Traditional Braces in Chicago, IL | Damon System | Self-Ligating Braces in Chicago, Illinois

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Orthodontics?
2. Why choose an orthodontist to straighten my teeth?
3. What is a board certified orthodontist? Aren’t all orthodontists board certified?
4. Do I need a referral to see an orthodontist?
5. Are braces necessary?
6. When should I look for orthodontic problems in my children?
7. When is the best time to see the orthodontist? Do all the permanent teeth need to be in?
8. Who should we bring to our initial consultation?
9. What type of information will I receive at the consultation?
10. What are the benefits of early treatment?
11. How do braces give me straight teeth?
12. Can I straighten my teeth without braces and wires?
13. I’m not a candidate for Invisalign – what can I do?
14. What are Damon braces?
15. What is “instant orthodontics”?
16. Can I get my teeth bleached/ whitened with braces?
17. What are rubber bands?
18. I have TMJ/TMD and am hoping orthodontics will cure me…
19. Am I too old? Nobody my age has braces.
20. What foods should I avoid with braces?
21. How do I clean the braces? Do I need a special toothbrush?
22. How long will I be in braces?
23. If my child has Phase I – is there a Phase II?
24. Do I need to have teeth pulled?
25. How long do I have to wear my retainers?
26. What types of retainers are there?
27. Are braces expensive?
28. How does insurance work?
29. What about sterilization?

1. What is Orthodontics?
Orthodontics is a division of dentistry that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of dental and facial abnormalities.

2. Why choose an orthodontist to straighten my teeth?
Just as there are specialists in medicine (such as anesthesiologists, ophthalmologists, neurologists etc.), there are specialists in dentistry. There is a difference between an orthodontist and a dentist who does some orthodontics.
Orthodontists are trained dentists, who after graduating from dental school, continue on in further full-time university-based education in an accredited orthodontic residency program supervised by orthodontists. That rigorous training lasts 2-3 years and is exclusively focused on orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics. By learning about tooth movement (orthodontics) and guidance of facial development (dentofacial orthopedics), orthodontists are the uniquely qualified experts in dentistry to straighten teeth and align jaws.
An orthodontic specialist is an expert on aligning and helping jaws grow properly. Orthodontists completely limit their practice to orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics to provide you with the highest quality care. The majority of orthodontic insurances only pay for braces once in a lifetime. Have an orthodontic specialist do it right the first time!

3. What is a board certified orthodontist? Aren’t all orthodontists board certified?
A board certified orthodontist has completed a graduate program in the specialty of orthodontics that is accredited by the American Dental Association. Graduation from an accredited orthodontic specialty program makes the orthodontist eligible to become board certified through the voluntary examination procedure of The American Board of Orthodontics (ABO). The ABO is the only certifying board acknowledged by the American Association of Orthodontists and the American Dental Association. Taking part in the certification process is a demonstration of the orthodontist's pursuit of continued proficiency and excellence.
The certification process includes a thorough Written Examination covering all subjects of orthodontics and facial growth. Successful completion permits the orthodontist to show completed cases to a Board of expert examiners. Upon successful completion of case presentations and oral examination, the orthodontist becomes a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics and can then identify themselves as board certified. Only 38% of orthodontists in the United States and Canada are board certified. Dr. YOUR NAME is proud to be a board certified orthodontist.

4. Do I need a referral to see an orthodontist?
Absolutely not!! Unlike medical insurance, you do not need a referral from your general dentist. You can make an appointment for a complimentary consultation without any worries. We love to meet new patients. If you are new to the area and looking for a dentist, we would also be happy to give you recommendations.

