The braces questions parents actually ask.

It depends on what needs to move and how far, and any number quoted before an exam is a guess dressed up as a fact. Some corrections are quick, others run considerably longer. Once the orthodontist has looked at your child's teeth and growth, you get an estimate for that specific plan, along with what could shorten or extend it.

Teeth commonly feel tender and under pressure for the first days after braces are placed, and again for a shorter stretch after each adjustment. Most kids describe it as sore rather than sharp, and it typically eases as things settle. Children vary a great deal here, so tell us how yours is doing rather than assuming a rough week is normal.

For the first look, the American Association of Orthodontists suggests an orthodontic check-up by the time a child turns seven, which is early enough to spot problems while growth can still be used. Braces themselves tend to start later, once the last baby teeth have made their exit and a full set of adult teeth has come in to work with.

Every smile is different. Call us and we will talk it through: (239) 482-2722. There is no figure we could put on a page that would honestly apply to your child, and coverage questions depend on specifics that are much better handled in a conversation with our front desk than in anything typed into a website.

Call the office and describe it: (239) 482-2722. If you have the loose piece, keep it and bring it in. Do not reattach, trim or bend anything at home. It is a common occurrence and usually a short repair visit, but it does need to be looked at rather than ignored.

Yes. What changes is mouth protection, because an impact with brackets in place can cut the lips. The right guard depends on the sport and where treatment stands, and a shelf model shaped at home is not always the answer, so raise it with us at the next visit and we will tell you what to look for.

Yes. Brass and woodwind players usually need a couple of weeks to rebuild the feel of the mouthpiece against new hardware, and wax over the front brackets helps during practice. Give the band director a heads up. They have seen this before and will adjust expectations for a short while.

Every few weeks as a rule, with the exact interval set by the orthodontist based on what the teeth are doing at that stage. The visits are short. Booking them after school where possible spares everyone a tender afternoon in the classroom.

Yes, and they matter more than usual while there is hardware to clean around. Cleanings and exams stay on their normal rhythm right through treatment, in whichever office your family already uses.

Most of what they ate before. Three groups cause the trouble: hard things that get crunched, sticky things that pull, and very chewy things that have to be torn. Cutting food smaller, cooking hard vegetables soft, swapping a few items, and biting with the back teeth handles nearly all of it.

Dr. Whitesides, our orthodontist, sees patients at the Fort Myers location for comprehensive orthodontic care. Growth still gets checked at every routine visit no matter which of our two offices your family usually visits, so nothing slips past us.

Please do, and before the appointment rather than during it. Mention it when you book, and mention anything else that helps us plan: a nervous kid, sensory sensitivities, special healthcare needs, or a preference to stay in the room. It changes how the visit is set up, and it is never an imposition.

Retention starts immediately, because teeth that have just been moved will drift back toward where they came from if nothing holds them. A retainer does that holding, and how faithfully it gets worn in the first stretch has a great deal to do with whether the result lasts.