Monday Wednesday : Our schedule rotates each week between two early days ( 7:45 am- 4:00 pm ) and a late day ( 8:30 am- 5:00 pm ).
Thursday : 8:30 am- 5:00 pm
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Click here for our map and directions to our office.
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What insurance policies does your office accept? Do you accept Peachcare or Medicaid?
We accept all insurance plans that do not require a referral or require that you go to an Orthodontist on their specified list. Peachcare and Medicaid do not pay for orthodontic treatment. Please contact your insurance company for any other questions.
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What do I do in case of an emergency?
View common emergencies here. Call our office as soon as possible if you break or loosen any of your appliances. Please do not come directly to our office - by calling ahead if allows us to schedule a time to see you. Even if you have a regularly scheduled appointment, call immediately to notify us if you need an appliance repaired. This process allows less wait time for you.
If you have an emergency after business hours you can page our on-call assistant and schedule a time to meet with her at the office.
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How much do you charge for a consultation and what is done at this initial appointment?
Our consultations are complimentary and last about an hour. We will take a panoramic x-ray and some digital photos of your teeth (which you can take a copy of home with you). Dr. Collins will then take a look and explain what appliances may be needed for treatment, an estimate on time the appliances may be worn and what the appliances will be doing. Your treatment coordinator will then go over any questions or concern you may have and payment options.
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What if I can't make a scheduled appointment?
We ask that you please give us 24 hours notice for any appointment cancellations so that we can fill that appointment slot.
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How often do you return for a check-up?
Typically appointments are every 6-7 weeks and 8-10 weeks for Damon bracket patients. Some appointments require a 1-3 week return for additional banding/bonding, appliance deliveries or specific circumstances.
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Do you offer different payment options or financing?
Yes we do. You have the option to pay in full at the beginning of treatment, which will make you eligible for a 5% discount on treatment. You can use our in office payment plan which would entail a 25% down payment and would allow you to pay the balance off in monthly installments. Finally, we now are proud to offer Unicorn Financial, a 24 month no interest payment plan. Click the Unicorn link for more information.
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Is it required that my family dentist schedule my appointment with the orthodontist?
No, it is not. Many of our patients are referred by their family dentist, yet many other patients take the initiative to schedule an examination themselves.
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At what age should I schedule an appointment for an orthodontic screening?
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends an orthodontic screening at age 7. By this age, several permanent teeth in most children have erupted allowing us to effectively evaluate your orthodontic condition.
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How long will it take to complete treatment?
Treatment time obviously depends on each patient's specific orthodontic problem. In general, treatment times range from 12 to 30 months. The "average" time frame a person is in braces is approximately 22 months.
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Generally, braces do not "hurt." After certain visits, teeth may be sore for a few days. In these situations, pain medications such as Advil or Tylenol will ease the discomfort. However, after most visits, patients do not feel any soreness at all! We often remind our patients, It does not have to hurt to work!
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Can I return to school the day I receive my braces?
Yes. There is no reason to miss school because of an orthodontic appointment.
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Absolutely not! It is our belief that each patient should be provided with their own braces to achieve the best orthodontic result possible.
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Yes. We recommend a mouth guard for all sports.
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Do I need to see my family dentist while in braces?
Yes! Regular checkups with your family dentist are important while in braces. Your family dentist will determine the intervals between cleaning appointments while you are in braces.
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Are there foods I cannot eat while I have braces?
Yes. Once treatment begins, we will explain the complete instructions and provide a comprehensive list of foods to avoid. Some of those foods include: ice, hard candy, raw vegetables and all sticky foods (i.e. caramel and taffy). You can avoid most emergency appointments to repair broken or damaged braces by carefully following our instructions.
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Is it too late to have braces if I am already an adult?
A surprising percentage of our patients are adults. In fact, 25% of all orthodontic patients are adults. Health, happiness, and self-esteem are vitally important to adults. No patient is "too old" to wear braces!
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Can I wear braces even though I have crowns and missing teeth?
Yes. A tooth with a crown will move just like a tooth with a simple filling. When teeth are missing, orthodontic treatment will aid in the alignment of the remaining teeth.
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Why should you choose an orthodontic specialist?
Teeth, and sometimes entire facial structures, are permanently changed by orthodontic treatment. It is important that the treatment be appropriate and properly completed. Orthodontic specialists have extensive and specialized training that enables them to provide their patients with professional, personalized treatments.
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