If you’re getting ready to call an orthodontist, you might have some questions about how the process works.  Here is a step-by-step guide for you from Meadows Orthodontics in Castle Rock, Colorado (located next to Einstein Bagels):

1.  RESEARCH FIRST!  Before calling an orthodontist that you’re interested in, be sure and research them online.

– Do they have the hours you want?

-Are they Board Certified?  (www.americanboardortho.com)

-Are they located in a convenient location (appointments are generally spaced out every 5-7 weeks, however, don’t forget about emergency appointments or extra appointments if your child is in need of an appliance, such as an expander)?

-Did the doctor specialize in orthodontics for 2-3 years after dental school?

These are just a few of the important questions to ask yourself before calling.

PROBABLY MOST IMPORTANTLY, IF YOU HAVE ORTHODONTIC INSURANCE, find out if the orthodontist you’re interested in PARTICIPATES in your dental plan.  This means that the price will be capped on the top IN ADDITION to getting a benefit!  This could save your thousands of dollars!  Most everyone will “take” your insurance, but few actually participate.  

2.  WHEN YOU CALL be sure and find a good time for BOTH parents to attend, if at all possible.  An investment in your or your child’s smile is FOREVER, and you are truly paying for the expertise of the orthodontist.  It is virtually impossible to recreate a conversation when you return home and show your spouse an estimate, but having both parents at the consultation can help prevent confusion and help with the decision process.  Most offices have things for your younger children to do, so do not hesitate to bring them alone!

ALSO – confirm that the appointment is complimentary and whether or not your child will need a panoramic x-ray.  In addition, it is VERY important to give the office your dental insurance information because the office can call and confirm what your benefits are prior to you arriving.  THIS IS CRITICAL IN RECEIVING AN ACCURATE ESTIMATE DURING YOUR VISIT.  If you do not have orthodontic coverage, take heart… only about 35% of families do!

3.  THE FORMS ARE ONLINE!  If you want to save time, most offices have forms that you can print and fill out prior to arriving.  If you don’t have the time to do this, the paperwork you’ll need to fill out at the time your arrive is minimal (less than 10 minutes).

4.  ONCE YOU ARRIVE, your child will most likely have a panoramic x-ray unless you’ve arranged to have your dentist send a recent panoramic film to the orthodontist.  The x-ray takes about 2 minutes to complete and you should go home with a copy at the end of the visit.  Your child will also have pictures taken that assist the orthodontist in creating a treatment plan.  You will get to take these home as well.

After the x-ray and pictures are taken, the exam with the orthodontist takes place.  Take special note of how much time the orthodontist is willing to give you.  Does he or she examine your child’s mouth for 5 minutes and then leave, or does he or she spend time with you?  This is an important note to take when deciding how much personal attention you need throughout the treatment process.

Dr. Rejman makes it a priority to spend a great deal of time with a family so that your questions can be answered and the full treatment plan can be explained in great detail.  He gives his personal cell phone to patients, and families are always welcome to call with post-consult questions as well.

5.  Finally, the FINANCES are discussed with the Treatment Coordinator.  This is your opportunity to hear what the cost of the treatment will be, what your insurance discounts or benefits will be, and what your payment options are.  Meadows Orthodontics offers interest free financing and many payment options that will make your life easier over the next 12-24 months!

There!  It’s that simple!  To schedule a complimentary consultation today, call us at 303-660-0112.  We are open from 8:45 AM – 5:00 PM every single day of the week AND we offer before school, evening and Saturday appointments!

Dr. Daniel Rejman is a Board Certified Orthodontic Specialist and treats children, teenagers and adults with traditional braces, Ceramic braces, Invisalign Teen and Adult Invisalign.  He owns Meadows Orthodontics in Castle Rock, Colorado and is the only orthodontist at this practice.  As a Castle Rock resident, he is very accessible for not only appointments, but for emergency appointments in the evening and on the weekends.  Dr. Rejman was voted a TOP ORTHODONTIST by his dental peers as seen in 5280 magazine and has multiple awards and honors that can be seen at our website (www.meadowsorthodontics.c0m).  Most importantly, we offer a warm and fun place for you and your children to receive orthodontic treatment!  WELCOME!

The big day has finally arrived!  Both you and your orthodontist have worked hard to make a beautiful smile, with perfectly straight teeth.  It’s time to have your braces removed!  This is usually an extremely happy day with a reason to celebrate!