5. Are braces necessary?
No. But, properly aligned teeth help an individual to effectively bite, chew and speak. Straight teeth contribute to healthy gums and teeth. Straight jaws and teeth may alleviate or prevent physical health problems. Teeth that work better also tend to look better. A beautiful smile is a nice “side effect” of orthodontic treatment. An attractive smile is a wonderful asset. It plays a role in self-confidence, self-image and self-esteem—important qualities at every age. A pleasing appearance is a vital part of self-confidence. A person's self-esteem frequently increases as orthodontic treatment brings teeth, lips and face into proportion. In this way, orthodontic treatment can improve social and career success, as well as improve a person’s general attitude toward life.

6. When should I look for orthodontic problems in my children?
As soon as their permanent teeth begin to erupt, you can begin to look for emerging orthodontic problems. Here are some signs that may point toward the need for an orthodontic evaluation:
Early or late loss of baby teeth
Trouble chewing or biting
Crowded or blocked out teeth
Teeth that do not meet at all
Jaws and teeth that are out of proportion with the rest of the face
Habits (like thumb sucking) continued after the permanent incisors erupt
Upper teeth that “stick out”
If your child is exceptionally self-conscious of his/her smile
Of course, you can always call YOUR OFFICE NAME for a free examination so Dr. YOUR NAME can check for potential problems for you.

7. When is the best time to see the orthodontist? Do all the permanent teeth need to be in?
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that all children have their first orthodontic screening by age 7. Dr. YOUR NAME is qualified to spot subtle problems with jaw growth and emerging teeth even while baby teeth are present. The benefit of early detection is that some orthodontic problems may be simpler to correct if caught and addressed early. 85-90% of the time, we will just monitor the growth and development of your child every 9-12 months until he/she is ready for comprehensive orthodontic treatment.
Remember – there is no age limit for orthodontics!! At YOUR OFFICE NAME, we love to treat adults as well as children.

8. Who should we bring to our initial consultation?

It is best to bring all decision makers to the initial consultation. This offers everybody the chance to ask questions and completely understand the orthodontic treatment plan. We can also better explain our treatment findings and solutions by using visual aids. If everyone cannot come, we are always available to answer questions via telephone.

9. What type of information will I receive at the consultation?
During the first appointment Dr. YOUR NAME will:
Welcome you to the office
Review your health history
Do a complete orthodontic exam
Summarize your specific orthodontic issues
Explain the options for correction
Identify the optimal time to start orthodontics
Estimate how long treatment will last and how much your insurance will cover
We strive for a very friendly, open and compassionate environment in the office. We welcome you to ask questions during the examination. We want you to feel confident and informed when you leave the office.

10. What are the benefits of early treatment?
Some advantages of early treatment include:
Stop damaging habits
Lower possibility of injury to protruded front teeth
Improve appearance and self-esteem
Improvement of problems that cause unfavorable growth issues
Guide eruption of adult teeth.

For each patient who needs orthodontic treatment, there is an optimal time for it to start in order to attain the best result. YOUR OFFICE NAME would love to help you determine when treatment is right for your child.

11. How do braces give me straight teeth?
Braces use gentle force to shift the teeth into the ideal place. The braces have a prescription built into the bracket that has the ideal torque, tip and place for each tooth. The wire that we use has the “optimum” form of where your teeth should be. By threading the wire into the brackets, the prescription is expressed and the wire tries to go back to its original form. Both of these pressures cause the tooth to shift in the bone.
Bone is a very dynamic living tissue. The pressure from the braces causes the bone to resorb to create room for the tooth in the correct place. At the same time it fills in bone where the tooth was previously.
It seems very complicated, but with new wires and technology it is more comfortable than ever.

12. Can I straighten my teeth without braces and wires?
Definitely. There are numerous people that are candidates for Invisalign. Dr. YOUR NAME is Invisalign certified and has been learning about and incorporating this technology since its early stages more than ten years ago. This is a method to utilize a series of removable invisible aligners to align the teeth without brackets or wires. This advanced technology does not fix all bite problems and candidates for Invisalign should be selected carefully.
We urge you to pick a provider with formal orthodontic training who can adjust your treatment accordingly if things do not go as designed. Many patients can conclude treatment with only aligners. Some patients will receive a better outcome with a combination of a short period of traditional brackets to fix issues that are difficult for aligners and the majority of treatment with clear aligners undetectable to the human eye. An orthodontic specialist has the solutions to recommend to you several options for your optimal outcome.
If you are not a candidate for Invisalign, we offer clear braces which are considerably less noticeable and a fashionable alternative for adults and teens alike!

