Cost of Orthodontic Treatment

The cost of treatment depends on the severity of the patient's problem. You will be able to discuss fees and payment options before treatment begins. We have flexible payment plans to suit different budgets, including a no-down-payment option. We also accept assignment from most insurance plans, and file the necessary papers to the insurance company. The balance not paid by insurance will be arranged for you to pay. We work hard to make orthodontics affordable. Let our administrative staff show you the many ways that braces can fit in your budget.

Fees
In an effort to keep orthodontic fees down while maintaining the highest level of professional care, we have established this financial policy:

* If full payment is made at the onset of treatment, we will offer a fee discount. (If you have insurance, we will offer a discount for payment of your portion of the fee that will not be covered by insurance.)
* To fit your individual needs, financial arrangements can be made to extend your payment over a period of months. These arrangements include no interest and low interest options.
* For your convenience, we accept payment by VISA, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover.
* In cases of serious delinquency, treatment will be discontinued, although we will make every effort to accommodate patients with temporary difficulties.

Insurance
If you have insurance, we will help you to determine the coverage you have available. We will help in every way we can in filing your claim and handling insurance questions from our office on your behalf.

Meet our Team

Carlene, Board Certified Orthodontic Technician

Carlene's duties at Dr. Catania's office include chairside patient care, ordering, and roles as Budget Coordinator and OSHA Coordinator. She has worked in the field of orthodontics since 1987 and with Dr. Catania since 1989. Her favorite thing about working with Dr. Catania is his level of caring about his patients, and she loves how happy the final result makes the patients and how it affects their self-confidence.

Karen, Dental Assistant

Karen serves as Records Technician and takes care of sterilization in the office. She has worked in the field of orthodontics since 2002 and with Dr. Catania since 2002. Her favorite thing about the practice of orthodontics is watching patients' progress and seeing the results of their treatment. She says Dr. Catania is a friendly, outgoing person who is great with patients. Karen is a native of Syracuse, NY, and has lived in Cicero, NY since 2004. She has a 16-year-old daughter, Kayleigh and enjoys running and pilates.

Kimberly, Board Certified Orthodontic Assistant

Kimberly's duties include chairside patient care, cleanup, sterilization, and inventory control. She has worked in the field of orthodontics since 1988 and has worked with Dr. Catania since 1989. Kimberly's favorite thing about the practice of orthodontics is the change in someone's personality and self-esteem after braces come off. Her favorite thing about working with Dr. Catania is that he jokes with his patients and makes them feel at home. She enjoys working with the children, making friendships with adults, and watching patients grow up and then see their children come into the office for treatment. A native of Chittenango, Kimberly has lived in Kirkville since 2003. Her family includes her husband, Allen, and her son, Alexander (age 3-1/2). When away from work she enjoys swimming, knitting, and gardening.

Midge, Dental Hygienist

Midge's clinical duties include assisting with the placement and removal of braces and all it entails. She has worked in the field of orthodontics since 1978 and with Dr. Catania since 1987. Her favorite thing about orthodontics is the fantastic smiles that are created during treatment and often seeing positive personalities blossom due to the increased confidence a better smile can give patients. Midge is proud of Dr. Catania's research for "better orthodontics" — using new technologies to move teeth in a kinder and gentler manner. She loves the people she meets at work and has always told people, "Everyone has a story." She finds it enriching to meet people and learn who they are and what fantastic lives they lead. A native of Waterville, NY, Midge has lived in Syracuse since l987. Her family includes her son, Adam (age 14), and dog, Cleo. When away from work she enjoys co-ed recreational volleyball and SU sports (football and basketball).

Rose, Office Manager

Rose's role at Dr. Catania's office includes supervising employees, handing collections, serving as Computer Administrator and backup Treatment Coordinator, and overseeing Accounts Payable, billing, and insurance. She has worked in the field of orthodontics since 1974 and with Dr. Catania since 1989. She loves learning new technology advances regarding treatment and appreciates the fact that the doctor is great with kids and wonderful at wanting to implement latest techniques to improve treatment. Rose's favorite part of her job is seeing the wonderful changes in patients' self-confidence and being able to help families with financial problems obtain orthodontic treatment. Rose is a native of Syracuse, NY, and lives with her husband, Peter, and cat, Einstein. Away from work she enjoys working out, walking, sewing, reading, knitting, crocheting, and traveling.

Sara, Treatment Coordinator

Sara's duties around the office include welcoming new patients and families and educating patients and parents regarding their individual treatment plans. She guides patients through initial visits and assists them with financial and insurance processing. Sara has worked in the field of orthodontics since 1988 and with Dr. Catania since 1989. Her favorite thing about practicing orthodontics is that Dr. Catania and his team are a family. "Our patients sense this," she says. "Adults and children actually look forward to coming to our office because we make having treatment so much fun." She appreciates that Dr. Catania relates well to each patient, whether a child, teen or adult, and finds it very satisfying to see the benefits of orthodontics, knowing that she contributed to the result.

When Are Two Phases of Treatment Necessary?

Usually patients in orthodontic treatment already have their permanent teeth – they are pre-teens, teens and adults. But in some cases we have to start treatment earlier, even before the patient’s permanent teeth come in. We call this “two-phase treatment.”

When we have patients with clear developmental problems at an early age, it’s best to start work when they are young, before the problems get bigger and more difficult to treat. Examples include an upper or lower jaw that is not growing correctly, or a mouth growing in a way that doesn’t leave enough room for all the permanent teeth to come in, or what we call a “severe malocclusion” (the orthodontic word for “bad bite” which means the jaws don’t fit together correctly).

In these cases we will start early and do one round of treatment – phase one – while the patient still has “baby teeth.” Phase one usually does not involve braces, but can include a different type of appliance that helps the jaw grow into place properly. We’ll follow up with phase two usually a few years later, when permanent teeth are in place. Generally phase two involves standard braces.

In order to catch any early problems, we recommend that children have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven (and so does the American Association of Orthodontics). However, if your dentist or pediatrician sees any sign that early treatment might be necessary, he or she may recommend your child visit our office even sooner.

Everybody Benefits from Braces!

Everybody Benefits from Braces!

Braces aren’t just for pre-adolescents and teenagers anymore! Anyone, at any age, can benefit from orthodontic care; whether it is correcting a problem not treated in your younger years, or catching a problem early.

To ensure the best overall treatment, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children receive an orthodontic consultation as early as age seven. If a problem is evident, taking action early can spare a lot of treatment and expense down the road.

If you never received orthodontic treatment when you were young, don’t worry! You’re never too old for a beautiful smile. Set up an appointment for a consultation and find out how adult orthodontics will transform your smile, and your life!

Toothbrush Trivia

Toothbrush Trivia

Before the toothbrush was invented, many people actually brushed their teeth with sticks!

The first time in history that people actively cleaned their teeth was between 4000 and 3000 BC in ancient Babylon (the site where Iraq is now). The Babylonians used “chew sticks” – thin twigs or tree roots that were chewed at the end to loosen the fibers and then used like brushes.

Between 2000 and 1000 BC the ancient Chinese used similar twigs to clean their teeth. But the Chinese took it one step further and used twigs from trees with a nice smell. (Perhaps this was an early attempt at breath freshening?)

The next time you brush your teeth, take a moment to be thankful that you have a nice, clean toothbrush with soft bristles – instead of a stick!