What questions should you ask a family dentist who offers to manage your braces or Invisalign® treatment?

When it comes to braces or Invisalign®, it is not surprising to have many questions on the table. Your family dentist should welcome all the questions you might feel are important.

However, here are some important questions you may want to ask:

1. In what way will the treatment differ to that of a regular orthodontist?

Generally, patients with TMJ or facial pain have an abnormal movement of the lower jaw. First, it is essential to study the bite ensuring a comfortable and pain free jaw position. So the treatment by a neuromuscular dentist will most likely take longer than a traditional orthodontist because the dentist has to manage the pain first.

It will also take a little bit longer in some cases depending on how much correction is needed and if the vertical component is included. The actual time that the braces are going to be on the teeth is the same, though at times it depends on how far the teeth need to be moved. Moreover, moving the teeth to get the perfect position takes time as well.

The procedure will normally take three to six months. Even the healing process takes time. Patients with vertical problems in their bite require shifting of the teeth vertically to close up space. It is an advantage when the dentist can record objective data and information about the muscles and the most suitable location of the jaw, the jaw joint and the muscles to set the teeth in a suitable position. Simply shifting the teeth and expecting the muscles to function efficiently will not work.

2. Will the treatment be cheaper or more expensive? And what type of braces or Invisalign® cases will your family dentist undertake for treatment?

The neuromuscular dentist will attend to patients with more complex tooth mechanics to give them comfort and get rid of pain. If a regular orthodontist agrees to work with the patient, by understanding his or her viewpoint, the neuromuscular dentist may refer out certain complex cases that may require surgery as part of the overall treatment plan.

Your dentist is likely to discuss the various types of treatments and work out the cost that suits you best.

3. How long have you been doing braces?

This is a critical question. Make sure you have a dentist who is well trained and experienced. As for Dr. Brossoit, he has completed his fourth year having taken a break to increase his knowledge about braces to offer better services for TMJ patients and other patients.

Back to Braces Home Page