Orthodontics: Age And Payment On Braces

Qi How can orthodontics help a child who still has her baby teeth?

A: Braces in young children can make corrections in the jaw that will help their adult teeth grow into proper position. money later on. Children who have had mterceptive treatment usually still need to wear braces in adolescence, but the treatment likely will be less complicated and of shorter duration than it would have been without the early intervention. In some cases mterceptive treatment corrects jaw problems severe enough that they would otherwise later require surgery.

Q : Will insurance pay for it?

A: A 1992 survey of its members by the American Association of Orthodontists found that 52 er specialist you choose, so the doctor's office location is important.

Q : But I'm no expert in orthodontics. How do I make a final decision?

A: You might want to talk to more than one orthodontist before you decide. Each will present a treatment plan and a fee schedule that you can weigh against each other. Each consultation fee should cost about S35, but getting tic health insurance But those insurance plans typically limited orthodontic coverage to between S1,000 and S1,200. That's only about a third of the total bill. A typical billing arrangement would pay the orthodontist a lump sum at the outset and the rest in installments over the course of the treatment. If the bill were $3,500 for 2'/2 years of braces, such an arrangement might work out to a S750 initial payment followed by $100 a month.

About Braces

Q: Are braces painful?

A: There is tenderness and occasional discomfort in the teeth and gums when braces are tightened, but advanced nickel-titanium alloys have improved the efficiency of the wires, allowing orthodontists to exert lighter but steadier pressure on the teeth. In the stainless- steel days of old, the wires had to be made tighter with each adjustment because the pressure would slacken between adjustments.

Q: Is there a best age to get started with braces?

A: Most kids with braces are between

the ages of 11 and 14, but orthodontists are seeing children r dontists recommend an initial visit by age 7 and earlier if the child's dentist thinks a visit is warranted.

Qi How can orthodontics help a child who still has her baby teeth?

A: Braces in young children can make corrections in the jaw that will help their adult teeth grow into proper position. money later on. Children who have had mterceptive treatment usually still need to wear braces in adolescence, but the treatment likely will be less complicated and of shorter duration than it would have been without the early intervention. In some cases mterceptive treatment corrects jaw problems severe enough that they would otherwise later require surgery.

Exactly Braces DO

Q: What do braces do, exactly?

A: Braces move teeth from to be. The movement is a slow process that takes at least a year, and more typically 2 to 2'/> years.

Q: How do braces do that?

A: The concept is simple. A strong wire, anchored to a metal anchor wrapped around the back molars, exerts steady pressure against the rest of the teeth and pushes them into place.

Q: Aren't braces just for cosmetic purposes?

A: They can be, but there are genuine health reasons for them. Misaligned teeth can result in jaw problems later in life, for example. Crowded teeth can be difficult or impossible to clean properly, which can lead to severe tooth and gum problems.