FAQs

General Information | General Information about Braces | Orthodontics and Insurance

General Information

1. Do you have after school appointments?

We have many after school appointments available and will be happy to see you for consultations and routine adjustments during after school hours to the extent that our schedule allows. Please be mindful of the fact that these are the most popular appointments and pre-scheduling of these times is encouraged. For longer appointments such as when your braces are first put on, we reserve more time for questions and patient education therefore mid-day appointments are necessary.

2. How much are braces?

Fees vary depending upon what your individual needs are. We encourage you to ask for a price estimate during your initial consultation. Dr. Bivins will assess your case and based on his findings he will give you a very accurate price estimate.

3. Are consultations free?

Yes consultations are free. Your consultation appointment is generally scheduled for an hour. At this appointment digital photographs and a panorex radiograph are taken. Dr. Bivins displays this information on the chair side computer screen and carefully goes over all information with you. After a through explanation of your orthodontic needs a price estimate may be given.

4. Where are you located?

We are located in the heart of Great Bridge. Close to the corner of Mount Pleasant Road and South Battlefield. Across form Great Bridge Dry Cleaners.

Click Here for directions

5. Do you accept Credit Cards?

Yes, we accept Credit Cards. We accept MasterCard, Visa, American Express, and Discover card.

6. What are full records?

Full records are the diagnostic information that Dr. Bivins uses to develop your individual treatment plan. They consist of molds (impressions) of your teeth which are used to fabricate orthodontic study models, a bite registration which records the position of your upper and lower teeth as they relate to one another and a lateral cephlogram, a radiograph of your head that is used to determine the skeletal relationship of your jaw and cranio-facial structure. By using this information, along with the panorex and digital photos that were taken at the consult Dr. Bivins is able to fully determine your orthodontic needs of establish your treatment plan.

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General Information about Braces

1. Can I chew gum?

You will be given a list of foods to stay away from during the course of your orthodontic treatment. In general you will want to avoid hard or sticky foods that could damage your braces or wires.

2. When can I get my braces off?

Treatment times vary for each patient. A time estimate is given at the start of your treatment. Usually according to the estimated treatment time, or after sufficient headgear or elastic wear is achieved.

3. Am I going to gag?

Gag reflexes are normal. We take this into account during the taking of impressions or placement of appliances. If you have a strong gag reflex, please let us know at your consultation or records Appointment.

4. Does it taste bad?

Some of the products we use do have a sour or bitter taste, but it is only temporary

5. How long does it take to get my braces on?

Appointment times vary according to what is being done. Customarily it can take 1 hour up to 2 1/2 hours.

6. How will my brushing or flossing change when I get braces?

You will be shown specific oral hygiene care and be given instructions on how to brush and floss with your braces.

Clean teeth and gums are extremely important to your overall treatment outcome. The “White Spots” that people have historically attributed to braces is in-fact actually caused by poor oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment.

7. How long do I have to wear my retainer?

We will instruct you on retainer wear after your braces have been removed. Customarily, we request that you wear your retainers full time for the first 6-12 months and the nightly for another year. You will be able to tape down your retainer, but you should always try your retainer in a few times per week to evaluate the minor tooth movement.

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Orthodontics & Insurance

1. Do I have any kind of orthodontic insurance and if so how much do I have?

Your dental insurance card will usually indicate if orthodontics is a covered benefit. If it does not, your benefits manual will give a full description of your benefits.

2. Will my insurance company pay the complete benefit up front?

Normally, your insurance company will pay a portion of your down payment, and will spread the balance of your benefit over the course of treatment.

3. How will my insurance payments affect my regular payments?

Your regularly scheduled payment will be adjusted according to what your monthly insurance will be.

4. If I will be getting orthodontic insurance after treatment has begun, will the insurance company pay any benefits, it so, the full benefit?

If you are already in treatment, most insurance companies will not cover your treatment since this is considered “treatment in progress”. However, some exceptions are made.

5. How does having two or three orthodontic insurances work?

Whenever more than one insurance company covers you, a “coordination of benefits” will occur between the insurance companies. Most primary insurance companies are considered by birth date.

6. If I change insurance in the middle of treatment, will the new insurance company pay the benefit, if so, the full benefit?

If your insurance plan changes during the course of treatment, provided your new plan also carries orthodontic benefits, the coverage will remain the same.

7. Have you received any payments from my insurance company?

Most insurance companies pay monthly. There are some that pay quarterly or semi-annually.

• Continuation of ongoing orthodontic care
• Moderate to severe crowding
• dental impactions (impacted teeth)
• upper or lower jaw discrepancies (overbites, underbites or crossbites)
• facial or dental esthetic issues
• undersized or missing of one or several permanent teeth
• Post-trauma correction of displaced or Avulsed permanent teeth
• Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) symptoms
• Speech problems

Many of our teenage patients decorate their braces with colors! The elastic ties that are used to hold the wires in the brackets come in every color imaginable. So our patients often celebrate holidays, sporting events or any occasion with a splash of color to their braces - just one more way to have fun with orthodontics.

For fun with colors, visit our 'Color Planner' page.

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