13. I’m not a candidate for Invisalign – what can I do?
We offer clear (ceramic) brackets that are much less obvious. From a distance, people may not notice them or think you are just wearing a retainer. The technology is improving at a great pace to make wires less perceptible as well. Many celebrities such as Fantasia have worn the ceramic brackets rather than Invisalign.

14. What are Damon braces?
Damon braces otherwise known as the Damon System is simply one of 30+ brands of self-ligating braces. Other commonly used brands of self-ligating brackets include Speed, Time 3, In-Ovation, Vision LP and Smart Clip. Unlike conventional braces, these braces have a built-in mechanism to hold the wire in place. Since elastic ties are not used, you cannot select various colors with these braces. It was once believed that self-ligating braces resulted in less discomfort and shorter treatment times (less time in braces). Unfortunately, orthodontic research have shown this to simply NOT be true. While self-ligating braces are still used by many orthodontists for a variety of reasons, research has shown them to work no better or worse than traditional braces.

15. What is “instant orthodontics”?
“Instant orthodontics” has utterly nothing to do with orthodontics since no teeth are in fact moved. “Instant orthodontics” is the practice of placing crowns and veneers over the crooked teeth to make them appear straight from the front. The actual teeth and roots are never actually straightened. This procedure is not performed by an orthodontist but rather by a general/ cosmetic dentist. Considering that “instant orthodontics” irreversibly damages the teeth and may prevent you from ever having real orthodontic treatment in the future; it is not a decision to be made lightly. While it is generally well established that these procedures are not recommended for children, leading cosmetic dentists have even begun to question the ethical implications of performing such procedures in adults given the inevitability of replacing veneers and crowns every 5-10 years resulting in removal of even more tooth structure.
Additionally, be careful of the dentist you pick for such a process. Cosmetic dentistry is not a specialty recognized by the American Dental Association and therefore a dentist does not require any special training to call themselves a cosmetic dentist.

16. Can I get my teeth bleached/ whitened with braces?
No. You can, however, bleach your teeth prior to getting braces or when you are finished with braces.

17. What are rubber bands?
Rubber bands are an incredibly important component of treatment. These are removable elastics that facilitate getting the upper and lower teeth to fit in an optimal location. Brackets by themselves cannot move your teeth without the continuous force of the rubber bands guiding them into place. It is essential you wear your rubber bands as directed. If you don’t wear the rubber bands, treatment will require more time and you will probably end up with a compromised result. The majority of people only need to wear elastics for 6 months of their total treatment time. Isn’t it worth it for the smile of your dreams?

18. I have TMJ/TMD and am hoping orthodontics will cure me…
There is absolutely no evidence to show that orthodontics will cure or cause TMJ/TMD (temporomandibular joint disorders). It is essential to have your jaw evaluated by a TMJ/TMD specialist first. When your jaw troubles are under control, we would be glad to work on your smile and bite.

19. Am I too old? Nobody my age has braces.
You are never too old to begin orthodontics. As long as your teeth, gingiva and adjacent bone are healthy there is nothing stopping you! You might be astonished to know that 20% of orthodontic patients are adults. There are approximately one million adults in orthodontic treatment today.

20. What foods should I avoid with braces?
We request that you stay away from sticky, chewy, hard, crunchy and high sugar foods. These foods can catch on the brackets, bend wires, pull off braces and bands and bring about permanent white scars on your teeth. You can still have a lot of the same foods, but you may need to modify the way you eat them. Cutting things up into small bites and primarily using your back teeth is a good approach.

