Orthodontic Braces

Before spending your time and money to straighten your teeth, its important that you take a bit of research and get to know more about the treatment process. Find out the Do’s and Don’ts when wearing dental braces. Here are some points that you may want to know more :

1. Ask your friends or relatives to recommend a good orthodontist. Your regular dentist might be a good person to ask for recommendation.

2. Seek second opinions. Different Ortho’s have different approach or migh be using different systems/appliances in doing the procedure. If you don’t like what the 1^st Ortho says about the treatment approach, go to another Ortho and seek consultation about the treatment. Usually treatment are free or should be minimal fee. Its better to know ahead rather than regret later.

3. Determine how long would the treatment be. Treatment usually last for 2 years for braces braces on upper and lower teeth. It’s a long term commitment, so it’s really important that you like the Orthodontist who will treat you in order to have good relationship.

4. Be prepared. Some people would be very conscious with the braces on their teeth. Are you ready to have them in your mouth and deal with them 24/7 for 1 or 2 years. Tooth extractions maybe required, so be prepared if you have fear about extraction. Usually the 3^rd molar will be extracted.

5. Determine the cost of the treatment. Usually in Philippines, it would range from Php 80,000 up to Php 150,000 depending on the material use (ie. ceramic braces cost a lot more).

6. If you can not afford to have braces from a private clinic, search the dental schools in your area. Many times, they provide low-cost orthodontic care. University of the Philippines usually offer orthodontic treatment at a lower cost and usually handled by the orthodontists students under the watchful eye of their experienced professors, who are often orthodontists in private practice. Usually, the schools would evaluate your case.

7. Sometimes dental chains offer lower prices for orthodontic work, but you will be limited to their list of dentists.

8. Check your health plan (or your spouse health plans) to see if any of the treatment cost will be covered. Its good to have your health plans straighten out before you begin the orthodontic treatment.