Dr. Rael Bernstein is an orthodontist and has answered some of the common questions Bizymoms visitors have about Braces.
Q. Can one be too old for braces?
A. There is no age limit for orthodontic treatment. As long as the teeth and gums are healthy I can do treatment at any age. Approximately 30% of my patients are adults and our oldest patient graduated from braces at 79 yrs of age.
Q. How much does braces cost?
A. There is a range of fees for orthodontic services based on the treatment that needs to be provided. There is a vast range as there is a vast range of malocclusion. We offer a complimentary examination that is extensive using digital x-rays and photographs which help determine the precise treatment plan for each patient. This way we have a better idea of what is needed and patients can then also be advised on what kind of investment they will be making in their or their kids smiles. As they say - "A smile is priceless"
Q. When will one begin to see changes in his/her teeth after the braces are put on?
A. The day the braces go on there is tension on the teeth and the teeth start to move. With the modern advances in brace technology like the Damon system which I use exclusively - teeth are usually straight within 6-8 months and then it takes some time to perfect the bite and the smile. Orthodontics is more than just a nice smile - it involves fixing the bite and balancing the growth and muscles of the face.
Q. Will one need to have teeth extracted for braces?
A. I have found that using the advanced Damon technology the need to remove teeth has reduced dramatically because of the way the wires interact with the braces. Starting at a younger age can also influence the need to extract teeth as developing issues can be intercepted and corrected early eliminating the need to extract teeth. Arch development which gains space from the teeth can be easily and simply gained using the light forces and small brackets like the Damon system. We use to have to do palatal expanders to make space, headgears and sometimes take out teeth - this has greatly been reduced in my practice due to the use of modern brace technology.
Q. How long will it take to complete the treatment?
A. Not only has the average treatment time been reduced but the number of visits the office has gone down and our average treatment both child and adult is now 18 months and 10 appointments - which includes putting the braces on and taking them off. Again this is an average and is for patients that follow all the rules about not eating hard candy etc. as broken braces can delay treatment with any technique.
Q. Can a person wear braces even though that person may have crowns and missing teeth?
A. We do braces all the time for people with missing teeth, crowns and bridges and even implants - as long as the teeth are healthy we can move them.
Q. How can I prevent my child from being embarrassed by wearing braces?
A. Braces these days are quite the fashion statement and many kids and even most adults are quite proud of their braces. However, if I do have a patient that absolutely doesn’t want braces then we have great new products like Invisalign and Invisalign Teen - that works really well for older teens and adults in certain cases. All the treatment modalities and options are always discussed at our new patient visit so that we can find a way of creating a beautiful smile while engaging the patient and making sure they are not embarrassed.
Q. How to contact Dr. Bernstein if we have further questions?
A.
Address:
515 Farmers Ln
Santa Rosa, CA 95405
Phone: (707) 575-0600 or (707) 836-8360
Fax: (707) 575-5375
Email: Rael@bernsteinbraces.com
Website: www.bernsteinbraces.com
