FAQ
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Orthodontists
vs. Dentists - a brief explanation
Q. What is the different between a dentist and an
orthodontist?
A. A Dentist takes care of all your regular dental needs. An
Orthodontist straightens teeth using braces and other appliances.
Q. How do you get to be an orthodontist?
A. An orthodontist first becomes a dentist, then continues in
dental school for another two or three years to become an orthodontist.
Q. How long does it take to get to be an
orthodontist?
A. Most have four years of college, four years of dental school,
then two years of orthodontic school.
Q. Can my regular dentist do braces?
A. Yes. In California, all dentists are licensed to do all
aspects of dentistry, but most do not.
Q. Can an orthodontist do fillings or extractions?
A. Yes, but most do not.
Common
Questions - things many people want to know
Q. Does it hurt to get braces?
A. Putting braces on doesn't hurt, or hurts so little that it's
more of an annoyance. Once they are on, most people do not complain of
pain, but there is an amount of discomfort and inconvenience.
After any change,
like putting braces on, making an adjustment, new wires, etc., the
teeth may be sensitive to pressure for a day or two. This usually
starts 12
to 24 hours after an adjustment and lasts about as long. Softer
foods help during this time, as will routine over-the-counter pain
relievers such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin), and acetaminophen
(Tylenol). It is entirely an individual thing. More people
ask us why doesn't it hurt, than tell us it hurts. When asked if
they have had any pain, most patients say "Oh, I guess, for a day or
two I couldn't bite down hard."
Q. How long will treatment take?
A. This is different for each individual, but most 12-year-olds
take a little over two years in braces before going to retainers. Most
adults, three to four. Limited treatment takes less time. More
comprehensive or complicated treatment takes more time.
Q. How often will I come in?
A. Once per month, on average. The actual interval between visits
varies from one to three weeks for a short interval, to four to twelve
weeks for a longer interval, depending on what is going on with your
teeth.
Q. How long is each visit?
A. Most visits are short (5 to 15 minutes). Some are long (30 to
60 minutes).
Q. Are after school appointments available?
A. Yes. Because most of our patients are school age, appointments
outside school hours are booked well in advance. If you miss one
of these appointments, we may need to have you come in during school
hours to make it up.
Q. What's the best time for my child to start
treatment?
A. This depends on the nature of the problem. You or your dentist
may not know what time Dr. Lang would like to start your child. Bring
children in early, so Dr. Lang can decide. Being seen early doesn't
necessarily mean early treatment.
- download more information on
timing of treatment here .
Q. My child has an underbite. I've been told he
needs to be seen
early by one dentist and that he needs to wait by another.
A. It depends on the type of underbite. These are among the most
difficult bites an orthodontist has to correct. Bring children in
early, so Dr. Lang can decide.
- download more information on
underbites here .
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Costs
and
Financing - a somewhat detailed section
Q. How much does treatment cost?
A. From a few hundred to a few thousand, depending on what's
involved.
Q. Can I make monthly payments?
A. Several payment options are available, including "no down" and
"interest free" payment schedules. Most people chose the interest free
option with a down payment and monthly payments spread over the length
of treatment.
- download more information about
our bookkeeping system here .
Q.
What if I'm late with a payment?
A. Unless you are on a monthly payment plan, charges are due and
payable thirty days from the date of service. Late fees apply to
overdue amounts.
Q. What about financing?
A. We have in-house
no-interest payment plans which require a down payment and spread the
monthly payments over the length of treatment. Other options may be
available. Please ask.
Q. Will you bill my insurance?
A. Yes. Please keep us up to date on any changes in your
insurance.
- download more information on
orthodontic insurance here .
Q. Is Dr. Lang on any HMO or other low cost
insurance plan like Healthy Families or Denti-Cal?
A. No. Those types of plans limit what we can do.
Q. Do you give discounts?
A. Yes. For some special circumstances, but not often.
Q. Will I be charged if I miss an appointment?
A. No, as long as you call before your appointment time to say
you will not be in. That way we can give the time to someone else.
Q. Is financial aid available?
A. Yes, but it is very limited. Ask for our office fact sheet on
financial aid when you come in.
- download more information on
financial aid here .
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Q. I have heard that in some offices, there is no
charge for the
first visit or the x-rays. Why do you charge for these?
A. We charge only for the first exam visit and the first full set
of orthodontic records. Since nothing is really "free," our treatment
fees would be higher than they are now if we did not charge separately
for these services. This also offers you freedom of choice, in that you
can stop at that point or go elsewhere without feeling pressured to
protect your investment. Offices that offer free exams and x-rays
usually charge you for them if you decide to go elsewhere for
treatment.
