FAQ
Your Questions Answered: FAQs at Tollgate Orthodontics
At Tollgate Orthodontics, our mission is to provide the communities of Warwick, Jamestown, East Greenwich, West Warwick, Coventry, North Kingston, and Johnston with the best in orthodontic care, just as we've always done. Over the years, Dr. Eves and our team have worked with countless patients, helping them transform their smiles with state-of-the-art orthodontic technology and personalized treatment plans, and one of the most important factors in ensuring that our patients get the best care is providing information. Keeping our patients informed creates a more comfortable treatment experience because they'll never be caught off guard or feel lost at any point during their smile transformation. That's why we always make a point to let our patients know that we encourage all questions at any time, whether you're in the office for an appointment or you think of something at home, and you want to give us a call. We promise that we will always provide you with the answers and information that you need. In an effort to make getting that information even easier for you, we've put together this list of our most frequently asked questions, that you can check out below!
Cost & Affordability
- What is the cost of braces or Invisalign in Rhode Island?
Since every patient is unique, making a specific price quote without seeing the patient would be challenging. However, Tollgate Orthodontics offers free consultations and a variety of methods for creating beautiful smiles, including:
- Damon Braces
- Partial braces and expansion appliances
- Invisalign
- SureSmile
- Tollgate Orthodontics brand True aligners
Tollgate Orthodontics’ own brand of aligners saves you THOUSANDS over the competition. With insurance, it can be as low as $50 per week.
We offer multiple no-interest payment plans that don’t require large down payments to get started.
- I received a quote from a dentist for $6500 or more for Invisalign or another aligner treatment. Is that a lot?
Yes! See Tollgate Orthodontics for an expert opinion and a reasonable treatment cost. Straightening teeth is Tollgate Orthodontics’ specialty, so they can do it faster and more efficiently than many others offering a similar sounding treatment.
- Does dental insurance cover orthodontics in Rhode Island?
Yes, depending upon your individual dental plan. Not all dental plans have an orthodontic benefit, so be sure to check. Your employer chooses the plan they offer to their company, and it can have some of these characteristics:
Lifetime maximum. This means that the dental plan will pay a maximum of a stated set amount towards orthodontic treatment. Most plans usually require that the policy holder pays at least 50% of the treatment cost.
- For example: Policy A has a stated orthodontic lifetime maximum of $1000. This means that the most the insurance company will pay toward orthodontic treatment is $1000 for that patient. This $1000 benefit does not renew every year.
Age limits. In the past, most dental plans with an orthodontic benefit were limited to patients under the age of 19. Fortunately, this seems to be changing, and Tollgate Orthodontics is seeing more dental policies with orthodontic coverage for adults.
Benefits paid over the course of treatment. Patients sometimes think that the insurance companies pay the full orthodontic benefit at the start of the patient's treatment. This is rarely true. The companies pay the benefit amount in installments over the months the patient is in treatment. Therefore, it is important that the dental policy stays in effect for the entire course of the patient’s treatment so that any unpaid portion of the dental benefit does not then become the responsibility of the policy holder.
- How much do braces cost for teens vs. adults?
Tollgate Orthodontics does not charge differently for adults vs. teens. Our treatment investment is determined by the amount and complexity of treatment required for each individual patient.
At our free consultation, you will receive all the options that Dr Eves thinks would be effective for reaching your smile goal, as well as all the costs associated with each option and the possible no-interest payment plans you could choose.
- Are there payment plans for braces in Rhode Island?
Yes, at Tollgate Orthodontics! We offer no-interest payment plans that include a monthly even-payments option, a down payment with smaller monthlies option or a pay-in-full option with a bonus gift. We can even break down your payments into weekly installments if that works better for your budget.
Tollgate Orthodontics also works with Care Credit if you need to stretch your payments out longer than your treatment time.
- What should I ask the insurance company before I buy orthodontic coverage?
For better or worse, not all dental insurance plans are created equal. If you are shopping for a plan or considering a switch to a new one in order to get braces or aligners, there are some important questions you should ask before you commit:
- Does the plan have orthodontic coverage and what is the benefit amount? Not all plans cover braces and aligners. The policy must specifically have orthodontic benefits listed.
- Does my orthodontic benefit change if the provider is out of network? Some plans may reduce your benefit if the orthodontist you choose is not in their network. If you are paying for the plan, you should be able to go to any orthodontist you choose. Look for a plan where the benefit is the same in or out of network.
- Is there a waiting period for orthodontic coverage? In an effort to dissuade you from picking up a premium plan with orthodontic coverage and then dropping it as soon as your ortho treatment is complete, some companies have a waiting period for treatment.
- Is there an age limit? Some plans cover only to age 19 for braces and aligners whereas others may have no age limit at all.
