Braces, Invisalign, Retainers
Patients of all ages can be candidates for orthodontic treatment as long as they have relatively healthy jawbone density and gum tissue. From young children to middle-aged adults, orthodontics can increase oral function, improve appearance, and assist with preventing disease.
In addition to the aesthetic benefits of having a straighter smile, there are benefits to one’s oral health. Straight, properly aligned teeth are easier to floss and brush. Practicing thorough oral hygiene can prevent diseases like tooth decay and gum disease.
Moreover, properly positioned teeth improve one’s bite – the way that teeth make contact when the mouth is closed and during oral function. If teeth make improper contact, it can lead to tooth wear and TMJ disorder.
Here at Dental Depot Orthodontics, we want to make sure you’re able to receive the treatment you need without putting strain on your finances. That is why we partner with LendingPoint to offer you financing aid to help make the costs of orthodontic procedures much more manageable. For any questions you may have, our front office staff at all of our offices are trained and happy to help with any assistance you may need regarding financing options. Here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions we receive about financing for orthodontics and LendingPoint:
LendingPoint is a loan provider specializing in the medical field and providing loan services to patients in need of financial assistance.
There are many factors LendingPoint takes into consideration when giving a loan offer to a patient. While one of these factors is your credit score, it is only one of many factors so don’t let a low credit score stop you from receiving an offer.
No, checking your offers will have no affect on your credit score. Though when you enter the financial agreement there will be an effect, but that effect is typically mitigated pretty quickly with consistent on-time payments.
The monthly payment will be determined by the amount borrowed, the amount of time allotted to pay it back and the APR. All this information will be disclosed to you when the offer is made.
The borrower and patient do not have to be the same person. Patients can have a friend or family member apply on their behalf.
There is no required down payment to get started, though you ma choose to pay some of the costs for your treatment upfront to reduce the amount financed to you.
To apply, all you need is:
After your offer is accepted, LendingPoint will contact you with payment options. LendingPoint recommends setting up auto-pay online, but there are alternative options as well.
Dental Depot offers an array of teeth straightening options for children, teenagers, and adults. Children most often benefit from conventional orthodontia including metal braces and other appliances that can expand the palate and assist with the emergence of permanent teeth.
While conventional braces are still beneficial to our older patients, teenagers and adults who desire more discreet methods of treatment might benefit from Invisalign.
There are distinct differences in traditional braces and Invisalign. While these two methods of teeth straightening can produce similar results, each method utilizes different materials to gradually shift teeth. Traditional metal brackets and wires are fixed to the teeth. Bonded by a cement-like compound, brackets are placed over the front sides of teeth and attach to wires, which can be tightened over time to create gentle yet consistent pressure. Force and pressure, when applied to teeth in appropriate intervals, is the principle behind all forms of orthodontic treatment.
Like conventional braces, Invisalign facilitates tooth movement with force and pressure but it does so by utilizing form fitting, custom appliances made of plastic. Patients receiving Invisalign treatment will wear sets of aligners, with each set fitting slightly tighter than the previous set. Unlike conventional braces, Invisalign is removable for meals and oral hygiene.
Read more about the difference between Invisalign and braces here.
The positioning of everyone’s teeth varies. This, along with the type of treatment necessary can affect treatment times. Some people can complete orthodontic treatment in as little as nine months while others might require longer treatment.
Read more about how long orthodontic treatment can take here.
Costs for orthodontic treatment vary. The type of treatment you receive as well as the duration of treatment affects cost. After consulting with our doctors, our staff at Dental Depot will be able to give you an estimate of your treatment’s cost so that you can arrange for payment.
According to the American Association of Orthodontists, kids should have their first visit no later than age seven, which is the recommendation we go by at Dental Depot Orthodontics. While your child will probably still have some of their baby teeth, most likely, their permanent molars and incisors will be in so we can get a good idea of what we’re working with. We will gladly provide you with a no obligation and no cost consultation for your child. We can help take some of the mystery out of those early visits as well as go over the benefits of receiving orthodontic care at a young age.
Read more about at what age should a person get braces here.
When a child is seven-years-old, their jaws are still developing. A certified specialist in orthodontics, like Dr. Mark McCollough, is trained to spot even slight problems with jaw growth and the way the permanent teeth are coming in. Even if your child’s teeth look straight enough, there could still be irregularities with their bite.
Read more about the signs and symptoms you should look for here.
Make sure that brushing their teeth is part of their routine from a very young age! Never let them go to bed without brushing their teeth. Cleaning the braces (brushing/flossing) should take a minimum of 2 minutes every time. Every once in a while, watch your child brush their teeth to check to see if you think they’re being thorough. Look in their mouths after they brush to see if gums are bleeding or there is still plaque on the teeth. If they experience pain or something breaks, it is very rarely an actual emergency. Orthodontic wax can be used to smooth over pokey wires until you are able to bring your child into the orthodontist. Always call your orthodontist’s office as soon as possible if something doesn’t seem right!
It really depends a lot on your dental insurance. Our suggestion would be to make sure that you choose the best dental plan with your HR department that will cover a large chunk of the fee for orthodontics, especially if you have been going to see the orthodontist and know that your child is almost ready for orthodontic treatment. However even without orthodontic coverage on your dental insurance, most orthodontic offices are equipped to finance out the cost of treatment at 0% interest. In Oklahoma, the “average” total cost of full braces (typically 1.5-3 years of treatment time) will range from $4000-$6000 depending on the estimated length/difficulty level of the case. It’s also important to know that at Dental Depot, the orthodontists do not charge for consultations!
There is not an ideal age for orthodontic treatment. Teeth alignment can be improved at any age, as long as you have healthy gums and bone structure. While teenagers and children make up the majority of orthodontic patients, adults account for nearly 25% of all patients who seek orthodontic care. Orthodontic treatment can be preventative—moving teeth, changing jaw position, or holding other teeth in place to help guide the desired development—but it can also be effective in restoring proper alignment from years of poor dental health or harmful habits.
Read more about getting orthodontic treatment at different ages here.
Although the majority of orthodontic patients are between the ages of 9 and 14, more and more adults are seeking orthodontic care. Older patients often mean older teeth that have required some kind of dental restoration throughout their lives. However, because it is tailored to your mouth and your specific oral alignment needs, orthodontic treatment is highly customizable and can be adapted to a variety of circumstances common in adults, including crowns or root canals.
Orthodontic treatment involves the physiological process of moving teeth. All treatments apply gradual force to your teeth to guide them into the ideal alignment, and this can rarely be accomplished quickly.
While orthodontics has evolved greatly over the last several decades into a reliable, standardized practice, each patient’s orthodontic treatment plan is customized to his or her unique orthodontic needs. Every smile is different, and yours requires individualized treatment to perfect. Your experience with braces, invisible aligners, or other types of orthodontic devices should be tailored to you.