When some people have their braces removed, however, white spots that look like a “picture frame” from around the outside of the braces remain.  These white stains can form along the border of the teeth near the gum line.  After all of that beautiful work, the appearance of these stains, which are often permanent, is not something that we at Meadows Orthodontics are happy to see.  These permanent white stains are called decalcification, which is a loss of calcium from the enamel.  Decalcification most often occurs due to the poor removal of dental plaque from the teeth, whether the gum lines, around the braces, or if there are no braces at all!  The bacteria in plaque produce acids that damage tooth enamel by leaching away calcium.  This leads to the often permanent white spots, which is the beginning of a more extensive cavity if habits do not change.

What can be done to prevent these unsightly white spots?  First, the removal of dental plaque, by brushing, flossing or waterpik is vital.  An excellent brusher will rarely aquire stains.  Second, avoid or limit the amount of processed sugars in your diet.  Bacteria in plaque actually feed on sugars, and release acids as a waste product onto your teeth.  Yuck!  Soda and sports drinks are the biggest culprits, as the additional acidity compounds the effect on teeth.  Finally, fluoride rinses can help remineralize teeth, but only to a point.  The public water in and around Castle Rock if fluoridated, so this helps in the development of the enamel but this is not enough to counter the effects of poor plaque removal and high sugar levels.

So, protect that beautiful smile while you are in braces (and after!).  Dr. Rejman will always take the time to educate you and your child about proper dental care and a healthy diet.

Dan Rejman is an orthodontist in private practice located in Castle Rock, Colorado.  Meadows Orthodontics provides braces and Invisalign for children, teens and adults and offers before school, day time, evening and Saturday appointments.  Dr. Rejman is a Board Certified orthodontist and has been voted a TOP ORTHODONTIST in 2012 and 2013.  Please go to www.meadowsorthodontics.com to learn more. 

ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT FOR CHILDREN

One of the most commonly asked questions about orthodontics in the Castle Rock community is…

An excellent article published by the Wall Street Journal discusses the pros and cons. To summarize the article, early or “two phase” treatment is orthodontic treatment before all the permanent teeth have erupted.  This approach is used when waiting to treat would create a significantly more difficult treatment plan or less stable outcome.  The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that all children be evaluated at the age of 7.  With that being said, only a relatively small percentage of those children will need early treatment.  Orthodontists generally agree that the optimum time to treat a case is during the adolescent growth spurt.  In girls this is typically seen from ages 9 to 12, and in boys from ages 10-14.  There are exceptions due to individual variation in growth.

Lysle Johnston, one of the most prominent orthodontic educators of our day, has argued that a lot of early treatment is a “practice management decision” rather than a biologic imperative.  It is his way of kindly stating that much of it is done unnecessarily.

The fundamental questions Dr. Rejman asks when evaluating a patient for early treatment are as follows:

•  If I don’t treat this patient now, will I miss a window of opportunity that will negatively affect his/her outcome?
• If I do 2 phases on this patient, will I achieve a better and/or more stable outcome than treating with one phase?
• Will the patient look/function any differently at 18 if I treat in 1 phase versus 2 phases?

If the answer to any of the above is “yes,” then early treatment may be indicated.  Typical orthodontic problems treated early include cross bites or narrow palates, open bites, and under bites.  Early treatment usually requires a second phase of orthodontic treatment when all the permanent teeth have erupted.  When possible, Dr. Rejman prefers to treat patients in a single phase of treatment.  Advantages of single phase treatment include less time in appliances (braces), less patient “burn out” and significantly less cost for families.

Dr. Rejman offers a complimentary exam to assess your child’s orthodontic needs.  If treatment is indicated, we’ll discuss why and what specifically is needed.  If orthodontic problems are evident but no early treatment is indicated, we will continue to periodically monitor your child’s teeth and jaw development at no fee until the time is appropriate for treatment.

Dr. Rejman is the owner of Meadows Orthodontics, a private practice in Castle Rock, Colorado.  Dr. Rejman is conservative about early or “two phase” treatment.  He is also one of the few Board Certified orthodontists in Douglas County and has treated over 4000 patients.  He has been voted a TOP ORTHODONTIST by 5280 magazine in both 2012 and 2013.