Orthodontics is a field of dentistry that fixes jaw misalignments and straightens teeth. This is done by a variety of dental treatments but mostly using braces.
When you have braces, you might be wondering how often you’ll need to have a family orthodontics appointment. Knowing when and how many appointments you’ll have can keep your family schedule on track.
If you’re interested in learning more about orthodontic appointments or seeing an orthodontist in Indian Trail, continue reading.
Family Orthodontics Appointment: What You Should Know
Not everyone who has orthodontics will need the same amount of appointments. Each situation is unique so every treatment schedule is geared toward that treatment plan. However, there are some variables that make orthodontic appointments fairly understandable.
Here are some things you should know.
Type of Treatment
The type of dental treatment you choose, or that your orthodontist recommends, will have a direct impact on how often you need to see your orthodontist. There are two types of dental treatments available for straightening teeth: braces and Invisalign.
Metal braces consist of metal brackets and wiring that are bonded to your teeth to help them straighten out. When you have metal braces, you will need to come into the office every 4-6 weeks for adjustments. These appointments may take up to an hour or so, to adjust, examine, and ensure your treatment is on the right track.
Invisalign is another dental treatment to straighten teeth but uses clear plastic aligners to shift teeth instead of metal. Your appointments will be less frequent, most likely every 6-10 weeks. At these appointments, you’ll receive new aligners for the next phase of your treatment.
Condition
The condition of your case will also require more or fewer appointments. Aligning teeth may be a slow process, anywhere from six months to two years. However, because each case and condition is different, the length of time will vary from person to person.
For example, you might have two children with braces, but one might have a different treatment plan, and have different appointments.
Age
The age of the person receiving orthodontic care will also play a part in the frequency of appointments. For children and teenagers, their jaw and teeth are still growing and malleable, which means they require less time.
For adults, their jaws are already set and grown. This requires more time because, depending on the case, the jaw is set and not as easily changeable.
Keeping Your Appointments
Visiting the family orthodontic’s office will depend on the type of treatment you’re receiving, metal braces or Invisalign. So why is it important to keep up your appointments?
Keeping your appointments ensures that your treatment stays on track. When skip or miss appointments, this pushes your treatment time back significantly, and you may not complete it when scheduled. You may also experience movements that are not conducive to your plan, and this will require extra correction.
If you cannot keep your appointment or need to reschedule, let your orthodontist know immediately so they can reschedule you and keep you on track as much as possible.
You might be surprised to learn that keeping your post-treatment appointments is just as important. Once your treatment is over, you will have follow-up appointments to ensure that your teeth are staying in place and there are no further treatments needed. You may need to wear a retainer to prevent your teeth from moving.
Showing up to your post-treatment appointments is part of your treatment as well.
Planning For Emergencies
While you will have regularly scheduled appointments for adjustments and examinations, sometimes emergencies happen. Brackets break, aligners crack or become lost, and you need them replaced.
It’s important to make sure that your orthodontist has a phone number and hours for dental emergencies, as broken brackets and other orthodontic’s problems may qualify as emergency dentistry.
Healthy Teeth During Dental Treatment
While visiting your orthodontist and keeping your appointments are key to the success of your treatment, there are other things you can do to keep your teeth healthy. Maintaining good oral hygiene will lead to fewer appointments in the long run because your teeth will stay healthy.
When you have traditional braces, food particles may become stuck in between your brackets. It’s important that you stick to brushing twice a day to remove food particles, plaque, and other build-ups. While Invisalign aligners are removable, making it easier to brush, you still need to brush your teeth so bacteria doesn’t harbor on your teeth.
Certain foods, especially sticky ones, may not be recommended while you have braces. This is because they can break brackets or they’re difficult to remove.
If you have Invisalign, it’s important to rinse and clean your aligners on a daily basis to remove bacteria. Bacteria that builds up on your aligners can damage your teeth, so take time every day to brush the aligners.
While staying away from sticky foods and candy is good for your braces, it’s also good for your teeth. A steady diet of fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy products will keep your teeth healthy and free from harmful sugars that can lead to tooth decay. Even with a healthy diet, it’s important to stick to good brushing habits!
Your Indian Trail Orthodontist
Family orthodontics appointments are necessary for your teeth to stay on their treatment track. By showing up to your appointments and playing a role in your dental treatment, you can finish well with a beautiful smile!
Are you looking for an orthodontist in Indian Trail? Our staff can answer all your questions! Contact us today to schedule your consultation.