The phases of orthodontic treatment
While many potential orthodontic patients consider orthodontics to be synonymous with braces, wearing braces is just one phase of orthodontic treatment. Not to mention that braces themselves are just one of the many appliances your orthodontist may use to straighten your teeth, fix your bite, and improve your smile. You may require treatment well before brackets are affixed to your teeth to address problems with your bite—like crossbite, underbite, overbite, and open bite—as well as teeth crowding and jaw issues. You will also require treatment after your orthodontist removes your braces to ensure that your smile stays straight and sparkling.
If you are considering treatment, it may be helpful to understand how the process of achieving your best smile unfolds. There are three main phases to orthodontic treatment: the consultation phase, the active phase, and the retention phase. Within each phase there may be additional stages of treatment, and the time required for each will vary from patient to patient.
Phase 1: Consultation
During the consultation phase, your orthodontist will conduct a thorough examination of your teeth, bite, and jaw, review your dental and medical records, and discuss your needs and desires for your smile. Your doctor may need to take x-rays or make other models of your teeth and bite. Based on this information, your orthodontist will recommend orthodontic treatment and discuss a plan to start moving your teeth towards your best smile. Every patient is different— the treatment recommended, and the time required to complete it, will be distinct to you.
Phase 2: Active
Palate expanders, plates, and other orthodontic preparation
Before you get braces, your orthodontist may need to address other issues to ensure that your orthodontic treatment proceeds smoothly and successfully. Initial active treatment may involve other devices and technology developed through decades of advancements in orthodontics that are specially designed to prepare every patient for their new smile. For patients with teeth crowding, palate expanders allow your doctor to widen your jaw and make more room for your teeth, which can help eliminate the need to remove teeth. Plates can help align your upper and lower jaw, as well as improve the angle of teeth. Your doctor may recommend other preparatory devices to get your teeth ready for braces.
Let the teeth straightening begin
Once your teeth and mouth have been properly prepared with the help of other appliances, it’s time for braces. Braces involve brackets and wires—brackets are individually affixed to teeth, and these are connected by wires. The system as a whole gradually repositions teeth and bite alike. At Hutta Orthodontic Specialists, we offer Damon braces and Insignia braces, both of which allow us to move teeth with more precision and less pressure than ever before. This technology is customizable, so our patients can trust that their treatment—and their smile—will be all theirs alone.
The different stages of braces
Once a patient is in braces, their orthodontic treatment proceeds according to three different stages. In stage one of the braces process, your doctor will focus on the alignment of your teeth. Patients can expect to notice visible changes as misaligned and badly positioned teeth are brought into alignment. Stage two is all about fixing your bite. This is also when your doctor will close any spaces between your teeth. In the third and final stage of braces, orthodontists fine-tune the position of teeth, making sure that your smile is as exquisite as you are.
Last but not least: Retention
Even once your braces are off and you leave our practice, it is vital that you preserve your investment in orthodontics—your new, beautiful smile! Upon completion of treatment, each patient receives a personalized retainer. Initially, you will have to wear your retainers all the time to help your teeth stay in their perfectly placed positions. Gradually, the amount of time patients are required to wear their retainers will decrease.
Even though it may seem like your journey in orthodontics is over once your braces are removed, it is not! The retention phase of orthodontic treatment is critical—proper retainer use is the only way you’ll be able to keep your hard-earned, gorgeous smile.
There are options when it comes to orthodontic treatments. If braces are not right for you or your lifestyle, be sure to ask your doctor about Invisalign. We are delighted to offer Invisalign in addition to braces at our Worthington office.
Instead of using brackets and wires, Invisalign straightens your teeth using a series of clear, plastic retainers. A widely popular and trusted advancement in orthodontics, Invisalign enables you to achieve your goals discreetly and without the temporary lifestyle changes associated with braces. If you’re interested in Invisalign, and your doctor determines you’re a good candidate, you can expect to go through the same treatment phases as a patient with braces even though your “hardware” will be different.
Orthodontics and health
Whether you’re interested in services for yourself or your child, a choice to prioritize orthodontics is also a choice to prioritize your or your child’s health and well-being in both the short and the long term. In addition to cosmetic improvements, orthodontic treatment can improve the structure of your mouth, bite issues that impede speech or chewing, and jaw pain. And this is to say nothing of the restored confidence orthodontics affords! As if all that wasn’t enough, you can be sure that diving into orthodontics now will set you up for improved oral health in the future. Straight teeth are easier to clean than crooked or crowded ones, which will make proper brushing and flossing a breeze.
On that note: while you’re going through treatment—whatever the phase—it is imperative that you maintain excellent oral hygiene. Your orthodontist will provide various tools and tips to make teeth cleaning with braces easier, but it is your diligence and commitment that will make all the difference. Improper cleaning could lead to cavities, white spots on teeth, or other dental issues when your treatment is complete.
FAQs about orthodontic treatment
When should my child begin orthodontic treatment?
We recommend that you book your child’s first appointment with the orthodontist by age 7. Even if your child is not yet ready for braces, your orthodontist will check for issues with their teeth and address other orthodontic concerns that may require early treatment. Pediatric orthodontics is just as important as pediatric dentistry, and it can make all the difference for your child’s oral health for a lifetime to come.
How long does treatment last?
Treatment time will be different for every patient, but on average, the whole process will last 24 months. For some people, a straight smile under 12 months is possible, while for others, the process may take up to 3 years. Your doctor will let you know what to expect for your needs.
What to expect: from front teeth gapping to temporary lifestyle changes
As you go through orthodontic treatment, you will notice your teeth and mouth changing. Devices like palate expanders may cause temporary gapping between your front teeth or other unwanted aesthetic shifts. You will also have to avoid certain foods while you’re in braces. Trust that all these changes are temporary—and they will be well worth it when your braces come off!
Orthodontics is about so much more than straightening teeth. If you’re ready to discover the many benefits orthodontics provides, now is the time to contact us. Your path will be all your own, but at Hutta Orthodontic Specialists, we’ll be right there with you, every step of the way. Contact our office today. We can’t wait to get started!