When you or your child becomes an orthodontic patient, your mind becomes flooded with questions. You want to make the right decisions for you or your child, but knowing what to do can be confusing, and researching can be overwhelming and time-consuming. Every doctor seems to have different opinions and other sites use vocabulary aimed at other medical professionals. At Hamer & Glassick Orthodontics, we believe in patient education. We also believe in making the transition into orthodontic care stress-free and simple. That is why we decided to put all of our practice’s orthodontic FAQs into one place, so you can confidently start your treatment sooner rather than later.
Why is an in-person orthodontist the best choice for orthodontic care?
We know you have plenty of options for where to receive your orthodontic work. For example, your primary dentist might offer an orthodontic service, or you might qualify for an online provider. However, and we promise we’re not biased, we strongly encourage you to consider an in-person orthodontist for your orthodontic needs!
An orthodontist is a dentist who has continued their education to specialize in teeth and jaw alignment. This extra training and experience mean they are more qualified and knowledgeable on orthodontic topics. They can provide more in-depth insight, precise care, and treatments for a broader range of needs.
Online services are brought to you by orthodontists, but you lack the advantages of in-person care. Virtual treatment boasts the convenience of direct-to-consumer aligners, but in-person care boasts the following benefits:
- A personalized treatment plan created using all the available and necessary information that an online provider has no means of getting.
- Form a relationship with the orthodontist creating your customized treatment plan.
- No DIY orthodontic work at home because a whole team of professionals at our office will do it all for you!
- Access to our top-of-the-line technology, like our 3D scanner that reveals information critical to your care.
- Support a local business and help your community thrive and grow.
- Have an oral healthcare professional carefully and closely monitor your teeth’s health throughout treatment.
- And more!
Online services and dentists usually only offer one treatment option—clear aligners. While we love clear aligners at Hamer & Glassick and offer Invisalign, we know it’s not the best choice for everyone. Some needs are too complex, and some lifestyles do not fit them well. Fortunately, Dr. Hamer’s and Dr. Glassick’s expertise also qualifies them to offer metal and clear braces, allowing them to treat a broader range of bite and alignment correction needs and help even more people of Charlottesville and Crozet smile with confidence!
Are my child and I too old for braces?
Nope! There is no age limit on when you can receive braces! Though the American Association of Orthodontists states that your child should visit the orthodontist for the first time by age seven, you do not automatically become too old for braces when you reach adulthood or teen years.
It’s never too late to invest in your smile; all ages deserve smiles they are proud of and not to have their quality of life reduced by crooked teeth.
Is the treatment expensive?
Hamer & Glassick Orthodontics takes pride in providing budget-friendly orthodontic care. We also gladly work closely with various insurance companies to ensure you get the most out of the benefits you pay for and save you the hassle! Our dedicated insurance team will do everything possible to minimize your out-of-pocket payment.
If you have a remaining balance and need extra help, we also accept CareCredit Financing!
We will do our best work with you and create a payment plan that works for you. Please don’t hesitate to speak to our team. Dr. Hamer and Dr. Glassick don’t want someone’s reason for not pursuing treatment to be because of cost!
What are the benefits of orthodontic care?
There are so many it would be hard to list them all, but we’ll sum up the most commonly appreciated benefits!
- Easier to maintain oral hygiene
- Easer to eat
- Improved digestive health
- Minimize or eliminate jaw pain
- Better oral health
- Improved breathing and sleeping
- Reduce the risk of dental injury and abnormal wear and tear
- Reduce the frequency of migraines and neck pain
- Increase your chances of making positive professional, romantic, and platonic connections by improving how others perceive you
- Reduce pain caused by poor oral health
- Improve overall physical and mental well-being
- Help children’s teeth and jaw bones grow and develop correctly
- And more!
Do I have to dedicate much of my daily schedule to out-of-office care?
You will have some responsibilities out-of-office to ensure pleasant and effective treatment, but it won’t take up too much of your time. For fixed braces, you must maintain a braces-friendly diet and clean your braces after every meal. For removable braces, rinse the mouth after meals, wash your aligners daily, and keep up with them when you’re not wearing them. Overall, you should only spend a few minutes of your day dedicated to orthodontic maintenance!
When considering the different braces you qualify for, we encourage you to carefully and realistically assess the work that comes with them. We don’t want your braces to feel like a chore or disrupt your lifestyle!
Can I opt out of retainer treatment?
Technically, you could choose not to wear your retainer, but that’s a bad idea! Not wearing your retainer will likely result in you needing retreatment with braces! We don’t want your hard work to be for naught, so wear your retainer as instructed! Retainers protect the financial and time investment you’ve made by holding the teeth in place as the mouth adjusts. Without it, your teeth will try to regress or backshift to their original locations. Hamer & Glassick Orthodontics strongly recommends you wear your retainer for long-lasting results!
Visit Hamer & Glassick Orthodontics if you have more questions!
We know we might not have covered every question on your list, and that’s okay! We promise we have the answers you’re looking for! Contact our offices to speak to a helpful team member. They will answer all the questions they can. When you’re ready, they can help you schedule a free consultation so you can discover which treatment options you or your family qualify for.
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