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15 Pettingill Road, Quispamsis, NB E2E6B1
Frequently Asked Questions
At Papadopsmiles we take pride in ensuring that we communicate effectively to our patients and explain every part of the orthodontic process, from the time you begin your consultation to your final retainer check appointment! See below for answers to our frequently asked questions!
An orthodontist is a dentist that has received an additional 3 years of full-time, specialized training in orthodontics resulting in a nationally accredited specialist designation. An orthodontist thus focuses his/her practice to straightening teeth and correcting bite and jaw problems.
To schedule your complimentary consultation please call our clinic at 506-799-0515 or fill out an online self-referral by selecting the "Free Consultations" and then "Self-Referral" in the menu bar of our website.
To read more about what is involved, please click "About Consultations" (under "Free Consultations") in the dropdown menu on our website.
No. It is recommended by the Canadian Association of Orthodontists that children find an orthodontic home by age 7.
Sometimes baby teeth do not fall out when they are supposed to due to eruption path obstructions, fused teeth to the bone, and adult teeth that are not growing into the right place in the mouth. Some teenagers never lose their baby teeth and keep them all the way into adulthood if they are not properly evaluated by an orthodontist. As such, it is a smart idea to see an orthodontist before all the baby teeth fall out, and preferably at age 7.
Both the Canadian and American Associations of Orthodontists recommend that children see an orthodontist by age 7. This does not mean that treatment will or should commence at this age, but it is smart to have the orthodontist take a look and evaluate your child's teeth, jaws and jaw joint to ensure everything is developing properly.
The associated fees for orthodontic treatment are dependent on the treatment plan complexity, length and methods of treatment involved in each particular case. As such, orthodontic fees can have a wide range.
At Papadopsmiles we strive to ensure that finances do not get in the way of you obtaining a happy and healthy smile. As such, we have low down payments, extended monthly payments with 0% interest financing, and work with you to make orthodontic treatment fit within your budget. We have a wonderful treatment coordinator who will work with you and your family to find a payment plan that works for you WITH your input.
Yes, we take a variety of insurances to make things easier for you.
If you are unsure if your dental insurance includes orthodontic treatment, our team will also check with the insurance company for you to help you find out. All of this will discussed at your complimentary consultation.
Dr. Papadopoulos has treated thousands of patients with both braces (metal and clear) and clear aligners (Invisalign). Sometimes one method of treatment is more efficient than the other, and this varies on a case-by-case basis. At your consultation, Dr. Papadopoulos will discuss the pros and cons of each relative to your treatment plan.
Phase I or early treatment is performed at an early age when there are still multiple baby teeth in the mouth to address and improve harmful bite problems. For example, crowded teeth, large overbites or severe underbites are indications for early "Phase 1" treatment.
Some patients who receive Phase I treatment do not require additional orthodontic treatment in the adolescent years while others may benefit from additional treatment.
On average, orthodontic treatment can range from as little as 6-8 months to 20-24 months, depending on the complexity of the treatment plan.
Dr. Papadopoulos will review the treatment plan in depth with you and advise you of how long your treatment will take.
Your orthodontic appointments can range from every 4-6 weeks to every 8-10 weeks, depending on the stage of treatment you are in.
One thing we want to ensure our patients and their families is that we always do our best to accommodate our patients when scheduling. Because Dr. Papadopoulos is in Quispamsis full-time with no other clinics in other cities, it maximizes the availability of appointment slots that are most convenient for you. We are committed to being available for our patients.
Braces and Invisalign appointments are usually booked for 30 minutes.
The longest appointments are when your braces or Invisalign are first placed which are booked for approximately 60-90 minutes. All other appointments are usually booked for 30 minutes.
Yes, you will see Dr. Papadopoulos at each and every visit. Although we have a team with more than 50+ years of orthodontic/dental experience, Dr. Papadopoulos still ensures he sees each patient at every appointment.
No, braces do not hurt. Each bracket gets individually placed onto each tooth. At Papadopsmiles we truly use the latest technology which means Dr. Papadopoulos never has to 'tighten' your braces and infrequently does any bends to the wires. This makes your orthodontic treatment very smooth and painless.
