Frequently Asked Questions
The questions patients ask us most
These are the most common questions we hear from patients and parents researching orthodontic care. Organized by what you're trying to figure out. If your specific question isn't here, just text us at (509) 792-1008 — text gets the fastest reply, and we don't expect anyone to dig through a website to find a single answer.
For new patients
Do I need a referral?
No. Orthodontists are specialists you can see directly. Many of our patients come on referral from their general dentist or pediatrician, and many just book directly. Both paths are welcome.
How do I schedule a consultation?
Fastest way is to book online — about two minutes, same-week appointments usually available. You can also text or call (509) 792-1008.
Is the first visit really free?
Yes. The new patient consultation is complimentary — no charge for the visit, the imaging when it's indicated, or the treatment plan discussion. No obligation to start treatment afterward.
What happens at the first visit?
Clinical exam, CBCT 3D imaging when clinically indicated, an airway-focused screening, discussion of your goals, and a complete treatment plan with every visit mapped out — timing and cost included. Plan to spend about an hour. Before you arrive, our patient platform OrthoFi handles your medical history and insurance verification online. More about the consultation →
Does Dr. Andros treat adults?
Yes. Andros Orthodontics treats children, adolescents, and adults. Adults are a significant share of the practice — including people who never had orthodontic care as kids, and people whose TMJ, airway, or aesthetic concerns developed later in life.
At what age should my child first see an orthodontist?
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic screening by age 7. Earlier if your child has signs of airway issues (chronic mouth breathing, snoring, restless sleep, hyperactive behavior) or a referral from a pediatrician or ENT. The first visit is complimentary as part of our 7-Up Club pediatric screening program. Most kids leave without needing any treatment yet. More about Children's Orthodontics →
About treatment options
What's the difference between braces and Invisalign?
Braces are fixed brackets bonded to your teeth, connected by a wire that moves the teeth along a planned path. At Andros Orthodontics we use Damon Ultima self-ligating brackets — widely regarded as the premium bracket system — for every braces case. Invisalign is a series of clear, removable aligner trays. Each has cases where it's the right tool. Generally: braces handle complex movement, growth modification, and significant rotation more reliably; aligners excel for moderate cases where the patient prioritizes aesthetics or removability. Dr. Andros will recommend which is right for your case at the consultation.
Do you do extractions?
Sometimes — when extractions are clinically necessary. The digital workflow we use (CBCT-based planning, Damon Ultima brackets, palatal expansion when warranted) often allows non-extraction treatment in cases that historically would have required extractions. Whether extractions are needed for your specific case is part of the consultation discussion.
What is MARPE?
MARPE (Mini-Implant Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion) is a non-surgical technique that widens the upper jaw at the bone level in adolescents and adults — not just tipping the teeth outward. It's a specialty offering. Dr. Andros trained directly with Dr. Won Moon (UCLA), the originator of the technique. More about MARPE →
What is airway-focused orthodontics?
It's an evaluation framework that looks at how jaw position, palate width, tongue posture, and breathing pattern interact — not just how the teeth line up. For some patients, the way their jaws developed is contributing to chronic mouth breathing, snoring, TMJ, or sleep-disordered breathing. Dr. Andros has spent eight consecutive years (2018-2026) in continuing education focused on this. More about Airway-Focused Orthodontics →
What is digital orthodontics?
Every case at Andros Orthodontics is planned virtually from CBCT 3D scans. Brackets are placed using a 3D-printed indirect bonding tray for sub-millimeter precision. We're the first — and currently the only — Tri-Cities practice doing this for every patient. Included in every case at no upgrade tier. More about Digital Orthodontics →
How long does treatment take?
Most comprehensive cases run 18-24 months, though it varies by case complexity. At your consultation you receive a treatment plan with every visit mapped out — how many appointments, when each one is, and what we'll do at each one. You know the end from the beginning.
How often will I have appointments?
Most patients in active treatment are seen every 6-10 weeks. Some treatment phases require closer or wider intervals. Your full visit schedule is presented at the consultation as part of the treatment plan.
Can I switch from braces to Invisalign mid-treatment?
In some cases, yes — depending on what stage you're at and what the case requires. Bring it up at your next appointment if you're considering it and we'll assess whether the switch makes clinical sense.
Cost, insurance & financing
How much does orthodontic treatment cost?
Total cost depends on case complexity, treatment type, and insurance coverage. The specific number for your case is presented at the consultation along with the treatment plan and your verified insurance benefits — so the financial conversation is specific to you, not a generic estimate. The consultation itself, including imaging, is complimentary.
