Your Grande Prairie Invisalign® Provider
Although every patient's treatment differs slightly, orthodontic treatment with braces is generally similar for everyone. Here, our Grande Prairie orthodontists explain the process of getting braces step-by-step.
1. Booking an Assessment Appointment With Your orthodontist
Book an assessment with your general orthodontist, who can refer you to an orthodontist if necessary. Since people visit the orthodontist more regularly, it's often the orthodontist who recommends you see an orthodontist if required. However, normally you would not require a referral.
2. Attending a Consultation
You can consult with your orthodontist on whether braces are necessary or the best option.
During this session, the orthodontist will typically do a full examination of your teeth, which may include X-rays and intraoral photographs, in order to assess your case and determine treatment options.
3. Planning Your Treatment
Following the initial appointment, the orthodontist will most likely develop a treatment plan that is specific to your requirements. Every mouth is unique, which means that treatment must be tailored to your personal needs in order to obtain the desired outcomes.
4. Placing the Braces
Your orthodontist will most likely clean and condition your teeth at your next session in order to prepare them for braces.
At this visit, dental care usually consists of a thorough cleansing of the mouth and teeth. Following that, they are prepped for the cement, and then the brackets are glued directly to the teeth in the places that have been set by the orthodontist before treatment begins.
It is next necessary to insert the wire into the brackets, which are subsequently secured in place by shutting the doors behind them.
5. Discussing Your Oral Care
Following the placement of your braces, your orthodontist should walk you through some basic orthodontic care procedures, such as how to clean your braces, brush your teeth, and which toothpaste to use. In some cases, they may even give you small spindle brushes to use to remove food particles and germs from around the brackets and between the wire and your teeth.
6. Adjustments & Checkups
After your braces have been set, you will typically have to wait for 8 to 10 weeks before you have your first adjustment.
The orthodontist will likely introduce a new wire into the brackets during an adjustment. This new wire will be somewhat stronger or will have a different design than the previous wire in order to continue to move your teeth and to pull or push the teeth in a certain direction.
When you have braces on, it is critical that you keep up with your regular dental checkups and cleanings as much as possible. When you have braces or wires in your teeth, it might be difficult to clean them. However, your orthodontist and hygienist should be experienced in cleaning around brackets and can assist you in cleaning more effectively to safeguard your dental health.