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Every Smile Starts with a Complimentary Consultation!
On your first visit to our office, plan to spend 45 minutes here. First, Becca, Taylor, or Sam will take a digital scan and photos of your teeth, jaws, and face. Next, you will meet with Dr. Duffy to discuss your concerns. By the end of the appointment, treatment options, including if this is the proper time to start orthodontics, will be discussed.
We answer all of the following questions to help determine what kind of treatment, if any, is needed:
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Is treatment needed now or should treatment be delayed until appropriate growth, tooth eruption, or other factors have occurred?
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What treatment procedures will be used to correct the problem?
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Do any teeth need to be removed?
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How long will treatment last?
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How much will it cost?
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What are my payment options?
Your complete clinical diagnosis will describe the nature of the problem, goals for treatment, and fees for orthodontic treatment. Dr. Duffy encourages questions from both the patient and the parents.
First Visit
3D Imaging
The iCAT® Advantage
We are excited to offer the 3-D cone beam imaging system known as the iCAT®, the most advanced dental imaging technology available for orthodontists. The iCAT® creates high resolution 3-D images of a patient’s teeth and jaws.
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A visual image of the relationship of your bones, teeth, nerves, sinuses, airway and structure of your head, face, neck, and jaw.
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A typical scan time of 8.5 seconds
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The ability to produce high resolution 3-D images in less than one minute
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Less radiation than a traditional dental X-Ray
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Multiple views for more accurate diagnosis and treatment efficiency
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Green technology (no developing chemicals to pollute the environment)
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A comprehensive 3D visual image that reveals the relationship between the developing airway, teeth, and the growth and development of the jaws.
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Allows Dr. Duffy to share data with you, the patient, so you stay informed and are able to make an educated decision on your course of treatment
We look forward to sharing the advantages of the iCAT® with you so that you can see the difference three dimensional images can make on your smile!
FAQ
Financial
1. How much do braces cost?
All prices are based on the complexity and goals of each particular case. Because these vary with each patient, orthodontic treatment ranges from $2000 for limited treatment up to $7000 for comprehensive treatment. We offer a free consultation with Dr. Duffy and will give you an exact fee if treatment is needed.
2. Do you accept my insurance? Does insurance cover this?
Most orthodontic insurances have a lifetime maximum benefit –normally about $1500. We will file your insurance to make sure you receive your entire benefit. Even if Dr. Duffy is not listed as a provider on your insurance plan, we accept all insurance plans that have a lifetime benefit. The only insurance that we do not accept is contracted insurance such as Soonercare.
3. Do you offer financing options?
We have several financing options available to you that include payment in full with a fee discount, a no interest payment plan with an initial down payment , and a third party lender. Click here for more details.
4. Do you send invoices for payments?
We do not send invoices for monthly payments. We are able to set up a credit or debit card for monthly payments, or we can print a list of payments for check writers. We typically see patients every six weeks for adjustments, but payments are due monthly so we provide these options to keep payments current.
5. Can I use my Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA)?
Yes, flex accounts are a great source of payment, and we will work with you to help you get the maximum benefit.
6. Do you accept credit cards for payment?
Yes, we accept MasterCard®, Visa®, Discover®, and American Express®.
Braces, Treatment, and Retainers
1. Will I need to have teeth extracted for braces?
Removing teeth is sometimes required to achieve the best orthodontic results. Straight teeth and a balanced facial profile are the goals of orthodontics. However, because new technology has provided advanced orthodontic procedures, removing teeth is not always necessary for orthodontic treatment.
2. Is it too late to have braces if I am already an adult?
A surprising percentage of our patients are adults. In fact, 25 percent of all our orthodontic patients are 18 and over. Health, happiness, and self-esteem are vitally important to adults. No patient is ever “too old” to want a beautiful smile!
3. Can I schedule all of my appointments after school?
The majority of your appointments are quick adjustments to your wires that can be scheduled before or after school. There are a few appointments that will require more time that will need to be scheduled during the morning.
4. How long will I have to wear braces?
Depending on the goals set forth at the beginning of treatment determines the length of treatment. Generally for full treatment, you will wear your braces 18-24 months. We will be happy to tell you our “goal date” that we set at the beginning of treatment. Remember to accomplish this goal, we ask you the following things:
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Don’t break any brackets; broken brackets will lengthen treatment.
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Brush your teeth! Teeth move faster in a clean environment!
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Wear you elastics (rubber bands) when the time comes.
5. After I get my braces off, how long do I have to wear my retainer?
You will need to wear your retainers for life – or for as long as you want straight teeth. Tooth movement is a natural part of aging. You can prevent tooth movement as long as you wear your retainers nightly; they will retain the movement of your teeth!
6. Why do I need to come into the office to get a new retainer? Why do you have to take another impression?
When we make your retainer, the model from the impression gets destroyed in the process. This allows us to make the tightest fit possible so that the retainer fits your smile!
Miscellaneous
1. Do I need to brush my teeth before I come for my appointment?
We have a teeth brushing station so that as soon as you check-in you can brush your teeth here.
2. Do I need to see my family dentist while in braces?
Yes! Regular check-ups and cleanings with your family dentist are important while in braces.
3. Can I still play sports?
Yes, but we recommend a mouth guard for all sports! Kevin Durant isn’t afraid of showing off his mouth guard, but basketball is not the only sport where mouth guards are important. Playing soccer, football, baseball, or wrestling all have the potential to cause mouth injuries.
4. Do you have WiFi in your office?
Yes, we provide complimentary WiFi for our patients.