Do you take my insurance?
We work with most major dental insurance plans that include orthodontic benefits. For specific carrier questions, text or call (509) 792-1008 — our team can verify your benefits before your visit. When you book a consultation, OrthoFi handles insurance verification as part of the pre-visit paperwork.
Do you take Washington Apple Health / Medicaid?
Yes, for qualifying pediatric cases. For specifics, text or call the office at (509) 792-1008.
Do you offer payment plans?
Yes. We offer in-house monthly payment plans for patients without insurance or with insurance that doesn't cover the full treatment cost. Specific terms are discussed at the consultation alongside the treatment plan. Text or call (509) 792-1008 for details.
Do you accept HSA or FSA?
Yes. Orthodontic treatment is a qualified medical expense for HSA and FSA spending.
During treatment
Can I play sports with braces?
Yes. We recommend a properly-fitted mouthguard for contact sports — football, basketball, soccer, hockey, martial arts, and similar. We can recommend an orthodontic-friendly option at your visit, or you can pick one up at most sporting goods stores.
What can't I eat?
Avoid foods that are hard, sticky, or that you'd bite into rather than chew. The standard avoid list: popcorn, ice, hard candies, sticky candies, chewing gum, hard nuts, raw whole carrots and apples (cut them into pieces first). Sticky foods pull brackets loose; hard foods break them. You don't have to be perfect, but skipping these cuts emergency visits significantly.
How do I brush and floss with braces?
Brushing requires extra attention around the brackets — angle the brush toward and away from the wire and spend time on each tooth from multiple angles. An interdental brush (small bottle-brush-shaped tool) helps. For flossing, a floss threader or a water flosser makes the job easier than threading regular floss under each wire. We walk you through hygiene for your specific appliance at your bonding appointment.
Will braces or aligners affect my speech?
Possibly a little, briefly. Most patients adapt within a few days to a week. Aligners typically have a slightly larger early speech impact than braces, but it normalizes quickly. If you speak publicly for work during the first week of any new appliance, plan accordingly — your second week will feel normal.
I'm getting married / have a big event coming up. Can you time my treatment around it?
Often, yes. Bring up the date at the consultation and we'll plan around it where the biology allows — sometimes accelerating phases, sometimes timing appliance removal before a specific date, sometimes using aligners for a section of treatment to keep photos hardware-free.
What if something happens between appointments?
Text us at (509) 792-1008 — text gets the fastest reply. For specific situations (loose wire, broken bracket, lost retainer, soreness), the Orthodontic Emergencies page walks through what to do and how to reach us.
What if I'm out of town when something goes wrong?
For pokey wires, find a local orthodontic office and ask them to cut it — most will, as a professional courtesy. For lost or broken retainers, the Retain app on your phone ships a replacement in 5 business days. Text us when you're back and we'll fix anything that needs in-office attention.
After treatment & retention
Will my teeth stay straight?
Only if you wear your retainers. Teeth drift back toward their pre-treatment position if nothing holds them in place — fastest in the first six months after treatment ends, slower but ongoing for years after. Retention is as important as the active treatment phase.
Do I need to wear retainers forever?
Effectively, yes. The clinical recommendation is full-time wear for the first year, then nighttime wear long-term. The teeth that took 18-24 months to straighten won't stay straight on their own. A few minutes of retainer wear nightly is the trade-off for a smile that lasts.
What's the belt-and-suspenders approach?
It's our standard retention recommendation: a bonded retainer behind the front teeth (where hygiene and bite allow), plus a removable Essix (clear) retainer worn over it. The bonded retainer holds the teeth without you having to remember anything; the Essix protects against deeper shifts. Combined with enrollment in our retainer membership program for affordable replacement retainers, it's the most durable approach to keeping the result you paid for.
What if I lose or break my retainer?
If you're enrolled in our retainer membership program, order a replacement directly from the Retain app on your phone — ships in 5 business days. Not enrolled yet? Text or call (509) 792-1008 and we'll help you get set up the same day. Don't wait — teeth shift back within days of stopping retainer wear, especially in the first six months after treatment. More on retainer protocols →
Your question isn't on this list
That's expected — no list is complete. Text us at (509) 792-1008. Text gets the fastest reply because more of our team can see it and respond. We don't expect anyone to dig through a website to find a single answer.
Ready for a consultation?
Book your free consultation online in under two minutes, or text us with any question first.