Everything You Need To Know About Getting Braces

Getting braces is an important milestone. It’s a big step for most pre-teens and teenagers. Braces can seem scary. Your parents might have some horror stories from their experiences. But brace technology and treatment have drastically improved, making for a comfortable patient experience. Here at Orthodontic Arts, we’re going to break down the process of getting braces from start to finish. If you still have questions, always feel free to call us. We’ll be happy to chat with you and answer any oral health questions!

What does consultation look like?

The first step of the braces process is where our orthodontist consults you at your first appointment. But what exactly is a consultation? It’s where you get to meet the orthodontist and where they get to meet you. You’ll learn about what treatment plans they have, how much it will cost, how long it will take, and what results it will produce. The orthodontist will learn what result you want from braces and what brace treatment type you are interested in. Then they’ll need to get an accurate look at your teeth composition. They do this in a few ways. First, they might look at your teeth with an x-ray. They’ll get a clean image of your teeth and jaw structure with a few scans. An orthodontist might also take a teeth mold. That’s where you bite into a putty-like substance that essentially forms a perfect mold of your teeth. The orthodontist can then use this to make an Invisalign mold. Additionally, an orthodontist might take photos of your smile for the record- keeping. It’s cool to see how far you’ve come once your braces are off!

What Getting Braces Is Like

You’ll receive your braces at your next orthodontist appointment. This appointment is one of your longer appointments, as it takes some time for proper brace installation. First, your teeth will be brushed. Brushing prevents germs from getting stuck underneath your braces. Then, metal brackets will be glued to your teeth. Next, a thin metal wire is pulled through the brackets, which applies pressure to your teeth to move them into a correct position over time. Lastly, rubber bands secure the wire to the brackets. These bands come in different colors. Feel free to choose a color you love! If you ever get tired of a particular color, you can always change them out on your next visit! You may feel some pressure and tenderness on your teeth during the following days. That pressure is normal, and it will eventually subside. However, if pain persists, Tylenol or Advil may help! It also helps to eat soft foods right after getting your braces. Additionally, floss and brush well to prevent food from building up in your braces.

Braces Adjustments

The adjustment stage is the longest stage of the braces process. The duration of brace treatment widely varies depending on the complexity of your teeth arrangement. Some treatments last less than a year, while others can take around three. You will meet with your orthodontist once a month during this period. Although, each patient is different. These meetings will be brief, no longer than forty minutes. Your braces are adjusted to keep steady pressure on your teeth. It’s also a great time to switch band colors if you’d like! You can also ask your orthodontist any questions about your progress or let them know of any concerns you may have. Your teeth will make steady progress during this time. You may not be able to notice, but you will have improved between each meeting!

 

The End

The day you’ve been waiting for! Finally, it’s time for your braces to come off. The metal brackets and glue will be removed gently. It will feel strange at first! This is because you’ve had something on your teeth for at least a year. But you’ll feel great after your first glance in the mirror! So this is also an excellent time to look at your “before” photos to see how far your smile has come.

The Retainer Era

“Well, now what?” you might ask. Once your braces are off, you’ve entered the retainer phase of your treatment. Like how you got a putty mold for your old teeth, you’ll get one for your new teeth. A plastic retainer will be made from the new mold. You wear the retainer at night to prevent your now perfect teeth from shifting. How long you will need to wear your retainer after brace removal depends. In the months after removal, it’s critical to wear it every single night. This is because your teeth are vulnerable to shifting in this stage. Eventually, your teeth placement will solidify, and you won’t need to wear it every night. However, it is not recommended that you ever wholly stop wearing your retainer. If you want to keep your teeth straight, continue to wear your retainer regularly at night.

In conclusion…

We hope this has answered your questions about the brace process. Of course, if you have any questions, please call us! Schedule an appointment today if you’re interested in getting braces! We offer in-person and virtual consultations. At Orthodontic Arts, your first visit is free!

Orthodontic Arts, your number one Orthodontist in OKC. Our Certified Orthodontist provides the latest and greatest Orthodontic practices to our clients in the OKC and Midtown area. Orthodontic Arts is the best place for child and teen orthodontics as well as adult orthodontics. Be sure to ask about Invisalign and invisible braces! Contact us today at (405) 604-3745 or request an appointment. Check us out on Facebook!