21. How do I clean the braces? Do I need a special toothbrush?
Our saying is “the best toothbrush is the one that gets used”. For the most part, there is no need to use a special toothbrush, but you do need to spend more time brushing your teeth, braces and gums. In addition, we suggest that every patient applies a fluoride based mouth rinse before bed. We will discuss flossing and brushing when you get your braces and we will always be available for instructions and suggestions when desired.

22. How long will I be in braces?
This will vary from case to case and the orthodontist’s treatment estimate is exactly that – an estimate. The national average is about two years, but treatment can last anywhere from 9-36 months depending on the difficulty of the problem and the compliance of the patient. One should not select an orthodontic specialist based on the number of months they estimate treatment to take. Several orthodontists will underestimate treatment times simply to get you as a patient.

23. If my child has Phase I – is there a Phase II?
The vast majority of (~90%) children who require a Phase I treatment require a second phase of orthodontic treatment. Studies have demonstrated that kids who have Phase I orthodontic treatment do not have a shorter or less difficult 2nd phase of orthodontic treatment. There will be situations where Phase I treatment is recommended to help avoid more serious problems. If there is any question, bring your child in for an examination.

24. Do I need to have teeth pulled?
With improvements in technology, the need for removal of adult teeth has been significantly decreased. In certain situations, however, extraction of permanent teeth is still needed to provide optimal dental and facial results. In situations where extracting teeth is required the spaces will be closed and no one will ever know you had them out.

25. How long do I have to wear my retainers?
Research has shown that teeth shift over time with or without braces. No treatment is 100% stable. That is why retainers are a lifetime commitment. We will recommend you to wear your retainers full time (24/7) for the first half year, every night for 2 years and then at least 3 nights a week for life.

26. What types of retainers are there?
There are many varieties of retainers. It is important for Dr. YOUR NAME to look at your situation and offer you their recommendations for what is best for you. Of course, we also want your input. Generally there are four designs of retainers:
Invisible retainers (clear trays that cover the teeth)
Hawley retainers (plastic and wire retainers)
Permanent retainers (glued to the inside of the teeth)
Positioners (looks like an upper and lower mouthguard glued together)

27. Are braces expensive?
Orthodontic fees have not increased as fast as many other consumer products. The orthodontic treatment fee will vary depending on the severity of the situation. Dr. YOUR NAME will work with you to create a financial arrangement that works best for you. YOUR OFFICE NAME offers interest free financing as well as sibling and military discounts. The average monthly payments may be lower than you think. We do not want finances to get in the way of the smile of your dreams.

28. How does insurance work?
We accept almost all orthodontic insurances – we can file with any PPO plan. Do not be fooled by outdated internet provider lists. Call our office and we can look up your insurance benefits before your first appointment. Typically your insurance will cover a portion of the fee and you will be responsible for the rest. We are glad to work with your insurance companies to maximize your orthodontic benefit.

29. What about sterilization?
Our patient’s safety, health and peace of mind are very important to us. Therefore, we use state-of-the-art sterilization techniques for all of our equipment and surfaces. Our employees are OSHA educated and abides by all guidelines. If you have any questions about our procedures, please ask.

If you have additional questions about our office or orthodontics in general, call YOUR OFFICE NAME and schedule your orthodontic exam and consultation today.

YOUR OFFICE NAME is Chicago, Illinois's premier orthodontist/dentist providing traditional braces and self-ligating braces (Damon System) to Chicago, IL.

Orthodontist website marketing by Prodigy Web Solutions for YOUR NAME, DDS, MS (orthodontist in Chicago, Illinois) of YOUR OFFICE NAME providing traditional braces and self-ligating braces (Damon System) to Chicago, Illinois.

Contact: info@Chicago-orthodontics.com

Chicago Office
1234 Main Street
Chicago, IL 60601
TEL: 555.123.4567
FAX: 555.987.6543