Q. How come in some offices, they can give you
what treatment will cost on the first visit, but you take longer?
A. We can usually give a ballpark figure on the first
visit. An accurate quotation is made after a thorough analysis of
the diagnostic records survey. It's really the most accurate way.
Q. Why do braces cost so much? I've heard
they cost only a few dollars each.
A. The fee for braces treatment reflects the labor as well as the
parts. Also, it costs money to run an office of any kind. Our
typical "overhead" is in the 60-70% range.
Q. I can get braces cheaper elsewhere. Why
should I go to Dr. Lang?
A. Our fees reflect the quality of our service.
Q. Is there a charge to repair breakage?
A. Usually not the first time for broken braces (brackets, bands)
or wires. After that, it's usually a smaller charge like $33 for
the repair. Retainers, removable appliances, and space
maintainers are another story. Replacement charges apply, unless
they can be repaired on the spot. In that case, a repair costs
you less than a replacement. A replacement is typically $169.
Q. I just want to know what braces cost. Do
I have to come in to find that out?
A. Sometimes people call the office with this question.
Since we can't do an exam without seeing the patient, what we say may
be way off, but here are some figures: First, there is the exam,
$37. If it seems like treatment is going to start soon, or if we need
what we call a "baseline" to start following the patient, the next step
is diagnostic records, $367. What follows some time after that
visit, is an explanation of why we need to wait to start treatment, or
a detailed letter explaining treatment that's about to start, the
length, cost, and other things, including the payment plan. If
the patient is typical, and needs about 24 to 30 months in braces
followed by two years of retainer supervision, a typical fee would be
$5577. Some limited cases are a little over $3000. Some
complicated cases are nearly $7000. That's quite a range.
You can see why the best way to find out what braces cost is to make an
appointment for a $37 exam. We take as much time at the exam as
is needed for you to have a good understanding of what's likely to be
involved before you commit to the $367 records visit. In addition
to explaining the orthodontic problem and its solution, the letter
following the records visit anticipates many questions you may
have. Very few people have questions or doubts after that, so the
letter usually includes a treatment starting date if treatment is to
start soon. If you just don't know, and just want to talk, call
the office. Dr. Lang can call you back and spend whatever time you need
to answer any questions you have on the phone before you commit to a
first visit. You can also send an email using our contact page.
Dr. Lang will usually answer this personally. Please include your
telephone number in case your questions can best be answered by
phone. Our goal is to meet your needs. In these difficult
financial times, the last thing we want is to have you feel that you
have been talked into something, or that you are not financially
prepared.
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About
Treatment - a very long section with much detail
Q. Do you do Damon Appliances?
A. No, we do not.
Q. What about colored braces?
A. Colored braces don't work very well. They are made of plastic
which is less durable and discolors. What we do is put colored rings
over the metal braces so you can decorate your mouth. Clear, white, and
"tooth" colored rings are also available.
Q. What about colored retainers?
A. Yes, we have them! Retainers are available in a variety of
colors.
Q. What about those jewelry-colored wires?
A. We don't use them. We use only wires approved by the ADA
Council on Dental Materials.
Q. Do you use recycled brackets?
A. No. We use new brackets.
Q. Is the water safe in your office?
A. Yes. We use distilled water.
Q. Do you sterilize your instruments?
A. Yes. Everything which goes in your mouth and which is
not disposable has been sterilized since the last time it was
used. We use the "universal precautions" outlined by the CDC.
Q. Does Dr. Lang do the work or does he have
assistants do it?
A. California law is very specific about what may and may not be
done by assistants. Dr. Lang will do things the law requires only
be done by the orthodontist. He will also do many of the things
which could also be done by an assistant. He will have assistants
do some of the things they are licensed to do.
Q. Do I have to have teeth taken out?
A. This depends entirely on your orthodontic problem.
Non-extraction is more likely if treatment is started early
enough. Starting treatment early favors non-extraction. It
also takes longer and costs more. Bring children in early, so Dr.
Lang can decide.
- download more information on
serial extraction here .
Q. What about wisdom teeth?
A. This is a decision made on an individual basis.
- download more information on
wisdom teeth here .
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Q. Why do some people need a headgear or neckgear?
A. This is complicated. It has to do with the position of
your teeth relative to your jaw bones. If we need to move upper
teeth back and we don't want to move lower teeth forward, we need to
use something like a headgear. To determine what direction we
need to move the teeth, Dr. Lang uses a "cephalometric analysis."
