Serrano Orthodontics Answers Your Common Orthodontic Questions
New to braces? Dr. Paul and Andrew Serrano can help. Get answers to the most common orthodontic questions from people like you in Phoenix and Chandler.
FAQs About Braces & Invisalign in Phoenix & Chandler
If you don't see your question listed, always feel free to call our office, and our helpful team members can answer all your questions.
Selecting an orthodontist in Phoenix and Chandler who can help you achieve your smile dreams is important.
Teeth, and sometimes entire facial structures, are permanently changed by orthodontic treatment. It is important that the treatment be appropriate and properly completed.
Orthodontic specialists have extensive and specialized training to provide their patients with professional, personalized treatments.
Only those with this formal education may call themselves “orthodontists,” and only orthodontists may be members of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO).
Dr. Paul and Andrew Serrano from Serrano Orthodontics have achieved this specialization and are active members of AAO.
Both Dr. Paul Serrano and Dr. Andrew Serrano have gone beyond this extensive training to become board-certified with the American Board of Orthodontics. This means they’ve undergone additional rigorous testing to show that they’re the best of the best.
No, it is not. Many of our patients are referred by their family dentist. Yet, many other patients take the initiative to schedule an examination themselves.
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends an orthodontic screening at age 7. By this age, Dr. Paul Serrano and Dr. Andrew Serrano can spot subtle jaw growth problems and emerging teeth while some baby teeth are still present.
Several permanent teeth in most children have erupted by this age, allowing us to effectively evaluate your orthodontic condition.
That’s important because some orthodontic problems may be easier to correct if found early at Serrano Orthodontics.
Most orthodontic patients at our Phoenix and Chandler offices begin active braces treatment between ages 9 and 14.
No, they will not. The space available for the front teeth does not increase as you grow. In most people, after the permanent molars erupt, the space available for the front teeth decreases with age.
If you or your child can potentially benefit from orthodontic treatment, simply call our office, send us an e-mail or fill out our appointment request form online.
We’ll be happy to schedule an appointment for you. When you call to schedule your appointment, our front office staff will request some basic information from you.
Upon arriving, each patient and parent will be seen by the staff and doctor who will acclimate you to our office and prepare for the initial exam.
We will take the necessary photographs and X-rays to allow us to make a proper diagnosis. Dr. Serrano will then complete a brief but thorough exam. Learn more about your first free consultation appointment.
There are five essential questions that we’ll cover 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?
Learn more about your first free consultation appointment.
Removing teeth is sometimes required to achieve the best orthodontic result. Straight teeth and a balanced facial profile are the goals of orthodontics.
However, because new technology has provided advanced orthodontic procedures, removing teeth is not always necessary for orthodontic treatment.
Treatment time obviously depends on each patient’s specific orthodontic problem. In general, treatment times range from 12 to 30 months. The “average” time frame a person is in braces is approximately 22 months.
It’s impossible to give an exact cost for treatment until we have examined you. We will cover the exact cost and financial options during the initial examination.
We have many financing options available to accommodate your needs, and we will review these with you. We will also review your insurance policy and help to maximize your benefit and file your claims.
Unfortunately, we cannot schedule all appointments for students during after-school hours. However, because most appointments are scheduled five to 10 weeks apart, most patients will miss minimal school due to their orthodontic treatments.
We will, however, make a sincere effort to meet your scheduling needs.
Yes. We understand your busy schedule, and we are happy to help you make the most of your time.
On some occasions, we may request to speak with a parent when they return, so we ask parents to check-in with their patient manager before dropping off their child.
Generally, braces do not “hurt.” After certain visits, teeth may be sore for a few days. In these situations, pain medications such as Advil or Tylenol will 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!”
Yes. There is no reason to miss school because of an orthodontic appointment.
No. Shots are not necessary for orthodontic treatment.
Absolutely not! We believe that each patient should be provided with their own braces to achieve the best orthodontic result possible.
Yes. We recommend a mouth guard for all sports.
Yes. Once treatment begins, we will explain the complete instructions and provide a comprehensive list of foods to avoid.
Some of those foods include:
- Ice,
- Hard candy,
- Raw vegetables
- All sticky foods (i.e., caramel and taffy)
You can avoid most emergency appointments to repair broken or damaged braces by carefully following our instructions.
Patients should brush their teeth at least four times each day – after each meal and before going to bed.
We’ll show each patient how to floss their teeth with braces and may also provide a prescription for a special fluoride, if necessary. Learn more about caring for your braces.
If your braces are causing extreme pain or if something breaks, you should call our office. In most cases, we can address these issues over the telephone.
If you require an emergency appointment, we will set aside time for you. Learn more about orthodontic emergencies.
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.
Phase One treatment, if necessary, is usually initiated on children between the ages of 7 and 10. Phase One treatment lasts about 12-21 months.
The primary objective for Phase One treatment is to address significant problems to prevent them from becoming more severe and to improve self-esteem and self-image. Learn more about Phase One treatment.
It is best to assume that your child will need full braces even after Phase One treatment. The period 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 of future treatment recommendations.
After the initial examination, we will determine whether a patient will need an expander.
Orthodontic treatment can be successful at almost any age. In fact, about one in every four orthodontic patients today is over age 18.
Health, happiness and self-esteem are vitally important to adults. No patient is “too old” to wear braces!
A surprising percentage of our patients are adults. In fact, 25 percent of all orthodontic patients are adults. Learn more about adult treatment.
Thanks to today’s smaller, less visible and more comfortable orthodontic appliances (including metal braces, ceramic braces, and Invisalign), adults find treatment appealing.
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.
No. Retainers stabilize and preserve the alignment of teeth and jaws that orthodontic treatment achieved.
Many people wear removable retainers nightly for the rest of their lives. Ask your orthodontist for guidance about your long-term retainer use.
Wisdom tooth extraction is frequently a person's first major surgery. Not everyone needs their wisdom teeth removed, which is fortunate for some, but for the vast majority of people, it's just one of those dreaded aspects of life that must be endured. Click the link below for more information on wisdom teeth.
*Some Text Courtesy of the American Association of Orthodontists