Foley Orthodontics Answers Your Questions
New to braces? Dr. John Foley is here to help. Get answers to the most common orthodontic questions from people like you all over The Triangle.
If you don't see your question listed, always feel free to call our Cary office at (919) 249-4900 and our helpful team members can answer all your questions.
Common Questions & Answers About Braces
The American Association of Orthodontists and Dr. Foley recommend an orthodontic screening at age seven. By this age, most Cary children have several permanent teeth that have erupted, letting us evaluate their orthodontic needs.
By this age, Dr. Foley can spot subtle problems with jaw growth and emerging teeth while some baby teeth are still present.
That’s important, because some orthodontic problems may be easier to correct if they are found early at Foley Orthodontics.
Most orthodontic patients at our Cary office begin active braces treatment between ages 9 and 14.
If you want to achieve your dream of a perfect smile, it’s crucial to choose an orthodontist in Cary, NC.
Orthodontists like Dr. John Foley are dental specialists who diagnose, prevent and treat dental and facial irregularities.
This means Dr. Foley is more qualified you to give you the smile of your dreams than you could get from aligners that you can order online.
Dr. Foley received an additional two to three years of specialized education beyond dental school to learn the proper way to align and straighten teeth.
Only those with this formal education may call themselves “orthodontists,” and only orthodontists may be members of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO).
Dr. Foley from Foley Orthodontics has achieved this specialization and is an active member of AAO.
Yes. Dr. John Foley can move healthy teeth at any age.
We can correct orthodontic problems at Foley Orthodontics just as easily for adults as for children.
Dr. Foley uses orthodontic forces to move teeth in the same way for both adults and children, and you’ll notice the benefits of your treatment in no time.
Patients who need orthodontic treatment at Foley Orthodontics generally have one to three years of active treatment.
This can be determined through a free consultation at our Cary office.
The cost of orthodontic treatment depends on many factors, including the severity of the problem, how complex the problem is, and how long treatment lasts.
Dr. Foley will be glad to discuss the cost of treatment and your financing options with you before treatment begins.
The good news is that braces are more affordable today than ever. Our team at Foley Orthodontics also works with insurance companies in North Carolina and offers payment plans that meet your family’s budget.
Crooked and crowded teeth are hard to clean and maintain.
A bad bite can also cause abnormal wear of tooth surfaces, difficulty in chewing and/or speaking, and excess stress on supporting bone and gum tissue.
Without treatment, many problems become worse and can require additional dental care later in life.
Orthodontic treatment is a partnership between Dr. John Foley and yourself.
Dr. Foley provides custom-made fixed or removable appliances that use gentle pressure to move teeth into their proper positions.
Your job is to follow Dr. Foley’s instructions, keep scheduled orthodontic appointments, and maintain excellent oral hygiene to get the best results.
You will also need to see your general dentist as recommended to continue your general dental care.
If you notice an unwanted change in your smile or bite, contact Foley Orthodontics for a free consultation.
Dr. Foley may need to give you an orthodontic tune-up to help you regain proper alignment.
The small changes that happen after braces are removed are due to settling in as you use your teeth for biting and chewing.
The more serious and unwanted changes may be traced to genetics or later-than-normal growth, which is unpredictable.
Movement is most common in lower front teeth. This is particularly true if the teeth were extremely crowded before treatment. Changes in tooth position are a lifelong and naturally occurring phenomenon.
The best way to keep your teeth from shifting is to wear your retainers as prescribed. If you notice movement after your braces are removed, please contact Foley Orthodontics.
Not necessarily. Research suggests that wisdom teeth don’t always cause teeth to shift.
In most cases, wisdom teeth are removed for general dental health reasons rather than for orthodontic health.
Your family dentist or Dr. Foley can help determine whether or not your wisdom teeth need to be removed.
Dr. Foley will recommend how long to continue wearing your retainers, whether they are removable (the kind you put in and take out) or fixed (bonded behind your teeth).
Wearing your retainers as prescribed is the best way to keep your teeth from moving after your orthodontic treatment.
There are many reasons teeth may move following orthodontic treatment. Teeth are not set in concrete, they’re in bone.
Because the bone around your teeth is continually changing (breaking down and rebuilding), your teeth may shift after your braces are removed.
By wearing your retainers, your teeth are more likely to remain where Dr. Foley has placed them through braces treatment.
No. Retainers stabilize and preserve the alignment of teeth and jaws you achieved through your orthodontic treatment at Foley Orthodontics.
Many people in Cary wear removable retainers nightly for the rest of their lives. Ask your Dr. Foley for guidance about your long-term retainer use.
The fact is that throughout your lifetime, even though you have had orthodontic treatment, you can expect changes in tooth position.
Many factors at work may cause teeth to shift. Such changes are different for everyone and most of the time they are hardly noticeable.
However, on occasion, changes can occur that are disappointing to both the patient and Dr. Foley. Changes in tooth position are not a failure of your orthodontic treatment.
They are a natural process. We expect changes in our bodies as we grow older, and teeth are no exception.
To help control and limit these changes, retainers are prescribed after your braces are removed.