Much like regular visits with your dentist, beginning orthodontic treatment means you’ll have routine visits with your orthodontist. These appointments are crucial to assess your treatment needs and ensure that everything is progressing as it should. So, what exactly can you expect during one of these visits?
Initial Appointment
When your orthodontist determines that you are ready to begin orthodontic treatment, they will examine your bite and take orthodontic records like X-rays, photos, etc. This allows them to begin your personalized treatment plan and determine the best approach for you. From there, they can move forward with putting on your braces or providing clear aligners.
Future Appointments
If you have metal or ceramic braces, you can expect to see your orthodontist at regular intervals – often every six to ten weeks. At these appointments, your orthodontist will check your progress and address any issues. They may also adjust your wires or change them out, giving you the chance to choose new colors for your brackets!
Those with clear aligners can go a bit longer between appointments. This is because you are typically sent home with multiple trays with instructions on when to switch them out. Checking in with your orthodontist at regular intervals is still needed to confirm the aligners are doing their job correctly. With both routes of orthodontic treatment, your orthodontist also checks in on the overall health of your teeth and gums to help you maintain a healthy smile throughout your treatment.
Keeping up with these routine visits is crucial during your orthodontic journey to ensure your treatment goes as efficiently as possible. Should you have an issue arise between your routine visits, give your orthodontist a call to get in as soon as possible so we can take care of it for you!