Bring children in early, so Dr. Lang can decide. Patients usually
only wear the appliance at home and while sleeping, so nobody knows
they are wearing one. Shhh... it's our secret!
Q. Do you use a Herbst, Bionator, or any other
Functional Appliance?
A. Yes. We use functional appliances but only where they are
appropriate.
Q. What is a biteplate and why do I have to wear
one?
A.
A biteplate is like a removable retainer without the front wire. It has
several purposes, but the most common one is to make a vertical
separation between your upper and lower teeth so we can get braces on
the lower. There are other ways to do this, but a biteplate is more
efficient, more hygienic, and more safe to use.
- download more information on
biteplates here .
Q. What are elastics and why do I have to wear
them?
A. Elastics are rubber bands that run from one tooth to another,
usually from upper teeth to lower teeth. They are a good way to make
group movements or whole arch movements. They are usually worn on both
sides, but sometimes not. They are made of natural latex, but we have
synthetic ones for those with latex allergies. Natural latex works
better. Elastics need to be changed at least once or twice a day to be
fresh and have the pull they need for tooth movement. We will give you
a small bag of elastics when you start yours. Ask for another bag any
time you run out. If you don't wear your elastics as directed, your
treatment progress will stop.
- download more information on
elastics here .
Q. Do you ever give tours of your office?
A. Yes. Ask your teacher to arrange a classroom tour with
our office.
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Q. How are emergencies handled?
A. True emergencies (threat to life or health) are rare in
Orthodontics. Inconveniences such as broken braces and loose
bands do happen. If you can't wait until our next regular
business day for a repair, Dr. Lang is on call for you. There
will be a charge for visits outside office hours. When Dr. Lang
is out of town, there will be another local orthodontist on call.
Dr. Lang will be on call for other orthodontists from time to time.
Q. My friend is wearing a
'some-kind-of-appliance'. Why don't you use that on me instead of
what I have?
A. Each patient's treatment plan is individual. Different
appliances work well for different problems. Each orthodontist
uses what works best in their own hands.
Q. What about invisible braces (Invisalign™)?
A. Invisible alignment has been around for many years. What
is new is the manufacturing technique and the marketing technique.
See our page on invisible appliances.
Q. What about braces hidden on the back of the
teeth?
A. Lingual orthodontic braces do not work the same as those on
the front of the teeth. We do not use them.
Q. What if I am pregnant, can I still get braces?
A. We usually wait until after the baby is born.
Q. I want to get done fast. (I know I have
gotten behind
because of breakage, etc., but it's "not my fault.") Why can't you just
tighten the braces really a lot and get me done sooner?
A. There is a correct amount of force for maximum tooth
movement. Exceeding this amount may cause problems or actually
slow treatment.
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Q. Why does breakage set me back in treatment?
A. When we repair broken bands, wires, and brackets, we usually
need to go back a step or two, because the tooth with the broken brace
is not "with the program." Repeated breakage can make you get
farther behind with the passage of time. A way to put it is, each item
of breakage adds a month to your treatment time. Sometimes more,
sometimes less, but it's a good rule of thumb.
Q. My uncle is a building contractor. He can
set an exact date for completion of a project. Why can't you?
A. Your uncle does not have a teenager for a business partner.
Seriously, a better comparison might be asking a teacher when a child
will have an assignment finished. The teacher can say when it is due,
but cannot guarantee the student will have it done by then.
Q. If I move, will I be able to continue my
treatment?
A. Usually. Patients sometimes move away in
mid-treatment. It's like changing schools in mid-semester.
At the new school, they may be on a different page in the textbook, or
they may use a different textbook altogether, so various tests may be
necessary to see where you are in the subject. Orthodontists use
diagnostic records to see where you are in treatment.
- download more information on
outgoing transfers here .
Q. If I transfer, will my treatment take longer or
cost more?
A. Yes, usually. Like changing drivers in a car, you need
to stop for a while. Also, the cost of completion will be based
on the fees of the orthodontist you transfer to. Most larger
areas have higher fees for the same services. We will try our
best to adjust your account to reflect only how much work was done
here.
Q. One company I found on the Internet says their
braces are
better than others and I should ask my orthodontist why they are not
using them. Should I?
A. Most orthodontic manufacturers think their products are best,
but leave it up to the orthodontist to decide which ones they want to
buy.
Q. You got my friend's braces done in only a
year. Why are mine going to take longer?
A. People are different.
Q. My braces are taking longer than my friend who
goes to another orthodontist. How come you are so slow?
A. Some things take longer than others. Maybe your problem
is more difficult to solve.
