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Your First Visit
There is no charge for your first visit at Erickson Orthodontics. Dr. Erickson will take a complimentary x-ray and digital photos of your teeth and face. After reviewing these, Dr. Erickson will listen to your concerns and desires, and he will develop a plan for your orthodontic treatment that best fits your needs. Once you have decided to begin treatment, additional records will be taken to ensure the best possible outcome.
Regular Appointments
The initial appliance placement appointment usually takes from one to two hours. We would like to see you every four to six weeks to make adjustments to your braces or aligners, which usually takes twenty to forty minutes. It is important to keep these appointments. Missing appointments may prolong treatment. We make every effort to be on time for our patients, and we ask that you extend that same courtesy to us. If you cannot keep an appointment, please notify us immediately.
Office Hours
As a service to our patients, we offer evening hours on Wednesday's. Because these appointment times are so desired, please cancel only if it is an emergency.
Treatment Fees
Dr. Erickson believes that cost should not be a barrier to receiving excellent orthodontic treatment.
The cost of treatment depends on the severity of the patient's problem and appliances used. You will be able to discuss fees and payment options before treatment begins. We also accept assignment from most insurance plans, and file the necessary papers to the insurance company. We work hard to make orthodontics affordable.
In an effort to keep orthodontic fees down while maintaining the highest level of professional care, we have established this financial policy:
- If full payment is made at the onset of treatment, we will offer a fee discount. (If you have insurance, we will offer a discount for payment of your portion of the fee that will not be covered by insurance.)
- To fit your individual needs, financial arrangements can be made to extend your payments over a period of months.
- For your convenience, we accept payment by Visa and MasterCard.
- In cases of serious delinquency, treatment will be discontinued, although we will make every effort to accommodate patients with temporary difficulties.
- We also offer a substantial family discount (up to 10%) for multiple family members that have treatment in our office.
General Soreness
When you get your braces on, you may feel general soreness in your mouth and teeth may be tender to biting pressures for three to five days. This can be relieved by rinsing your mouth with a warm saltwater mouthwash. Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in eight ounces of warm water, and rinse your mouth vigorously. If the tenderness is severe, take aspirin or whatever you normally take for headache or similar pain. The lips, cheeks and tongue may also become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and become accustomed to the surface of the braces. You can put wax on the braces to lessen this. We'll show you how!
Loosening of Teeth
This is to be expected throughout treatment. Don't worry! It's normal. Teeth must loosen first so they can be moved. The teeth will again become rigidly fixed in their new - corrected - positions.
Loose Wire or Band
Don't be alarmed if a wire or band comes loose. This happens occasionally. If a wire protrudes and is irritating, use a blunt instrument (back of spoon or the eraser end of a pencil) and carefully, gently push the irritating wire under the archwire. Simply get it out of the way. If irritation to the lips or mouth continues, place wax or wet cotton on the wire to reduce the annoyance. Call our office as soon as possible for an appointment to check and repair the appliances. If any piece comes off, save it and bring it with you to the office.
Care of Appliances
To successfully complete the treatment plan, the patient must work together with the orthodontist. The teeth and jaws can only move toward their corrected positions if the patient consistently wears the rubber bands, headgear or other appliances as prescribed. Damaged appliances lengthen the treatment time.
Brushing
It's more important than ever to brush and floss regularly when you have braces, so the teeth and gums are healthy after orthodontic treatment. Patients who do not keep their teeth clean may require more frequent visits to the dentist for a professional cleaning. Adults who have a history of gum disease should also see a periodontist during orthodontic treatment.
Athletics
If you play sports, it's important that you consult us for special precautions. A protective mouthguard is advised for playing contact sports. In case of any accident involving the face, check your mouth and the appliances immediately. If teeth are loosened or the appliances damaged, phone at once for an appointment. In the meantime, treat your discomfort as you would treat any general soreness.
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