The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children have their first orthodontic evaluation by age 7. At this age, enough permanent teeth have come in for us to identify potential problems with jaw growth and emerging teeth. Early detection allows us to determine if early intervention (Phase 1 treatment) would be beneficial, potentially preventing more serious issues later.
No! Orthodontic treatment can be successful at any age. In fact, about 1 in 4 orthodontic patients today is an adult. As long as your teeth and gums are healthy, you can benefit from treatment. With options like clear aligners (Invisalign) and ceramic braces, there are discreet options that fit adult lifestyles. We've successfully treated patients well into their 60s and 70s!
Treatment time varies depending on the complexity of your case:
Factors that affect treatment time include the severity of your case, your age, how well you follow instructions (wearing rubber bands, keeping appointments), and your individual biology. During your free consultation, we'll give you a personalized estimate.
Appointment frequency depends on your treatment type:
Most appointments take 15-30 minutes. We offer flexible scheduling including after-school hours and select Saturdays to accommodate busy schedules.
Glendale Office (Glenridge Orthodontics):
Monday - Friday: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Garden City Office (Smile Today Orthodontics):
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM
Closed Wednesdays
Both locations are also open every 3rd Saturday during the school year (September through June).
We believe everyone deserves a beautiful smile, so we offer flexible payment options:
We'll discuss all options during your free consultation to find a plan that works for your budget.
Glendale (Glenridge Orthodontics):
Garden City (Smile Today Orthodontics):
All of our doctors are board-certified orthodontists. Learn more about our team →
Traditional Braces:
Invisalign/Clear Aligners:
During your consultation, we'll recommend the best option for your specific case and lifestyle.
Getting braces put on doesn't hurt - it's just a bit time-consuming (about 1-2 hours). However, you may experience some discomfort:
Tips for managing discomfort:
Absolutely! You can continue playing all sports with braces. We strongly recommend wearing a mouthguard during any physical activity, especially contact sports like football, basketball, soccer, hockey, and martial arts.
We provide orthodontic mouthguards that fit comfortably over braces to protect your teeth, lips, and cheeks. Regular mouthguards don't fit well over braces and can cause injury.
For Invisalign patients, you can either wear your aligners with a mouthguard over them, or remove the aligners and wear a regular mouthguard during play.
Foods to AVOID:
Braces-friendly alternatives:
Broken bracket:
Lost or broken aligner:
For true emergencies (severe pain, injury, or wire poking that you can't manage with wax), call our office and we'll get you in as soon as possible.
Good oral hygiene is crucial during orthodontic treatment! Here's how to keep your teeth healthy:
For braces:
For Invisalign:
Yes! Retainers are essential to maintain your beautiful new smile.
After braces or Invisalign, your teeth have a natural tendency to shift back toward their original positions. Retainers hold your teeth in place while the bone and tissues stabilize.
Retainer schedule (typical):
We offer both removable retainers (clear or Hawley-style) and permanent bonded retainers. We'll recommend the best option for you.
Yes! Your initial consultation is completely free.
During your consultation, you'll receive:
The consultation takes about 30-45 minutes. There's no obligation - we want you to have all the information you need to make the best decision for yourself or your child.
Our team can assist you in multiple languages:
If you need assistance in another language, please let us know when scheduling and we'll do our best to accommodate you.
We accept most major dental and orthodontic insurance plans, including:
Please call our office with your insurance information and we'll verify your coverage before your appointment. Even if we're not in-network with your specific plan, you may still have out-of-network benefits we can help you utilize.
Coverage varies by plan, but here's what's typical:
During your consultation, we'll verify your exact benefits and explain how they apply to your treatment cost.
Yes! After your insurance coverage is applied, we offer flexible, interest-free payment plans for the remaining balance.
How it works:
We'll work with your budget to find a payment schedule that makes orthodontic care affordable for your family.
Yes! We handle all insurance paperwork as a courtesy to our patients:
You don't have to deal with insurance paperwork - we take care of everything!
Yes! Orthodontic treatment is an eligible expense for both Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA).
Tips for using FSA/HSA:
Using pre-tax dollars can save you 20-30% on your out-of-pocket costs!
Don't worry - changing insurance during treatment is common and we'll help you navigate it:
Let us know as soon as your insurance changes and we'll review your options.
Yes! We proudly accept Medicaid for orthodontic treatment at both our Glendale and Garden City locations.
We accept various New York Medicaid plans including:
Please bring your Medicaid card to your appointment so we can verify your coverage.
New York Medicaid covers orthodontic treatment when there is a medical necessity. This means the orthodontic problem must be severe enough to affect function, not just appearance.
What's typically covered:
What's usually NOT covered:
Medicaid uses a scoring system called the Handicapping Labio-Lingual Deviation (HLD) Index to determine eligibility. Your child's case is scored based on factors like:
A minimum score (typically 26+ points) is required for approval.
The process:
The Medicaid prior authorization process typically takes 4-8 weeks, though it can sometimes be longer depending on appeals.
Timeline breakdown:
Important: If the insurance does not approve your child's coverage, we need your help in appealing the decision. We always want to be able to provide the care your child needs, and parental involvement in the appeals process is crucial for success.
If your child's case doesn't meet Medicaid's medical necessity requirements, you still have options:
We believe every child deserves a healthy smile. Talk to our team about options that fit your budget.
Please bring the following to your child's consultation:
If you're unsure about referral requirements, call your Medicaid plan or our office and we'll help you figure it out.
Our team is here to help! Contact us or schedule a free consultation to get all your questions answered.
