Frequently Asked Questions

In Tunisia, the National Social Security Fund (CNSS) reimburses your expenses up to 337 dinars per year. Private insurance companies are more generous with reimbursements; contact your insurer for more information.

Dental chair sessions are not very painful. However, your teeth may remain sensitive for a few days after each appointment. You can relieve this discomfort with painkillers prescribed by your orthodontist and with a diet adapted to your teeth’s mobility, which is the source of this sensitivity.

Each case is unique and each patient receives a personalized evaluation of the duration of their treatment. Dr. Ellouze nevertheless commits not to exceed 18 months of treatment for most cases. This, of course, depends on the patient’s diligence in attending appointments.

The best treatment is the one proposed by your orthodontist. Dr. Ellouze takes the time to define a treatment strategy tailored to each case. Even if he advises you based on his diagnosis, he lets you choose the type of appliance: metal or ceramic, visible or invisible.

At Dr. Ellouze’s practice, each patient is treated individually, with great emphasis placed on diagnostic analysis and treatment planning. This is what sets us apart.

Skander Ellouze’s primary focus is maintaining your facial balance. For him, every smile is unique and must harmonize with the rest of your face. To achieve this, Dr. Ellouze develops a comprehensive treatment strategy tailored specifically to your case, combining multiple methods.

Dr. Ellouze also stands out for his expertise in orthodontics using mini-implants. This modern and innovative approach delivers results that are impossible to achieve with conventional dental anchorage. It is important to note that mini-implants are reserved for adult treatments.

No. The age range of 7 to 8 years has become the “standard” age for orthodontic consultations. It is also the time for functional education and orthopedic corrections. Most often, this is the right age for a first consultation. However, parents sometimes regret not having consulted earlier.

It depends. Often, the alignment of the upper and lower teeth are interconnected. In such cases, we need to work on both jaws to achieve proper harmony. In any case, you should consult your orthodontist to get a definitive answer for your specific situation.

Orthodontic treatment can be a long process, and the relationship you build with your orthodontist will be a long-term one. It’s important that you feel comfortable and confident with them. Ask questions, listen to yourself, and check their experience — this is the best way to make a good choice.

Dr. Ellouze’s reputation speaks for itself: he is a renowned expert in the field, with experience recognized by his peers. He listens carefully to your needs and, above all, believes that every patient and every smile is unique. He takes the time to find the right treatment for each individual.

It is possible to have successful orthodontic treatment even if you have crowns or implants. Please consult Dr. Ellouze to learn more.

No. You cannot speed up your treatment by wearing twice as many elastics. Moreover, you risk moving your teeth in the wrong direction.

Yes. It’s best to avoid chewing gum and eating caramel. We also often recommend avoiding biting directly into hard foods like apples or sandwiches. Cutting your food into smaller pieces is preferable.

Yes. We do this often; it’s not a problem.

No. Your dental appliance will not trigger any metal detectors.

Here are our recommendations:

1. If your child wants to suck their fingers, give them a pacifier instead. It can be removed one day more easily than the thumb.
2. Observe your child when they eat, swallow, or speak.
3. Biting or sucking on lips, tongue dysfunction, or poor swallowing habits can lead to dental arch misalignments and speech disorders.
   • Persistent mouth breathing may require consultation with an ear, nose, and throat specialist (ENT).
   • Regularly monitor the development of baby teeth and permanent teeth, especially the first molars that erupt around age 6. Thumb sucking can cause an open bite—where the lower teeth do not touch the upper teeth when the mouth is closed.
   • Watch your child for teeth grinding. If you notice a misalignment between the arches, consult a dentofacial orthopedics specialist to avoid complications that could lead to surgery.
   • If the mouth is crooked when the teeth are in contact, this is called a crossbite, meaning a deviation of the lower jaw. Such a deformity can cause joint disorders and pain in adulthood.
4. Advice from a qualified dentofacial orthopedics specialist is always helpful: early treatment may be necessary and sufficient to ensure proper dental development without major issues.

It is best to consult an orthodontist when your teenager is between 12 and 14 years old, may not yet have their second molars, and you are concerned because:

• The front teeth are spreading apart more and more or are not aligned.
• The two jaws are moving away from each other.
• The front teeth are increasingly overlapping.
• Baby teeth have fallen out, but the corresponding permanent teeth have not erupted.
• Canines are growing in very high and forward positions.
• The lower jaw appears to shift to one side, giving the face an asymmetrical appearance.
• There is a gap between the two jaws.
• They still breathe through their mouth, snore at night, often feel tired, and frequently suffer from rhinitis, bronchitis, tonsillitis, or ear infections.
• They swallow without chewing or prefer only soft foods.
• They have the same dental problems that exist in your family.

If you notice one or more of these symptoms, do not hesitate to schedule a consultation appointment by contacting Dr. Skander Ellouze’s office at +216 750 230 or +216 50 740 230