- How does the plan pay out my benefit to the orthodontist? Does it pay out over the course of the treatment plan, or does it pay just a set amount per month up to a certain number of months? This is important because if the insurance company only pays a set amount per month (usually over the course of 24 months), you may not get your full benefit if your treatment takes less than 24 months. You should not have to stay in treatment longer than needed in order to get your benefit. Look for a plan that pays out over the course of your treatment time.
Treatment Process & Duration
- Which is better, Braces or Invisalign?
At Tollgate Orthodontics, we offer Damon® Braces (Damon Clear, Damon Q) and Invisalign, all of which have their own set of advantages that cater to a wide range of preferences. Both kinds of treatment are designed to move your teeth gradually into a better position for your smile and your bite. Every person is unique so, the best way to find out which type of orthodontic treatment is best for you, is to schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Eves, and he will go over all of your options with you.
- How long does teeth straightening with Invisalign take?
Since every patient’s teeth are different, it would be challenging to answer this question accurately. However, at your free consultation with Tollgate Orthodontics, Dr. Eves can give you a detailed estimate based on his observations and years of expertise. You will leave with a good sense of how long your treatment would last.
If the correction that your smile needs is more minor, the treatment time for something like aligners could be as short as 6 to 9 months. To find out specifically, take advantage of the free consultation with Tollgate Orthodontics to get a more detailed estimate for your specific case.
A patient’s compliance with treatment also affects the length of treatment. Avoiding breakage of brackets or aligners will help streamline treatment time. Following the recommended wear time for aligners is also critical for effective movement of the teeth. As we always say with aligners, if you’re not wearing them, they aren’t working!
- How long does treatment with braces take?
While treatment time varies on a case-by-case basis, Tollgate Orthodontics uses advanced brace technology that works faster than the “old school” colored rubber band technology, making our average treatment closer to 16-18 months with our Damon brackets. For users of the older bracket technology, the typical length of orthodontic treatment with braces ranges in between 18 and 24 months. So, we can save you up to 6 months of time in braces! Treatment time may be even shorter for children who received early orthodontic treatment before they got their braces or Invisalign.
A patient’s compliance with treatment also affects the length of treatment. Avoiding breakage of brackets will help streamline treatment time.
- How do Braces & Invisalign work?
Both braces and Invisalign are designed to put a small amount of directional pressure on the teeth and supporting jawbone, which will cause the teeth to move at a very slow pace. With the careful planning and supervision of our board-certified orthodontist, Dr. Eves, the teeth will gradually move into their new position and alignment.
- How often do you need to go to the orthodontist?
For both braces and aligners, the average appointments are set about 8 weeks apart. As you get closer to the completion of treatment, the appointments may become more closely spaced as "fine-tuning" of individual teeth is done by the doctor. Of course, Tollgate Orthodontics is happy to see you in between those typical times if you feel something needs attention or you have questions. We can also adapt your treatment intervals to your schedule if you perhaps travel for work or are a college student and are only available in the area at certain times. Just let us know in advance and we will work to accommodate you as best we can while still accomplishing your smile goals.
We also offer late appointments for those who need after work or after school activity appointments. See our hours to learn more.
- Are some people "not a candidate" for aligners?
Sometimes aligners like Invisalign might not be the best option for a patient. Rather than age, candidacy for clear aligners depends on several critical factors:
- Healthy Teeth and Gums: Any existing issues like cavities or gum disease must be addressed before starting treatment.
- Case Complexity: Clear aligners are most effective for mild to moderate alignment problems. More severe cases may require traditional braces.
- Commitment: The patient must be disciplined enough to wear the aligners for 20 to 22 hours per day, removing them only for eating, drinking (anything other than water), and oral hygiene.
Tollgate Orthodontics offers free consultations where Dr. Eves will not only tell you his findings but also shows you all the information upon which he makes his recommendations.
Questions about Orthodontics for Children
- When should I take my child to the orthodontist for the first time?
The recommended age that children have their first appointment with an orthodontist is age seven, since this is when a few of their permanent teeth have already erupted and their jaw has entered the next stage of rapid growth. During this time, the orthodontist can identify early signs of potential orthodontic issues that require early treatment, or can plan for preventative treatment in the future. If this sounds early, have no fear, Dr. Eves will never suggest orthodontic treatment before your child truly needs it. No referral is needed for their complimentary evaluation with Tollgate Orthodontics.
- What are the advantages of early treatment?
Early treatment can often reduce the severity of bite issues once all the permanent teeth have developed, which can also lead to a shorter treatment time when your child gets braces or Invisalign. Other benefits include
- Correct a habit: Early intervention can help correct issues like thumb-sucking and tongue-thrusting, which can cause long-term dental problems.
- Improves function: Can prevent or correct problems with chewing, biting, and speech.
- Boosts confidence: A straight smile can lead to increased confidence and self-esteem.
