Achieving straighter teeth is a common goal of our patients at BKS Dental in Fort Atkinson. Straighter teeth look better and they improve your oral health. Before starting orthodontic treatment, our patients usually have tons of questions. To help answer these questions, we thought it would be helpful to compile the most frequently asked questions all in one place.
Feel free to read through these and then let us know if you have any additional questions you need to be answered.
What Orthodontic Treatments Does Your Dental Office Offer?
We understand that every patient has different needs. As a result, we offer several different orthodontic treatments to choose from. Typically, most dental offices start orthodontic treatment during pre-teen and teen years, but at our dental office, we offer early interceptive orthodontics. This treatment is perfect for children as young as 6 years old and works by correcting the issues that cause misalignment, gapped and crowded teeth. Early interceptive orthodontics guide jaw growth to prevent or minimize future orthodontic treatments.
We also offer traditional metal braces, clear ceramic brackets, ClearCorrect®, and Invisalign® treatment for teens and adults. We can recommend the best treatment during a consultation with our dentists.
Does Insurance Cover Orthodontics?
It depends on your insurance plan. Most insurance plans tend to cover a portion of orthodontic treatment. Please contact your insurance provider for more information.
Do Braces Hurt?
Braces and orthodontic treatments, in general, are not painful, but they’re also not painless. You will experience some soreness after we tighten your braces or swap ClearCorrect® or Invisalign® aligners. The soreness can last for a few days but it’s nothing that’s not manageable with over-the-counter pain relievers.
How Long Do Braces Take?
It depends on the severity of the case. Some patients may only need six months to achieve their goals if they have minor problems while other patients may take several years. During your consultation with our Fort Atkinson dentists, we will provide you with an estimate for the duration of your treatment.
What Can You Eat With Braces?
You can eat most foods with traditional metal braces with the exception of:
- Popcorn
- Nuts
- Hard candy
- Chewing gum
- Chewy candy
- Pizza crust
- Bagels or other hard bread
- Crunchy vegetables and fruit
- Kettle chips or hard crackers
- Pretzels
- Corn on the cob
Basically, you will want to avoid any hard or chewy food. Otherwise, they can break your brackets or dislodge a wire. If you don’t want any food restrictions with your orthodontic treatment, we recommend ClearCorrect® or Invisalign®. Those treatments use removable clear plastic aligners. You remove the aligners before eating anything.
What Do Rubber Bands Do For Braces?
You’ve likely seen the rubber bands that some people have on their braces that connect one jaw to another. What is the purpose of this and does every patient need elastics? Rubber bands are used to realign the bite. They’re connected using the hooks on brackets. If you have a misaligned bite, we will show you which hooks to connect the rubber bands to. Not every patient will require rubber bands. We will let you know during your treatment if they’re necessary to achieve your goals.
How Long Do ClearCorrect® and Invisalign® Take?
Your treatment time will depend on the severity of your problems. Most clear aligner treatments take between six months and two years to complete. We will let you know your estimated treatment time during your consultation.
Is ClearCorrect® or Invisalign® Worth It?
If you’re searching for an orthodontic treatment that offers more comfort and convenience than traditional braces, then yes, it is worth it. The clear aligners offer a discreet treatment and since they’re removable, it makes cleaning your teeth and eating your favorite foods a breeze.
What is Early Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment?
We consider early interceptive orthodontics the first phase of orthodontic treatment. We provide this treatment to children ages 6 to 10. The treatment’s purpose is to help make room in the jaw for teeth to grow straight and to help the jaws develop correctly. With early interceptive orthodontics, we can prevent the need for future orthodontic treatment or make that treatment much more simplified. We use two different appliances: HealthyStart™ and Vivos®. To learn if early interceptive orthodontics is right for your child, we recommend booking a consultation as early as 5 years old so we can start treatment as soon as possible.
How Long Will I Need To Wear a Retainer?
After completing your orthodontic treatment, you will need to wear a retainer. At first, you might have to wear the retainer all day except when you eat. Eventually, you will only need to wear it at night. Then, after a year following your orthodontic treatment completion, you will only need to wear your retainer for a few nights per week for the rest of your life. Wearing your retainer for life is essential if you want to maintain your results.
How Can I Start Orthodontic Treatment in Fort Atkinson?
If you’re ready to start your own treatment or start your child’s treatment, please contact our Fort Atkinson dental office at (920) 563-7323 to book an appointment. We will review all treatment options during your consultation, go over pricing, and answer any remaining questions you might have.
