Frequently Asked Questions
Payment Plans and Insurance
OASECT offers convenient interest-free payment plans to make achieving the smile you always wanted that much more attainable.
We also offer discounts for additional family members, military, and those who choose to pay in full for treatment.
Many dental insurance plans contribute towards the cost of orthodontics. Insurance coverage varies depending on your plan. Contact us to set up a free consultation where we can confirm any insurance benefits you may have.
Early/Phase I Treatment
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children see an orthodontist by age seven to determine if and when orthodontic treatment is needed. By this time, the first permanent molars and incisors have usually come in and cross-bites, crowding, and other problems can be evaluated.
When treatment is started early, our doctors can guide the growth of the jaw and incoming permanent teeth. Early treatment can also regulate the width of the upper and lower dental arches, gain space for permanent teeth, avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions, reduce the likelihood of impacted permanent teeth, correct thumb-sucking, and eliminate abnormal swallowing or speech problems.
Early treatment can have dramatic effects that will simplify later treatment! Please contact us to set up a free consultation for your child – no referral necessary.
First Visit
Your free consultation will take about an hour. At this visit, you will meet with one of our doctors and a friendly Treatment Coordinator. We will take digital photos of your teeth and a complimentary digital x-ray, if one hasn’t been taken at your general dentist within the past year. The doctor will use this to develop a customized treatment plan for you. We will discuss this with you in detail, including the cost of treatment, and answer any questions you may have. Please contact us to schedule a free consultation at a time and location convenient to you – no referral is necessary!
Adult Treatment
Orthodontic treatment can be successful at any age! In fact, one of every five patients in orthodontic treatment is over 21! Adults especially appreciate the benefits of a beautiful and healthy smile – after all, your smile makes one of the most significant first impressions! For many adults, receiving orthodontic care improves their self-confidence. Please contact us to set up a free consultation at a time and location that is convenient for you. No referral is necessary!
Retainers
We make a variety of retainers and mouth guards at our in-house lab.
Many patients think that orthodontic treatment ends the day they get their braces off. However, the retention phase of treatment, which follows active tooth movement, is equally important in determining the long-term success of treatment. Once teeth have been aligned, a period of time is needed for them to stabilize so that the surrounding bone and tissue can adapt to the new teeth position.
There are several types and designs of retainers, including those that are removable and those that are fixed, or bonded to a patient’s teeth. The types of retainer s a patient receives depends on the doctor’s prescription and the patient’s personalized treatment plan. The doctor will also recommend the optimal number of hours for retainer to be worn each day. It is important for patients to understand that the longer teeth go without retainers, the better the chance for changes in tooth position.
Regularly wearing retainers is the best way to minimize the opportunity for shifting and the only way to maintain the alignment of teeth far into the future!