Patient Information

Whether you are seeking orthodontic care for yourself or your child, the team at Allegany Orthodontics, PC strives to provide exceptional orthodontic treatment in a comfortable environment where patients feel safe and welcome. With three locations in LaVale, McCoole, and Oakland, MD, to serve you, Dr. Snodgrass & Dr. Ryan and their team do our best to provide stress-free scheduling options.

“My son and daughter have been patients at Allegany Orthodontics for a total of three years. They love the friendly and caring staff and I love that we never have to wait long.”

Lori S.

Get in touch with us today to schedule an appointment!



LaVale

301-722-5850



McCoole

301-786-4372



Oakland

301-533-1003

Providing the Highest Standard in Orthodontic Care

Your First Visit

At the initial visit, you will meet receive a tour of the office and meet Dr. Snodgrass, Dr. Ryan and their staff. The doctors will review your medical history, complete an oral examination, and determine the need / timing of orthodontic treatment. If they determine that treatment is indicated, diagnostic records will be made. These consist of digital panorex and cephalometric x-rays, photographs, and impressions of your teeth from which study models will be made. When all of these are completed, both Dr. Snodgrass and Dr. Ryan will use them to develop a treatment plan,which may consist of several options. All of this will be discussed individually with you, and any questions that you may have can be answered at this time.

Once treatment is started, we will see you every 4-6 weeks for adjustments. We try to see as many patients as possible after school, but it is impossible to do all of our adjustments between 3:00 and 5:00PM. Our goal is to provide your child with the highest quality of orthodontic care so we need to make sure we have enough time to spend with your child at each visit. By alternating morning and afternoon appointments, your child will only need an appointment during school hours approximately once every 3 months. We will do our very best to work with you to make visits to our office as convenient as possible.

Request Your First Appointment

Financial Information

Once the treatment plan is finalized, treatment fees and financial arrangements will be discussed. We accept Visa, Discover, MasterCard, as well as CareCredit. Our office accepts most insurance plans and we are experts at maximizing your benefits if you have orthodontic coverage. We complete, file, and process all insurance claims for you and adjust your payments accordingly. If you have any questions regarding your insurance, please contact us.

Cigna

MetLife

Delta Dental

United Concordia

Aetna

Blue Cross/Blue Shield

And More

Whether or not you have orthodontic insurance, we also offer interest-free payment plans that are extended over the length of the orthodontic treatment.

Not sure if we accept your insurance? Call the office nearest you today!



LaVale

301-722-5850



McCoole

301-786-4372



Oakland

301-533-1003

What to Expect During Treatment

After your treatment plan has been determined, we will create a mold of your smile in order to devise your braces, aligners, or any other appliance. Then, we will schedule an appointment to place the braces, with follow-up appointments every four to six weeks to make adjustments.

During treatment, you may find that you experience some discomfort as your orthodontic appliance shifts your teeth into the correct position. This is very normal. To counteract the pain, you can try an oral anesthetic such as Orajel, over-the-counter pain relievers, or apply an ice pack. Usually, discomfort will occur right after the appliance is placed and after adjustment appointments. After a few days, any pain should subside.

It is very important to take proper care of your smile while receiving orthodontic care. Make sure you are carefully brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing daily. If you have braces, avoid sticky, crunchy, chewy and hard foods, as they can cause damage.

After your treatment with braces or aligners is complete, you will need to wear retainers in order to ensure your teeth don’t shift back into their former position. We will provide instructions on how often you should wear your retainers and how to take care of them.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I bring my child for their first Orthodontic Evaluation?

The American Association of Orthodontics recommends the first screening visit at the age of 7. Not a lot of active treatment starts at this age, but the Orthodontist can detect potential problems that may benefit from early intervention.

Are Orthodontists also Dentists?

All Orthodontists are Dentists first, however not all Dentists are Orthodontists. Orthodontists complete 2-3 years of additional specialty training after dental school to allow them to specialize in Orthodontics exclusively.

How much do braces cost?

The fees our practice charges for Orthodontic services depend on multiple factors. Each case is assessed individually. The fee depends on the type of treatment, length of treatment, and insurance participation. We will be happy to evaluate your particular situation after a consultation.

Will my child’s teeth straighten out as they grow?

Unfortunately, they will not. Once the permanent molars erupt, the space available for the front teeth will decrease with age, not increase with growth.

Will I need to have teeth extracted for braces?

Straight teeth and a balanced profile are the goal of Orthodontics. Sometimes removing teeth is required to achieve the best orthodontic result. Removing teeth for treatment has been reduced by newer appliances and advanced technology.

Can I schedule all of my appointments after school?

Unfortunately not all appointments can be scheduled for after school hours. Adjustment appointments are quicker and many can be made after school. The longer, less frequent, appointments are made during the day. We will make every effort to accommodate your scheduling needs, if possible.

How often will I have appointments?

The frequency of appointments depend on the stage of treatment. Early in treatment appointments are more frequent. Adjustment appointments are typically scheduled at 5-8 week intervals depending on each patients’ clinical needs

Do braces hurt?

No, wearing braces does not hurt. However, after certain visits the teeth may be sore for a few days. Usually if this occurs, a simple over the counter pain medication, such as Ibuprofen, relieves the discomfort. Typically after most orthodontic visits, patients have no soreness at all!

Do I need to see my general Dentist while in braces?

Absolutely! We recommend keeping your regular check-up visits and cleanings as advised by your dentist. They will help monitor the patient’s oral hygiene and restore any problems that may arise while in braces.

Is it too late to have orthodontic treatment if I’m already an adult?

No! We have over 25% of our patients as adults. Good oral health and self-esteem are very important to many adults. They seek treatment utilizing many modalities like metal braces, clear braces, clear aligners, or active spring retainers. It’s never too late to go straight!

Patient Forms

To save time in the office before your appointment, please download, print and fill out the following forms and bring them with you to your first visit!

COMING SOON

For more information about our practice, or to schedule an appointment and begin your journey to a beautifully aligned smile, call one of our offices today!