Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Does every child need orthodontic treatment?
    No, not every child would benefit from orthodontic care. However, the incidence of malocclusion, (bad bite), narrow dental arches, and crowded malposed teeth has increased dramatically in modern industrialized countries. Some of the reasons are:

A) Environmental factors which have resulted in allergies and airway issues which affect our normal natural tongue posture and swallow. This contributes to more narrow, crowded dental arches.
B) Decrease in sustained infant breast feeding. Breast feeding benefits the development of a healthy tongue posture, normal swallow and wide dental arch form. It can also help minimize allergies in children.
C) The replacement of natural foods in our diet by predominantly processed food has, over time, altered our population’s jaw structure.


  1. At what age should my child be screened for braces?
    The critical age to start children to see if they need interception and treat kids with no extractions is at the age of 8. It is critical to assess the amount of room in the mouth for incoming adult teeth. We do the screening as part of an initial consultation and take a panoramic x-ray to aid in identifying if any interception or early treatment of the palate or lower arch is necessary.

  1. If I get braces, how long do I have to wear them/ Timeline of treatment?
    Duration of treatment varies with each patient. A complimentary initial evaluation is necessary for determination of when treatment should be initiated and duration.

  1. Do adults need braces?
    Yes. Besides improving their current smile or aesthetics, there are compelling functional reasons for orthodontics, such as: Collapsed bite over time, excessive wear on front teeth and improving the function of adult dentition. Progressive dental crowding of the front teeth can contribute to gum problems and loss of bone around the teeth. 20-30% of Dr. Slavin’s patients are adults.

  1. How is adult orthodontic care different?
    Arch development such as palatal expansion is not possible in adults. Thus other treatment modalities may be required to resolve crowded arches. Many adults may prefer treatment with clear aligners over conventional brackets and wires.

  1. Do braces hurt?
    No. Patients sometimes experience mild transient discomfort easily resolved with over the counter meds such as Advil or Tylenol.

  1. Will braces interfere with my activities?
    No. Orthodontic patients may participate in all sports and musical activities.

  1. Are braces covered under my dental insurance?
    Most dental plans commonly cover orthodontics irrespective of patient age.

  1. Approximate cost of braces?
    Treatment fees can usually be estimated at the initial complimentary evaluation. The cost of treatment is dependent upon many factors such as the severity of the orthodontic issues, the type of recommended treatment and the length of treatment time.

 

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Meet Dr. Jackson

Meet Dr. Slavin

Meet Dr. Burns

Slavin, Jackson & Burns, Comprehensive Dentistry. Offering a Full Range of Dental Services in the Utica, NY Area.

Family Dentistry • Pediatric Dentistry • General Dentistry • Dental Implants
Pain Free Dental Procedures • Orthodontics • Root Canal
Cosmetic Dentistry • Teeth Whitening • Veneers

HAPPY CLIENTS

Over the years I have had a number of crowns and bridges, and I always hated the gooey impressions. The iTero eliminates all that. It is so easy and, best of all, so accurate. I have never had crowns and bridges fit better. It is an amazing mechanism.

Dena Langdon

Slavin, Jackson & Burns DDS
2017-12-20T16:03:34-04:00

Dena Langdon

Over the years I have had a number of crowns and bridges, and I always hated the gooey impressions. The iTero eliminates all that. It is so easy and, best of all, so accurate. I have never had crowns and bridges fit better. It is an amazing mechanism.
Thank you for taking the time to come and answer questions at our Cavity Free Kids Training. The teachers who attended the training noted that they found your session to be particularly informative and useful. We hope you know how appreciated you are in our community!

April and The Cavity Free Kids Trainers

Slavin, Jackson & Burns DDS
2017-12-20T16:02:14-04:00

April and The Cavity Free Kids Trainers

Thank you for taking the time to come and answer questions at our Cavity Free Kids Training. The teachers who attended the training noted that they found your session to be particularly informative and useful. We hope you know how appreciated you are in our community!
Just wonderful! I am so pleased to get rid of my CPAP machine. I wake up well rested. No snoring. Both myself and my partner are extremely happy. I would highly recommend Dr. Slavin and his staff to anyone who has sleep apnea.