Brushing and Flossing
The best way to ensure a clean and healthy smile is brushing and flossing. Food particles can accumulate on teeth and in braces, and over time, turn into plaque. The bacteria that results from this accumulation can lead to gum disease, tooth decay and even loss of teeth. To avoid these problems while you are in orthodontic treatment, take special care of your braces, teeth and gums to ensure you will have the best possible result.
Brushing
Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and a small strip of fluoride toothpaste. When you brush your teeth, move the brush in small, circular motions to reach food particles that may be under your gum line. Hold the toothbrush at an angle and brush slowly and carefully, covering all areas between teeth, between braces and the surface of each tooth. It will take you several minutes to thoroughly brush your teeth. Brush up on the lower teeth, down on the upper teeth and the outside, inside and chewing surface of your front and back teeth. Brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth before you rinse.
Especially during orthodontic treatment, brush your teeth four times daily to avoid the accumulation of food particles in your teeth and braces:
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In the morning after breakfast
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After lunch or right after school
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After supper
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At bedtime
You will need to replace your toothbrush more often due to your appliances. As soon as the bristles start to wear down or fray, replace your toothbrush with a new one. It may be difficult for your toothbrush to reach some areas under your archwire. Do not swallow any toothpaste; rinse your mouth thoroughly with water after you finish brushing. It is important to floss and use an antibacterial mouthwash and fluoride treatment throughout your orthodontic treatment and beyond for optimal oral hygiene.
Flossing
For areas between the teeth that a toothbrush can't reach, use dental floss to remove food particles and plaque. Flossing takes more time and patience when you are wearing braces, but it is important to floss your teeth every day.
Floss at night to make sure your teeth are clean before you go to bed. When you first begin flossing around your braces, your gums may bleed a little. If the bleeding does not go away after the first few times, inform a staff member at your next appointment.
We recommend Superfloss for flossing which can be purchased locally or online.
Broken Brackets & Other Problems
What is a broken bracket?
A broken bracket occurs when one of the brackets that was bonded to your tooth is no longer attached. Sometimes it will slide along the arch wire and other times it will come out of your mouth completely. (If it does, don’t throw it away! Put it in a plastic baggie, and bring it with you to your appointment!)
If you break a bracket, call our office to schedule an appointment to rebond the bracket to your tooth. Typically Dr. Duffy would like to have the bracket fixed within five days to keep your treatment progressing. If this happens over the weekend, just call us Monday morning.
Even if you are scheduled for an appointment (Yes, even the same day!), call the office to inform us! When we schedule your appointment, we have set aside time and instruments needed to take care of you and your smile! If you arrive with a broken bracket and we’re not aware of it, we won’t be prepared to take care of you – and we hate being unprepared (like a pop quiz with no pen)! Not only do we not have the instruments ready, we haven’t allowed enough time. We know how valuable your time is and want to make sure we take care of you on time!
We know you don’t want to miss school/work or be late to practice, so we create our schedule so the most number of patients can be seen from 3:00 to 5:00 for adjustments only. Broken brackets add significant time to your appointment which is why we can’t fix these in the late afternoon.
Wire Irritations
Sometimes discomfort caused by a wire on your braces and be resolved by moving the wire away from the irritated area with a cotton swab or eraser. If the wire will not move, try covering the end of it with a small piece of cotton or wax. If the wire is painful, you can cut it with nail clippers that have been washed and disinfected in alcohol. If you cannot resolve the wire irritation, call our office the next business day for an appointment.
Wire Movement
Sometimes the arch wire in your braces shifts, creating discomfort. You can move this wire by taking clean tweezers and sliding the wire back into place, centering the black spot on your wire between your two front teeth.
Braces Problems: Pain, Poking Wire, Sore Teeth, Broken Bracket
After Hour Emergencies
If you have a life-threatening emergency, call 911. If you have an orthodontic emergency, call our office number: 918-249-1818. After office hours you will be directed to another number to reach Dr. Duffy directly.
What is an Orthodontic Emergency?
If you have an injury to your mouth from a sports accidents, bicycle crash or something of that nature, or if your appliance (Herbst, palatal expander, lingual holding arch) is broken or loose, call the office at 918-249-1818 to obtain the emergency number to contact Dr. Duffy directly.
Foods to Avoid
For most situations, common sense will tell you what to avoid. Hard foods, sticky foods and foods high in sugar must be avoided. Hard foods can break or damage wires and brackets. Sticky foods can get caught between brackets and wires. Minimize sugary foods; they cause tooth decay and related problems. Nail biting, pencil and pen chewing and chewing on foreign objects should be avoided.
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Gum (sugar-free stick gum is allowed)
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Licorice
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Sugar Daddies
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Toffee
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Tootsie Rolls
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Caramels
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Starburst
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Ice
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Nuts
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Hard taco shells
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French bread crust/rolls
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Corn on the cob
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Apples and carrots (unless cut into small pieces)
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Bagels
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Chips
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Jolly Ranchers
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Pizza crust
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Uncooked carrots (unless cut)
Examples of Sticky Foods to Avoid:
Examples of Hard Foods to Avoid:
Minimize Sugary Foods
Only Once a Week
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Cake
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Ice Cream
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Cookies
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Pie
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Candy
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Soda
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Sweetened tea
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Gatorade
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Kool-Aid
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Drinks with sugar
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It's important to regularly check your braces for bent or loose wires and brackets. In the event of a loose/broken wire or bracket, call our office immediately to arrange an appointment for repair.