Jacobson Orthodontic Associates - Chicago and Vernon Hills, IL - Drs. Jacobson, Jacobson, Tsou & Israel

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will I have to wear my braces?
Everybody is different! Orthodontic problems can range from a single tooth rotation to severe jaw discrepancies. The time required to complete treatment can range from just a few months to a few years.

At our first visit we will try to estimate the time needed for the treatment. After we evaluate our records, we will give you a better estimate of the time required. However, times of treatment, of course, are heavily influenced by the cooperation of the patient.
How much is the treatment going to cost?
The treatment fee will be determined after we evaluate the complexity of the treatment plan and the estimated length of time for completion.

We will present the fee before treatment begins and even if treatment ends early or extends past our estimated date, the fee remains the same.

For full braces, the average time for a treatment that does not require removal of teeth is from 18-24 months, and for more complicated treatments, which can involve extraction or orthognathic surgery, treatment time ranges from 24-36 months. The fees for full braces therefore can range from $3,000 to $6,500.
Does your office offer any payment plans?
Yes. There are three payment options:

  1. Most of our patients make an initial payment, due at the time of appliance placement.  Monthly payments are spread out over the estimated time of treatment. There are no finance charges for this extended payment option.
  2. We also offer a 7% discount for full payment by cash or check at the beginning of treatment.
  3. Payment can also be made with a new "orthodontic credit card," which requires no initial payment. Even if the actual treatment time is shorter, monthly payments are extended up to 36 months. The only disadvantage of this option is that the company that offers it charges 9-10% interest, so the treatment will end up costing a little more.
Will my teeth stay straight forever?
Not unless you work at it! At the end of active treatment, for both limited and full braces, there is a period called retention.

Everyone wears a retainer of some kind for a while, usually 3-4 months day and night, then just at night, only for a while. These retainers are needed to hold the teeth in the improved position while they stabilize and "tighten up," and then to keep them as close to the improved position as possible thereafter.

There is usually some natural "settling" of the teeth during the months and years after treatment. But the retainers usually keep that to a minimum. Retainers may be either removable or attached to the teeth, depending on the original problem.

The cost of the first set of retainers (regardless of type) is usually included in the treatment fee.

So how long do you need retainers? Again, everybody is different! Some people's teeth stay straight with minimal effort and some people need to wear retainers (when they sleep or fixed to the teeth) permanently.
Why do teeth continue to move?
We used to think wisdom teeth were responsible for changes to the teeth later in life. However, studies conducted over the past 15 years have shown conclusively that the jaws change in dimension as we age (along with the rest of the body). Is it growth? Sort of.

The lower jaw continues to grow forward (slightly in most cases), but it also tends to become narrower. This is why the most common change tends to be crowding of the lower front teeth.

We have lots of adult patients who insist that their teeth were "perfect" until they were in their early or late 20s. If retainers (fixed or removable) are used to hold the alignment of the teeth, the bone immediately around the teeth stays approximately the same dimension even if the bone of the jaw changes slightly. If jaw growth is excessive, retainers can still keep the teeth straight, but the bite can change enough to necessitate future orthodontic treatment or even orthognathic surgery.

Again, everybody is different. Typically, we prefer to treat patients while growth is active. We can often modify growth, which can improve the stability of the results we achieve. Most patients prefer to be treated while they are young as well. Wearing braces between the ages of 7 to 14 have little to no social consequences and tons of benefits.

Adult orthodontic treatment has become increasingly popular as well. This is primarily due to the advent of "Clear Braces" (see Types of Braces). A better question may be, "When is the worst time to wear braces?" Senior year of high school is probably the worst time.

When is the best time for treatment?
The ideal time for treatment is when the permanent central incisors have erupted and the permanent lateral incisors are close to eruption. In most cases, this would be about 7 years old. Some problems are best treated at this age (See the Early Treatment section), but many problems require waiting for treatment until the last of the baby teeth are getting loose.

Age is less important than dental development. In other words, some children loose all of their baby teeth at nine years old, while some wait until they're 14 to loose the last few.