- Improves appearance: Correcting alignment issues can lead to a more attractive smile and facial profile.
- Prevents bullying: Addresses visible alignment issues that could cause a child to be a target for teasing or bullying.
- Reduces risk of injury: Addressing protruding teeth early can decrease the likelihood of them being injured during childhood activities.
- Are tooth extractions necessary before orthodontic treatment?
Tooth extractions are not always necessary! Please get a second opinion from Tollgate Orthodontics on this before removing any adult teeth. Extractions are only needed in certain cases of severe tooth crowding. The most common instance where a tooth will need to be removed is when baby teeth are causing the permanent teeth to become crowded and those baby teeth seem to be taking too much time to come out on their own. By extracting the specific baby teeth, the adult teeth will then have the room that it needs, preventing the development of a severely crowded smile. If you have received a recommendation for adult tooth extraction, please come see us. While there are a few cases where this might be necessary, we, as orthodontic specialists, can treat the vast majority of cases without adult tooth extraction.
- Can my child play sports while wearing braces?
Yes. However, we recommend that your child wears a special orthodontic mouth guard that will protect their braces, teeth, and soft tissue from damage.
- Can my child continue playing their musical instrument while in braces?
Yes. Although a period of adjustment is necessary, braces do not interfere with the playing of musical instruments.
- Are retainers necessary after orthodontic treatment?
Yes! We always say that after treatment, your teeth will only stay straight for as long as you continue to wear your aligners! After your child finishes with braces or Invisalign, the teeth and jaw need to get adjusted to their new positioning, and if not held in place, they can shift back to their original structure. To keep their smile perfectly straight, retainers prevent the teeth from shifting.
- Will my child's tooth alignment fix itself as they get older?
Unfortunately, no. If your child has a crooked or misaligned smile, their smile will stay that way as they get older unless they get it corrected with orthodontic treatment. In fact, misaligned that is not treated can actually get worse over time.
Questions about Orthodontics for Adults
- Why are my teeth shifting? They used to be straight!
It is common and even normal for teeth to shift as we age. You are not alone. There are many potential factors contributing to the shift:
- Stress on your teeth, such grinding while you sleep.
- Bone density and muscle softening. with age, the density of your jaw bone and muscle mass reduces, and the jaw starts shrinking in size. This results in a disparity between the size of the jawbone and the teeth, which may lead to crowding or overlapping of teeth, according to the American Association of Orthodontists.
- Failure to wear retainers. If you've had orthodontic treatment previously and aren't still wearing retainers, your body wants your teeth to revert back to their crooked state, leaving your once straight teeth less so as you age.
- Poor dental hygiene. If poor oral care has caused you to lose a tooth, most likely other teeth will shift into that space causing misalignment.
- Injury or impact to your teeth or mouth.
Click HERE for more details.
- Am I too old to have orthodontic treatment?
Absolutely not! Orthodontics can improve your smile at any age, and now, there are even a variety of treatment options available to adults, like braces and Invisalign. Some of the benefits include:
- Easier cleaning: Straight teeth are easier to brush and floss, which reduces the risk of cavities and gum disease.
- Reduced wear: Correct alignment prevents uneven wear on tooth enamel and can reduce the risk of bone loss.
- Make space for a crown or implant: Orthodontic treatment can create proper alignment and space for other dental procedures, such as implants or crowns.
- Better chewing: A corrected bite improves the ability to chew food efficiently, which can also aid digestion.
- Improved speech: Addressing issues like gaps or overcrowding can help correct speech impediments or pronunciation problems.
- Address pain: Correcting an improper bite can reduce or eliminate pain from temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders and headaches.
- Boosted confidence: A straighter smile can lead to greater self-esteem, which may positively impact professional and social interactions.
- Enhanced appearance: A beautiful smile makes you look younger!
- Correction of relapse: Treatment can correct shifting teeth that may have occurred after previous orthodontic work.
- Does insurance cover adult orthodontics?
Yes, insurance covers a portion of adult orthodontics depending on your individual insurance plan. In the past, it was fairly unusual to see orthodontic coverage on a dental policy for patients over the age of either 19 or 26. However, we are now seeing more insurance companies offer this benefit for adults. If you already have a dental insurance policy in effect, we are happy to check the possible benefits for you and let you know how much, if anything, your insurance coverage would pay towards your orthodontic treatment. If you don't yet have a policy, check with the Human Resources department at your company to ask specifically if the plan your employer offers includes adult orthodontic coverage before you sign up.
- What special features does your office offer for adults?
Tollgate Orthodontics offers private and semi-private treatment spaces within our office so adults won't have to sit right next to children and vice-versa. Our consultation spaces allow you to ask questions and receive treatment without other patients looking on.
