Braces treatment is about so much more than just putting brackets and wires on your teeth. It’s a detailed plan that takes into account numerous factors that can make your treatment a success or a failure. Part of that success depends on you keeping your orthodontic appointments.
Life happens. We get it. It’s OK if you have to reschedule because you’re ill or you have a family emergency or a tornado is bearing down on your house. We understand that there are times when you just can’t make an appointment. But routine misses can be detrimental to your treatment.
At Fergus Orthodontics, our goal is to help you get the smile of your dreams. To do that, there are things you must do, including regular orthodontic checkups. Why are they so important? We’re happy to share the reasons why you shouldn’t skip braces checkups or checkups for clear aligners.
How Often Will I Have Office Visits With Braces or Invisalign?
Orthodontic treatment includes regular checkups. These checkups typically begin about six weeks after you receive your braces or Invisalign and continue throughout your treatment.
The time between orthodontic visits depends on the type of treatment you have, among other things. Those with braces may have elastics that only last about six weeks before they need to be changed.
By contrast, Invisalign patients receive several sets of clear aligners at once, which they wear for up to two weeks at a time. They may require fewer office visits depending on the number of sets they get at a time.
Why visit your orthodontist regularly? There are several important reasons why you should keep your Invisalign or braces appointment.
An Orthodontist Can Monitor Your Progress
It may be challenging for you to determine whether your braces or clear aligners are working, as the movement is often so gradual. But we can tell! We can see from the location and position of each tooth if they are moving as they should be.
It can take some time for the teeth to get up to speed, so to speak. Are they moving as they should? Are the teeth lining up as planned? These are some of the things we check with both a visual exam and digital X-rays and imaging.
Stay on Track With Braces Treatment
Once we determine that your teeth are moving, we need to ensure they’re moving at the correct speed, as expected in your treatment plan. Are the teeth in the positions we expect them to be on your visit, compared to the previous visit?
This also gives us a chance to ensure you’re wearing your Invisalign for the correct amount of time each day and switching between sets of clear aligners when you should. Part of your treatment plan involves tracking the movement of your teeth to specific locations and ensuring they are in the correct position by the time of each office visit.
Think of it as traveling on a highway between rest stops. Have you made it to the rest stop, or did you run out of gas and end up short of the next rest stop? If your teeth are where they should be by the next orthodontist visit, then we know your treatment is on track to finish as expected.
Make Necessary Adjustments
Sometimes, teeth can be stubborn and not move as expected. Does that mean your treatment won’t work? Definitely not! It just means we may need to make adjustments. That’s something we can do at your next office visit.
Your braces may require power chains to close gaps more quickly. You may need rubber bands for braces to help correct an overbite, underbite, or crossbite. You may need rubber bands for Invisalign for the same reasons.
Orthodontic visits provide us with the opportunity to make those necessary adjustments and keep your treatment on track.
Move to the Next Stage of Treatment
Let’s say your teeth are moving as they should and your treatment is on track perfectly. That’s fantastic! That doesn’t mean you can skip orthodontic appointments. Doing so could slow your treatment or bring it to a halt.
Why? As part of our process, we may need to move you to the next stage in your treatment. Orthodontic treatment isn’t just about putting braces or clear aligners on and sitting back while they move teeth. Part of your precise treatment is moving teeth in stages.
Some teeth may need to move more or faster than others. For example, let’s say you have a tooth that’s turned sideways or a canine that’s impacted above the gum line. Those teeth need to be adjusted so they can line up properly with the others as all of your teeth move into place.
Once those teeth are facing the right direction or positioned below the gum line where they belong, we can proceed with moving them into their correct position — in a straight line with the other teeth. This is the next stage, and to reach it, we may need to remove power chains or change rubber bands.
Each stage is vital to your treatment, and the stages must be done in the correct order. That’s why you need to visit us regularly so we can keep your treatment on track.
Correcting Braces or Invisalign Problems
Orthodontic visits help you, too. You may have a braces bracket that’s rubbing your cheek. As your teeth move into place, your archwire may start poking you in the back of the mouth. Perhaps one of your Invisalign trays doesn’t quite fit right.
A visit with us can solve these problems. We can make adjustments to your braces or clear aligners that will help ease the irritation in your mouth, so you don’t have to use your braces wax as often to cover problem areas.
Avoid Emergency Orthodontic Visits
Orthodontic visits also help us spot problems with your braces, clear aligners, or even teeth and gums before they become dental emergencies. Regular visits included in your treatment price reduce your need for emergency visits, which can become costly.
We can spot a loose bracket before it pops off your tooth. We can see if a wire is weak and in danger of breaking. We can also refresh your braces elastics before they wear out.
We can also identify potential problems with your teeth and gums that could impact your treatment. Do you have white spots forming from a lack of proper brushing and flossing? Is a cavity forming? Are there signs of the start of gum disease or an infection? Treating these things can delay your orthodontic treatment, so the sooner they’re caught, the better your treatment stays on track.
Visiting the Orthodontist in Jonesboro, AR
Orthodontist visits are just as crucial to your treatment as any other facet of your treatment plan. These visits keep your treatment on track and your mouth healthy.
If you must miss an appointment, please let us know as soon as possible so we can reschedule it for you. We understand that unforeseen circumstances may cause you to miss an appointment, and that’s okay. We just don’t want you to miss any others.
If you’re ready for your first appointment or your next one, contact Fergus Orthodontics in Jonesboro, AR. Let us get you on a treatment plan to a beautiful, healthy smile!
