will be scheduled accordingly. Back to top
12. Can I have all of my appointments after
school?
Unfortunately, we cannot schedule all appointments for student
patients during after school hours. However, because most appointments
are scheduled 8 to 12 weeks apart, most patients miss very little
school due to their orthodontic treatments. We reference all
area school calendars, and try very hard to meet the scheduling
needs of our patients. Back to top
13. Can I drop my child off for an appointment?
We are very understanding of busy schedules and working parents'
desires to run errands while their child is at our office. On
some occasions Dr. Villa may want to speak with parents when
they return, so we request that parents check in with their
patient manager before dropping off their child. Back to top
14. Do braces hurt?
Generally, braces do not "hurt." After some visits, teeth may
be sore for a few days. In these situations, pain medications
such as Advil or Tylenol can be used to ease the discomfort.
However, after most visits, patients do not feel any soreness
at all! We often remind our patients, it does not have to hurt
to work! Back to top
15. Can I return to school the day I receive
my braces?
Yes. There is no reason to miss school because of an orthodontic
appointment. Back to top
16. Do you give shots?
No. No shots are necessary in orthodontic treatment. Back to top
17. Do you use recycled braces?
Absolutely not! It is our belief that each patient should be
provided with their own braces to achieve the very best orthodontic
result possible. Our doctors have never and will never use worn,
used or recycled braces. Back to top
18. Can I still play sports?
Yes. We can recommend a mouth guard for all sports. Custom made
mouthguards are available upon request. Back to top
19. Do I need to see my family dentist while
in braces?
Yes! Regular checkups with your family dentist are very important
while in braces. Your family dentist will determine how often
you should be seen for cleaning appointments while you are in
braces. Back to top
20. Are there foods I cannot eat while I
have braces?
Yes. Once treatment begins, very complete instructions and a
comprehensive list will be provided regarding foods to avoid.
Some of those foods include: ice, hard candy, raw vegetables
and all sticky foods (i.e. caramel and taffy). Many emergency
appointments to repair broken or damaged braces can be avoided
by carefully following instructions regarding what foods to
avoid. Back to top
21. How often should I brush my teeth while
in braces?
Patients should brush their teeth at least four times each day:
after breakfast, lunch (or as soon as they get home from school),
supper, and before going to bed. We will show each patient how
to floss their teeth with braces on, and may also provide a
prescription for a special fluoride gel to help protect teeth. Back to top
22. What is an emergency appointment? How
are those handled?
If something happens and your braces are causing pain or if
something is broken, you should call our office. In most cases
we can address these issues over the telephone. If an emergency
appointment is needed, daily time is available for timely attention.
Back to top
23. Can orthodontic correction occur while
a child still has some baby teeth?
Yes. Some orthodontic problems are significant enough to require
early intervention. However, if a patient is not yet ready for
treatment, we will follow that patient's growth and development
until the time is right for treatment to begin. Back to top
24. What is Phase One (early) Treatment?
Phase One treatment, when needed, is usually initiated on children
between the ages of seven and 10. Phase One treatment usually
takes about 12-21 months. There are several primary objectives
for Phase One treatment.
To
address significant problems early to prevent them from
becoming severe corrections later.
To
develop jaws for crowding concerns and modify jaw growth
for an improved jaw relationship.
Finally,
to improve self-esteem and self-image, both very important
during their formative years.
25. Will my child need full braces if he/she
has Phase One treatment?
It is best to assume that your child will need full braces even
after Phase One treatment. The period of time following Phase
One treatment is called the "resting period," during which growth
and tooth eruption are closely monitored. Throughout this period,
parents and patients will be kept informed as to any future
treatment recommendations. Back to top
26. Will my child need an expander?
At the completion of the initial examination, Dr. Villa will
determine whether a patient will need an expander or not. Back to top
27. Is it too late to have braces if I am
already an adult?
A surprising percentage of our patients are adults. Health,
happiness and self-esteem are vitally important to adults. No
patient is "too old" to wear braces! Back to top
28. Can I wear braces even though I have
crowns and missing teeth?
Yes. A tooth with a crown will move just like a tooth with a
simple filling. When teeth are missing, orthodontic treatment
will aid in the alignment of the remaining teeth so that the
space where the teeth are missing can be properly restored. Back to top
29. Why should you choose an orthodontic
specialist?
Teeth and sometimes entire facial structures are permanently
changed by orthodontic treatment. It is very important that
the treatment be appropriate and properly completed. Orthodontic
specialists, like Dr. Villa, have extensive and specialized
training that enables them to provide all types of orthodontic
patients with professional and state of the art treatments.
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