Frequently asked questions
There are some questions concerning braces that nearly everybody has. Here are the answers to frequent questions of our patients.
What do I do if a bracket or a band has loosened or the bow hurts?
First of all, a loosened bracket is no acute emergency, as typically the bracket is still on the bow and nothing hurts. When brushing the teeth the bracket should be put aside in order to clean the tooth properly. If a terminal bracket is lose, it can fall of and the end of the bow might hurt. Please call us immediately and make an appointment. Please bring the lose bracket with you.
What do I do, if my mobile appliance does not fit any more, is broken or lost?
Ideally, you call us immediately and make an appointment. As a matter of fact, teeth can get shifted easily when no braces are in place, sometimes within days.
What do I do, if my retainer is loose?
Please make an appointment immediately, before teeth get shifted. Should you still have a mobile appliance, please wear it at night until the appointment.
Does the fixed appliance damage my teeth?
An important prerequisite for a fixed appliance is a good and regular mouth hygiene. Given lots of wires and braces in the mouth it’s much harder to clean the teeth properly. This is why we recommend a certain brushing technique, special teeth brushes and interdental brushes as well as the use of fluorid gel and mouth water. In addition, we provide the sealing of the bracket’s surrounding and recommend a regular professional tooth cleaning by your dentist or us. That way, your teeth will stay healthy even with a fixed appliance.
What is a good point in time to start with orthodontic treatment?
Orthodontics is not a question of age. From early treatment at child’s age to “typical” orthodontic treatment of adolescent to aesthetic or pre-prothetic motivated of adults even in advanced age we have orthodontic opportunities. The only prerequistes are a sufficient mouth hygiene and a healthy peridontium. It is never too late for beautiful and even teeth.
There are cases when an orthodontic treatment should start very early in age, i.e. if the first remaining teeth appear (at about 6 years). Such measures are necessary only in specific cases, e.g. cross bite, extreme over- or underbite or extreme scarcity of place.
Typically, orthodontic treatments starts at the age of 9 to 10, when the first remaining lateral teeth as canines are growing and pubertal growth is upcoming.
Please make an appointment for a first consultative interview, so that we can determine the optimal start in dependence of the teeth and jaw malposition as well as the biological age.
Do I need a transfer from the dentist to approach the orthodontist?
You do not need a transfer from the dentist to make an appointment with us. There are cases, when dentists give you a short letter that explains a specific question.
If you are with a compulsory sickness insurance, please bring your card to the first appointment.
What about the costs, what will the take?
The compulsory sickness insurance pay for a basic treatment of children and youth up to the 18th year (start of treatment). The treatment of adult is payed only, if there is a severe anomaly of the jaws. That requires a jaw surgery as well.
Not included are treatments of so called light teeth- or jaw malocclusions (orthodontic indication groups KIG 1 or 2), as well as additional or surplus services such as specific braces and bows, Invisalign treatment, functional analytic services, etc. Additional private insurance can cover these costs. This is why we recommend to make a private additional insurance prior to your first visit at an orthodontist. Information on these insurances is available at www.waizmanntabelle.de.
Medium grade teeth-or jaw malocclusions (KIG 3, 4 and 5) are covered by compulsory sickness insurance. However, 20% of the costs you have to take at first. After successful completion of the treatment the insurance will refund these 20%.
We give you cost information about your treatment already in your first appointment.
Private insurance companies pay for orthodontic treatment without age limit. However, there are so many tariffs that a general information on coverage of costs is difficult. Ideally, you hand in a cost plan, that we gladly provide, and make sure, the costs are covered.
In general, within private insurance only the unknown risk without risk additions is covered. It is wise to optimize your coverage prior to the first consultancy. For more detailed questions we are available for you via phone or e-mail.
What do I have to consider after the orthodontic treatment is over?
The time following the active orthodontic treatment is named “retention phase”. It is important, to keep the teeth in the desired position for a long time to secure the success of the treatment. We recommend to wear a mobile appliance at night or to attach a bow out of stainless steel at the inner side of your teeth, that secures the right position. Such permanent bows (“retainer”) can be kept up to old age of for ever.
As a matter of fact you can send us an e-mail with all other questions regarding your appliance or the treatment via: info@kfopraxis-oberursel.de