We also know that our adult patients may have work schedules or commitments that require them to make appointments outside of “typical” 9-5 timeslots. We therefore offer late appointments and virtual consultations to accommodate these requests.
- My general dentist said I need to have some missing teeth replaced, but I need orthodontic treatment first, why?
When you have a missing tooth, your remaining teeth will naturally shift over into that open area of your gums. If the other teeth have moved, there may not be enough space there for your dentist to fit a replacement. By getting orthodontic treatment first, you will be aligning your whole arch and optimizing the space replacement.
General Information about Orthodontics
- Is my general dentist also an orthodontist?
No. All orthodontists are also dentists, but the reverse is not true. Orthodontists are SPECIALISTS in aligning teeth, bites and jaws, much like cardiologists are medical doctors who are experts in treating the heart. Orthodontists like Dr. Eves first became a dentist and then went to extra years of advanced specialty education to become an orthodontist. Because orthodontics is Tollgate Orthodontics' specialty, we have developed ways to make the smile transformation process more efficient and often LESS expensive.
- How do I choose the best orthodontist in Rhode Island?
Choose a board-certified orthodontist to receive the highest level of care. Board certified orthodontists have not only received the extra schooling and testing of an orthodontist but have also done the extra work of submitting their casework to an oversight board that certifies their work is up to the highest standards in the orthodontic industry.
Remember that while aligners (and sometimes braces) might be offered by a dentist, dentists do not have the specialty training in tooth movement and jaw alignment that orthodontists have achieved. It's the difference of seeing a cardiologist for your heart problem rather than your general practice doctor. The specialist studies and practices that field exclusively and therefore has the highest level of experience and expertise.
Other qualities to look for to find the best orthodontist in Rhode Island:
- Awards such as Rhode Island Monthly Top Dentist
- Has great reviews online
- Takes the time to sit with you and answer your questions about your smile
- Only suggests treatment when the patient is truly ready
- Offers multiple options for treatment
- Makes your treatment affordable and offers payment plans
- Has a clean and comfortable office with privacy when needed
- Makes their treatment and payment options clear and easily understandable
- Has an office with a high level of customer service
- What is a "virtual consultation" and do you offer those?
A virtual consultation is a high-level review by the doctor of photos and information submitted online by the patient. While this is not a comprehensive examination such as a patient would receive at an in-person consultation, it does provide an estimate of the treatment options and associated costs of treatment for the patient without coming into the office. The patient would receive a comprehensive exam and consultation should they choose to move forward after receiving the results of their virtual consultation.
Tollgate Orthodontics does offer virtual consultations which are personally reviewed by Dr. Eves, our board-certified orthodontist. To request a virtual consultation with our office, click HERE and indicate in the comments that you would like to have a virtual consultation.
- What foods should I avoid with braces?
In short, people with braces should avoid anything too hard, sticky or sugary. Click HERE for a more complete list and explanation.
- What causes bad bites?
Generally, most malocclusion are hereditary, but some are can form due to bad habits like thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, or nail-biting that are very common at young ages. Click HERE to see if your smile matches one of the smile conditions that can be improved with orthodontics.
- Will my retainer correct my shifting?
Generally, no, putting your retainer back on after not wearing it for an extended time will not fix any teeth shifting you have had since you completed orthodontic treatment. If you just recently found your lost your retainers and try putting them on again, they may still mostly fit but will likely be uncomfortable. If you are able to get them back on, then wearing them as much as possible until they feel comfortable and seat all the way down on your teeth may work. However, if your retainers haven't been worn for a while and do not fit, you will need re-treatment to get your teeth back to where they were when you completed treatment. Retainers are meant to hold teeth in the position they were in at the end of treatment, they are not intended to move teeth.
However, we do offer very affordable minor tooth movement if you need re-treatment to get back to that great smile you once had. Call us and ask about our Tollgate True custom aligners.
- Are braces painful?
No. The most that patients ever feel with braces in a slight discomfort after they first get their braces put on. As their teeth get adjusted to the pressure from the braces, which typically takes a few days, that discomfort will go away. Also, patients can take over-the-counter pain medication that will provide more than enough relief for the amount of discomfort.
Contact Us With Your Questions!
If you didn't find all the answers you were looking for on this list and have more questions about your orthodontic treatment, just contact us at Tollgate Orthodontics. You'll be connected with a member of our staff who will be more than happy to assist you. For years, Dr. Eves and his team have worked with the communities of Warwick, Jamestown, West Warwick, North Kingstown, Coventry, Johnston, Providence and East Greenwich, providing reliable orthodontic care to patients of all ages, so everyone can have the perfect smile they deserve. If you're ready to take the first step on the path to your new smile, just schedule your appointment with us today by calling either of our two local orthodontic offices, or by filling out our online appointment request form. We look forward to seeing your smiling face in our office soon!