At most, you will feel discomfort that lasts ~ 2-3 days when you first get your braces placed; a normal physiologic response to teeth initially being moved.
Yes and yes!
Dr. Papadopoulos is the only orthodontist in New Brunswick with a pediatric general practice residency. He worked at BC Children's Hospital in Vancouver prior to becoming an orthodontist and worked with children of all ages, including those with special needs.
Additionally, Dr. Papadopoulos has treated thousands of adult patients with both braces and clear aligners such as Invisalign. Check out our testimonials and 'before and afters' on our website!
Yes. We are open 5 days per week and offer early morning and late afternoon appointments to accommodate your needs.
Additionally, Dr. Papadopoulos does not travel to other clinics so you can ensure that we are always available to you in times of need (e.g., pokey wire or broken brace).
When you begin your orthodontic treatment with us, we will provide you with a colourful guide of what foods to avoid during orthodontic treatment. The reason to avoid certain foods is to protect your braces from breaking and to prevent cavities from forming around or under your braces.
In general, foods to avoid fall in one of 4 categories:
1) High in sugar (e.g., pop)
2) Sticky (e.g., caramels and toffee)
3) Chewy (e.g., granola bars)
4) Hard (e.g., hard nuts)
If one of your braces ("brackets") have come off your teeth or a wire is poking, simply give us a call at 506-799-0515 and we will schedule you in to get this repaired. We also have an emergency voicemail that we check after-hours and on the weekends in case anything happens outside of clinic hours.
Yes. When our office is closed we have a voicemail service that takes your messages. We regularly check these every single weekend and weeknight to ensure that we are always there for you. In times of a broken brace or pokey wire, we will return your call ASAP within 12 hours.
Dr. Papadopoulos will determine which retainers are best suited to maintain your result. Sometimes this just involves wearing a clear, removable retainer at nighttime, and other times he will recommend a wire retainer glued behind your teeth in addition to this clear retainer.
One thing is for certain- retainer wear is critical and cannot be neglected following your orthodontic treatment.
Retention is for a lifetime!
Although we spend time perfecting your teeth into their best position, teeth often don't like to be moved! They will often try to 'shift back' in the direction where they came from. As such, wearing your retainer as instructed by Dr. Papadopoulos and our team is critical.
Patients will sometimes ask, "How long do I need to wear my clear retainer for?"
We often say, "Wear your retainer every night for as long as you want your teeth to stay straight". =)
The short answer is no.
There is a short adjustment period to playing wind instruments such as a flute or clarinet, but we have many talented patients who have no issues with braces and playing instruments.
For sports, we recommend that our athletic patients wear a 'boil and bite'/ moldable mouthguard. A custom mouthguard may be made following orthodontic treatment once the teeth are in their final position.
Additionally, we also make customized mouthguards for our patients once they are done their orthodontic treatment for those playing in high impact sports such as football or hockey.
Yes. Maintaining a strong relationship with your general dentist is critical to ensuring we achieve an optimal result without any instances of cavities or gum loss.
We recommend you see your dentist for regular checkups at the discretion of your family dentist.
WaterPiks and electric toothbrushes are excellent for maintaining good oral hygiene throughout orthodontic treatment.
At the time your braces are placed, our orthodontic team of experts will go over how to take care of your braces including proper brushing techniques, flossing techniques, and other oral hygiene aids that we recommend!
Yes. When designing our clinic we took the time to ensure that we were completely digital and use the latest equipment.
Some of our digital equipment includes:
- Digital X-ray machines (low dose radiation)
- Digital impressions (no more goopy molds of your teeth)
- Smile Simulator (before and after simulations)
- 3D x-rays when required
- Sterilization Equipment that is digitally monitored and checked daily
Yes, we can discuss your treatment with you in either French or English.
YOUR TURN TO SMILE!
Voted Saint John's"Best in Orthodontics" 2022,2023 & 2024
FOR A FREE CONSULTATION PLEASE CLICK "FREE CONSULTATIONS" ON THE MENU BAR, OR CALL 506-799-0515.
CHILDREN, TEENS AND ADULTS.
NO DENTIST REFERRAL IS REQUIRED.
We are a Top 1% Invisalign clinic and Dr. P is the only orthodontist in New Brunswick with a pediatric residency.