1. Is it required that I be referred by my family dentist to schedule an appointment with Dr. Boyd?
2. At what age should I schedule an appointment for an orthodontic screening?
3. Will my child's teeth straighten out on their own as they grow?
4. How do I schedule an appointment for an initial exam?
5. Is there a cost for the initial examination?
6. What will happen at the initial examination appointment?
7. What will I learn from the initial examination?
8. Will I have to have any teeth removed for braces?
9. How long will it take to complete treatment?
10. How much will braces cost? Are financing options available? How does my insurance work?
11. How often will I have appointments?
12. Can I have all of my appointments after school?
13. Can I drop my child off for an appointment?
15. Can I return to school the day I receive my braces?
17. Do you use recycled braces?
18. Can I still play sports and/or musical instruments while in braces?
19. Do I need to see my family dentist while in braces?
20. Are there foods I cannot eat while I have braces?
21. How often should I brush my teeth while in braces?
22. What is an emergency appointment? How are those handled?
23. What if the emergency occurs after normal office hours?
24. Can orthodontic correction occur while a child still has some baby teeth?
25. What is Phase One (early) Treatment?
26. Will my child need full braces if he/she has Phase One treatment?
27. Will my child need an expander?
28. Is it too late to have braces if I am already an adult?
29. Can I wear braces even though I have crowns and missing teeth?
30. Why should you choose an orthodontic specialist?
1. Is it required that I be referred by my family dentist to schedule an appointment with Dr. Boyd?
No, it is not. Although most of our patients are referred by their family dentist, many patients who have concerns about their health and appearance and want to be evaluated as to the need for orthodontic care, take the initiative themselves to schedule an initial examination.
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 Dr. Boyd to effectively evaluate most developing orthodontic problems.
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.
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 (803) 788-7000 and we will be happy to schedule an appointment for you. When you call to schedule your appointment, our front office staff will gather some very basic information concerning you and your child.
5. Is there a cost for the initial examination?
No, there is no cost for the initial examination. Dr. Boyd believes that the relationship established during a patient's first visit is much more important than an "office visit" charge.
6. What will happen at the initial examination appointment?
Upon arriving at Dr. Boyd's office, each patient and parent will be greeted by the front office staff and you will hand in the completed new patient questionnaire that was mailed to you earlier. Dr. Boyd will conduct a brief but thorough examination of the patient's mouth to determine if there is a need for orthodontic treatment. He will be looking to determine if there is enough room to hold all of your teeth, if the top teeth are lined up correctly with the bottom teeth, if any teeth are crooked or not growing in the right position and if there are missing or extra teeth? He will also be asking the patient if they are experiencing any breathing problems, have they had any finger or tongue habits and have they experienced any jaw joint problems? We will also take the necessary photographs and x-rays.
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 permanent teeth need to be removed?
· How long will the treatment take to complete?
· How much will the treatment cost?
In addition to these, Dr. Boyd will take the time to answer any other questions a patient or parent may have.
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.
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 15 to 28 months. An "average" time a person is in braces is approximately 22 months.
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. Boyd 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 do file insurance on your behalf. We also offer a discount for fees paid in full or 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.
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 six to 10 weeks. If there are specific situations that require more frequent monitoring, appointments may be scheduled more often.
12. Can I have all of my appointments after school?
This is a very common question. Unfortunately, we cannot schedule all appointments for all student patients for after school hours. However, because most appointments are scheduled six to 10 weeks apart, most patients miss very little school because of orthodontic appointments. We reference all of the area school calendars at the front desk and try very hard to help in all possible ways to assist patient scheduling.
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. Boyd may want to speak with parents when you return, so we request that parents check in with the front desk staff as they schedule their next appointment.
As a general rule, 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!
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.
No. No shots are necessary in orthodontic treatment.
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. Dr. Boyd would never use worn, used or recycled braces.
18. Can I still play sports and/or musical instruments while in braces?
Yes. We can recommend a mouth guard for all sports. If you play an instrument such as a trumpet, we can provide you with a "lip protector" that works to cushion your lip from your braces. Please inform us when you need a mouth guard or lip protector.
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.
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. "Snickers", caramel and taffy. Sugar free gum is allowed at certain times during treatment. Many emergency appointments to repair broken or damaged braces can be avoided by carefully following instructions regarding foods.
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 will also provide a prescription for a special fluoride gel to help protect teeth.
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 at (803) 788-7000. In most cases we can address most issues over the telephone.
23. What if the emergency occurs after normal office hours?
Our office is available after normal working hours by calling the office and waiting for the answering machine to answer. The recorded message will give you the name and number of the person on call. Any time you are unsure of a situation our staff will be glad to assist you.
24. Can orthodontic correction occur while a child still has some baby teeth?
Yes. However, we do not require braces for every patient who visits our office. 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.
25. 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 6 to 12 months. There are two primary objectives for Phase One treatment. First, to develop the jaw so that it will accommodate all of the permanent teeth and to properly relate the upper and lower jaws to each other. Secondly, to improve a child's psychological self-image and self-esteem, both very important during their formative years.
26. 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 out this period, parents and patients will be kept informed as to any future treatment recommendations.
27. Will my child need an expander?
At the completion of the initial examination, Dr. Boyd will determine whether a patient will require expanders or not.
28. Is it too late to have braces if I am already an adult?
Over 20 percent of Dr. Boyd's patients are adults. In fact, orthodontic treatment for adults is one of the most gratifying areas of Dr. Boyd's practice for both patients and staff members. Health, happiness and self-esteem are vitally important to adults. No patient is "too old" to wear braces!
29. 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.
30. 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. Dr. Boyd graduated from dental school and elected to complete two additional years of training following dental school to become an orthodontist and has successfully provided orthodontic treatment for thousands of satisfied patients.