Q. My braces got done in less time than my friend
who goes to another orthodontist. Did you leave something out?
A. Some things take longer than others. Maybe your problem
is less difficult to solve.
Q. How come you don't do things the same way as
the orthodontist my friend goes to?
A. Different orthodontists use different techniques.
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Q. All I want to know is when I will get my braces
off. Why can't you just tell me?
A. Some questions are difficult to answer accurately, and we
don't want to disappoint you one way or the other. We really
don't know the exact moment when the teeth will be straight enough to
take the braces off. We make an estimate at the beginning of
treatment, but your teeth are not on a timer.
Q. My teeth look good enough to me. Why do
you say there is more work to do?
A. It is usually because there are things that need to be done
with the back teeth which don't show, but which will enhance the
quality or stability of the result.
Q. Will I have to wear retainers after my braces
are off?
A. Most likely, yes. This is the way we hold the teeth in their
new positions. Retainer wear starts at 24 hours per day and is reduced
over a period of time.
- download more information on
retainers here .
Q. If I don't wear my retainers, what will happen?
A. Your teeth will try to move back to where they were before
treatment. It's always best to wear your retainers as
directed. The old saying goes: "The quickest way to get back into
braces is to not wear your retainers."
- download more information on
relapse here .
Q. My friends who've had braces elsewhere don't
have to wear retainers. Why do you make me wear them?
A. Your friends either are not wearing their retainers when you
see them (because they no longer need to wear them 24 hours per day or
they should be wearing them 24 hours per day but they are not) or they
are wearing permanent retainers on the tongue side of their teeth. Dr.
Lang believes that removable retainers are best for his patients. There
are several reasons for this: hygiene, safety, adjustment, gradual
reduction of wearing time, quicker discovery of unstable results.
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New To
Area
- what to expect
Q. I am a new patient to your area. I am in
braces and am checking out orthodontists to transfer to. What do
I do next?
A. Call the office and tell us. We will send you
information so you can decide if you want to chose our office.
- download more information on
incoming transfers here .
Q. What if I am new to your area, I am in braces
and I just want to get them off. Is that possible?
A. Yes, usually, but that will not happen on the first visit.
Call the office and say so. We will send you some information. Refer to
the informaiton we send you for details.
Q. I am new in your area, I am in braces, but I
don't want to transfer. Can Dr. Lang just tighten my braces?
A. Unfortunately, no. Orthodontic treatment may be compared
with cooking. If a different cook steps in during the process,
they can't always tell what's been done and what comes next, even by
looking at the recipe.
Q. What if my orthodontist sends Dr. Lang my
treatment plan and tells him what's next?
A. Each orthodontist must make his or her own decisions.
Orthodontic treatment plans are general in nature. Much is
carried in the head of the orthodontist who has a feel for how things
are going. What's next on a given visit may change according to
the judgment of the orthodontist who has been treating the case.
Q. What if I want my old orthodontist to be the
one to finish the treatment but need an emergency visit?
A. Please call our office. We may be able to help you.
Q. I have moved here and think I want to transfer
to your office. Is it complicated?
A. Transferring from one orthodontist to another is like changing
schools in mid-semester; there may be some catching up to do. Or it may
be compared with changing drivers on a car trip; you need to stop for a
while. Although we may have the recipe and the ingredients, we will
need to do an analysis (using x-rays, models of the teeth and such) to
figure out where exactly you are in the current treatment plan.
Sometimes it's necessary to change the plan or change the appliances.
Although all braces work in about the same way, there are over a dozen
manufacturers, each with a half-dozen or so styles of braces. The
automotive analogy fits here: Chevys and Fords are much alike, but Ford
parts don't fit Chevys.
Q. I am in braces with another orthodontist here
in Humboldt County but I am unhappy. Can I transfer to your
office?
A. We usually do not encourage this. In the unusual cases
when a cross-town transfer does take place, they have needed to have
their braces taken off by their existing orthodontist before
re-starting treatment in our office.
- download more information on
local transfers here .
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On the
Internet - short section
Q. I have found you on the internet. I don't
live in your area. How can I find an orthodontist close to me?
A. Go to our 'links' page. The American Association of
Orthodontists maintains a list of member orthodontists all over
the country.
Q. What if these FAQ's don't answer all my
questions?
A. Look elsewhere on our site for more information. There
are also links to some dental and orthodontic resources on our links
page. If you still have questions, we invite you to call the
office. If we can't answer your questions over the phone, we will
be happy to make an appointment for you, or Dr. Lang can call you back.
you can also use our contact page to ask a question.
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