Braces

The Department of Orthodontics at UTHSC-Houston Health Science-Dental Branch is now accepting patients for braces. For a screening appointment, please call Anita Scribner at (713)500-4190 or email: Anita Scribner.

New Patient Information for Postdoctoral Orthodontic Treatment Program

   As part of the Dental Branch teaching institution, the purpose of the Orthodontic Residency Program is to educate and train orthodontists. If you, your son or daughter is accepted as a teaching case, it is critical that you fully cooperate to complete orthodontic treatment with the best possible results. Complete cooperation means the patient must:

• Keep all appointments. All appointments are during school hours. Minors must be accompanied by a guardian.
• Wear appliances as directed (rubber bands, elastics, removable appliances, etc.).
• Maintain good oral hygiene.
• Avoid eating foods that may damage the appliance, i.e. hard or sticky candy, ice, nuts, chewing gum with very light wires (gum may be okay with heavy wires but ask your orthodontic resident).
• Lack of cooperation will prolong treatment times and may compromise the treatment result. Failure to cooperate with these guidelines will necessitate reevaluation and possible termination of orthodontic treatment.

   Patients are screened early spring through summer by appointment only. There is a non-refundable screening fee ($20, cash or charge) and a records fee ($180). Patients are accepted into the program on a conditional basis pending the completion of records and case diagnosis. Upon final acceptance, the patient will be assigned to an orthodontic resident and attending faculty member. The patient must be available to begin treatment immediately. All appointments are scheduled Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Since the attending faculty member guides the patient's treatment, the patient must be scheduled on that faculty member's clinic day. Upon final acceptance, you will also be given the treatment fee for orthodontic services. The fee for orthodontic treatment varies for adults and children. Comprehensive orthodontic treatment fees average $1850 - 2200 for adolescents and $2800 for adults and may be slightly higher depending on what treatment procedures and appliances are required. The fee covers orthodontic treatment only and must be paid to the cashier by cash, check, MasterCard or Visa. The total fee must be paid before treatment can begin. Three payment options are available.

• Pay the entire orthodontic fee in full at the case presentation appointment.
• Pay $1,000 at the case presentation appointment. Pay the balance at the appointment PRIOR TO BEGINNING TREATMENT.
• Monthly payments through (OFP) Orthodontists Fee Plan, an outside financing company.

   The orthodontic fee covers active orthodontic treatment, the first retention appliances (retainers) and one year of retainer adjustments. After one year, a fee is assessed at each retention visit. If the patient requires an interceptive phase of orthodontic treatment followed by comprehensive orthodontic treatment, a separate fee for each treatment will be assessed. Additional charges apply for lost and/or broken appliances, removal of teeth and for any other necessary dental treatment required.  Any patient who has records taken, but does not start treatment within one year will require new records at cost.

   After the patient is accepted for treatment and before the next orthodontic visit, the patient must visit his/her family dentist for a regular exam and cleaning. Cavities must be restored prior to orthodontic treatment initiation. If the patient does not have their cavities restored or their cleaning completed before orthodontic treatment is scheduled to begin, they will be dismissed from the teaching program.

   Treatment duration varies according to the severity of the problem but typically lasts two years for a comprehensive adolescent case. After the braces are removed, retention appliances (retainers) must be worn full time for up to one year and at night thereafter to minimize relapse.