Frequently-Asked Questions
And Answers from Dr. Williams!
Read on for answers to commonly-asked questions that Dr. Williams hears from patients like you in El Dorado, Arkansas, and Monroe, Louisiana.
Teeth, and sometimes entire facial structures, are permanently changed by orthodontic treatment. It is important that the treatment be appropriate and properly completed.
Orthodontic specialists like Dr. Kevin Williams have extensive and specialized training that enables them to provide their patients with professional, personalized treatments.
The American Association of Orthodontists and Dr. Kevin Williams recommend an orthodontic screening at age of seven years old.
For most children around Monroe and El Dorado, several permanent teeth have erupted by this age, allowing the orthodontist to effectively evaluate the patient’s orthodontic condition.
No, they will not. The space available for the front teeth does not increase as you grow. In most people, after the permanent molars erupt, the space available for the front teeth decreases with age.
No patient is "too old" to wear braces! A surprising percentage of our patients at Williams Orthodontics are adults. In fact, 25% of all orthodontic patients are adults.
Health and happiness are vitally important to adults, and orthodontic treatment can increase your self-esteem at any age!
Overall treatment time depends on each patient's specific orthodontic problem(s). In general, treatment times range from 12 to 30 months. The "average" timespan a patient wears braces is approximately 22 months.
Appointments are scheduled according to each patient's needs.
Dr. Williams sees most of his patients in braces every 5 to 10 weeks. If specific situations require more frequent monitoring, we will schedule appointments accordingly.
Yes! We understand your schedule is busy and we are happy to help you make the most of your time. On some occasions, we may request to speak with a parent when you return, so we ask that parents check in with our front desk staff before dropping off their child.
Generally, braces don’t hurt. After certain appointments, your teeth may be sore for a few days.
Over-the-counter pain medications, such as Advil or Tylenol, will ease the discomfort in these situations. However, after most visits to Williams Orthodontics, our patients do not feel any soreness at all!
We often remind our patients, “It does not have to hurt to work!”
Yes! We recommend that patients wear mouthguards while playing sports. Musicians will likely experience an adjustment period until they are comfortable playing while wearing braces.
Yes! Regular check-ups with your general dentist are important while in braces. Your dentist will determine the intervals between each cleaning appointment while you have your braces.
Patients should brush their teeth at least four times each day – after each meal and before going to bed. Dr. Williams will also show you how to floss your teeth with braces. If necessary, we may provide a prescription for a special fluoride treatment.
Yes! Once you begin treatment at Williams Orthodontics, we will explain our complete instructions and provide you with a comprehensive list of foods to avoid.
Some of those foods include ice, hard candy, raw vegetables, and all sticky foods (i.e. caramel and taffy). You can avoid most repair appointments by carefully following our instructions!