Frequently Asked Questions About Braces

How Long Does Treatment Take?

Maybe the most important thing to understand about traditional braces, regardless of your age, is that the total amount of time you can expect to go through treatment will vary wildly depending on the patient in question.

Some dental-related conditions take longer to correct than others. Likewise, unforeseen situations may cause treatment to be delayed beyond the amount of time you originally expected it to take. Regardless, each patient is different from the next – but don’t worry, your dental professional will go over all of this with you ahead of time so that you know exactly what to expect.

Generally speaking, most people go through treatment with traditional braces for a period ranging from between 6 and 18 months. Though again – that number could change depending on the specific reason WHY you’re getting braces in the first place.

What Types of Foods Should I Avoid?

For the most part, you won’t find that traditional braces inhibit your current lifestyle in any appreciable way – particularly when it comes to the foods you eat. Having said that, there ARE certain types of foods you would do well to avoid at all costs – less they cause issues and delay your treatment any longer than needed.

Overall, these include foods like:

• Sticky foods, like certain types of candies.
• Chewy foods, like pretzels or pizza crust or anything else that you need to “bite” into to eat properly.
• Hard foods, like hard pretzels or other types of candies.
• Crunchy foods, or anything that might get stuck between your brackets like popcorn.

Do Braces Hurt?

For the vast majority of all patients, no – braces will not hurt in any way, shape or form.

Having said that, you MAY experience soreness but don’t worry – there are methods that you can use to correct it without it interfering with your life.

What is the Recommended Age for My Child’s First Orthodontic Visit?

If you’ve already called around or looked at other websites for orthodontists in your area, you may be thinking that there is a lot of pressure put on parents to have their children start treatment with traditional braces by the time they’re around eight-years-old.

Dr. Carr, on the other hand, will never pressure you to begin treatment at such an early age. More than anything else, he believes in treating the patient for ONLY what is absolutely necessary. He will ONLY recommend braces for a child if they are truly needed – end of story.

When you meet with Dr. Carr for the first time, you will discover that you can rest easy knowing that he truly has both you and your child’s best interests at heart.

Am I Too Old For Braces?

If you’re an adult and are worried that the time for traditional braces may have come and gone, on the other hand, you can be confident in knowing that you are NEVER too old to begin treatment. In fact, about 27% of all orthodontic patients are adults according to one recent study – meaning there’s no time like the present to get that perfect smile you’ve always wanted.

How Much Do Braces Cost?

This, too, will depend on a number of factors including but not limited to your length of treatment. Likewise, how well you follow instructions of caring for braces will matter a great deal.

If you’re thinking about straightening your teeth, or if you have any additional questions you’d like to see answered in a bit more detail, Dr. Carr will meet with you for a complimentary consult to determine which orthodontic treatment will best fit your personal needs.