Linda Lewis

Slavin, Jackson & Burns DDS
2017-12-11T18:09:01-04:00

Linda Lewis

Just wonderful! I am so pleased to get rid of my CPAP machine. I wake up well rested. No snoring. Both myself and my partner are extremely happy. I would highly recommend Dr. Slavin and his staff to anyone who has sleep apnea.
My name is Amy Gorczyka and Wayne is my husband. Since replacing the CPAP with the new oral device, he is sleeping more restful and quieter. It is so much easier for him. We are grateful he found this product.

Amy Gorczyka

Slavin, Jackson & Burns DDS
2017-12-20T16:00:39-04:00

Amy Gorczyka

My name is Amy Gorczyka and Wayne is my husband. Since replacing the CPAP with the new oral device, he is sleeping more restful and quieter. It is so much easier for him. We are grateful he found this product.
No more jaw pain. No more ear aches or headaches. No more sleepless nights -All due to THIS. The orthodic you fitted me with has relieved all that and it was immediate relief! I had been in physical therapy, but no longer need treatment. My P.T. was very pleased also!

Joyce Schmidt

Slavin, Jackson & Burns DDS
2017-12-13T19:52:54-04:00

Joyce Schmidt

No more jaw pain. No more ear aches or headaches. No more sleepless nights -All due to THIS. The orthodic you fitted me with has relieved all that and it was immediate relief! I had been in physical therapy, but no longer need treatment. My P.T. was very pleased also!
My wife's happy, I'm happy. I don't wake up with headaches anymore and don't get tired during the day, because I am getting my full rest at night. I am very happy.

John Evans

Slavin, Jackson & Burns DDS
2017-12-20T15:46:35-04:00

John Evans

My wife's happy, I'm happy. I don't wake up with headaches anymore and don't get tired during the day, because I am getting my full rest at night. I am very happy.
The new imaging technology for designing and precisely measuring dental crowns is remarkable. Although I have had no major issues previously, the recent crown 'snapped' in perfectly and immediately became part of my dental landscape.

Keith Fenstemacher

Slavin, Jackson & Burns DDS
2017-12-20T16:04:02-04:00

Keith Fenstemacher

The new imaging technology for designing and precisely measuring dental crowns is remarkable. Although I have had no major issues previously, the recent crown 'snapped' in perfectly and immediately became part of my dental landscape.
I felt the need to go out of my way to applaud Dr. Burns who continuously goes out of his way to show kindness & compassion to his patients. He not only provides thorough & quality dental care, but he also establishes meaningful connections with his patients which creates a pleasant & calm atmosphere for everyone involved. As a young adult supporting myself through graduate school, I appreciate not only the reasonable prices at his practice but also Dr. Burns' complete honesty about which dental procedures are crucial - you can trust his opinion wholeheartedly as he gives advice like he is offering it to a family member. I found his practice online but you bet I recommend Dr. Burns to everyone that I know. Thank you for your support!

Nicole Guzman

Slavin, Jackson & Burns DDS
2018-10-22T12:06:42-04:00

Nicole Guzman

I felt the need to go out of my way to applaud Dr. Burns who continuously goes out of his way to show kindness & compassion to his patients. He not only provides thorough & quality dental care, but he also establishes meaningful connections with his patients which creates a pleasant & calm atmosphere for everyone involved. As a young adult supporting myself through graduate school, I appreciate not only the reasonable prices at his practice but also Dr. Burns' complete honesty about which dental procedures are crucial - you can trust his opinion wholeheartedly as he gives advice like he is offering it to a family member. I found his practice online but you bet I recommend Dr. Burns to everyone that I know. Thank you for your support!
I feel so lucky to have met such a wonderful, caring person like you. You touched our lives in such a positive way. I want you to know your kindness has inspired me to pay it forward in many ways to help others.

Deb Seifried

Slavin, Jackson & Burns DDS
2017-12-20T16:03:00-04:00

Deb Seifried

I feel so lucky to have met such a wonderful, caring person like you. You touched our lives in such a positive way. I want you to know your kindness has inspired me to pay it forward in many ways to help others.
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Slavin, Jackson & Burns DDS

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Thank you for thinking of the dental office of Drs. Slavin, Jackson and Burns.