Once upon a time, getting braces seemed like a major life decision that children and adults alike struggled with. One issue that a lot of people had with getting braces is simply the idea of dealing with metal in their mouth for that long, and the issues that they think come with having braces. Others balk at the cost, which is often not quite as much as they imagine it to be. There are so many misconceptions that cause anxiety surrounding braces. Nonetheless, over 4 million people currently wear braces in the United States. Why? Because as much as we may sometimes get anxious about the idea of braces, we nonetheless understand that they’re very much necessary. Braces are meant to, essentially, move the teeth around in your mouth. This is typically meant to straighten crooked teeth. However, braces can also be used to move teeth around to create space for replacement implants. There are a number of different types of braces on the market, and the basic braces process step by step may no longer be what you expect it to be, due to changes made in the way that we use and apply braces. With that being said, many people don’t fully understand their options when it comes to braces and believe that there’s only one way to wear them.
The more you understand about the braces process step by step, however, the easier it will be for you to understand what types of braces are right for you or your loved one, as well as your options. For that matter, a lot of people find themselves paying more for braces simply because they didn’t understand when was the best time to have them applied. You may put off braces, thinking that they’ll be easier to deal with when you’re older; when often that couldn’t be further from the truth. The more you know about braces, the more easily you’ll be able to make a responsible decision, whether you’re the one getting the braces, or they’re for your child. With that being said, let’s look into the process of getting braces, from the beginning to the end.
1. Diagnosis And Referral
The first part of the braces process step by step is of course the initial diagnosis that will lead to you understanding that you need braces. This will usually happen when you’re visiting your family dentist, who may notice issues with your teeth. Usually, the flag that a dentist will notice is crooked teeth. While nobody has a naturally perfect smile, certain degrees of crookedness are not as noticeable as others. A lot of people may also have even more telltale issues that lead to their dentist deciding that they need braces. This could be crowded teeth, or perhaps a case in which a patient has too many teeth. Some people are born with multiple sets of certain types of teeth, beyond the typical baby and adult teeth we all expect. Others find that they actually lack the adult teeth that they expect. All of these problems will probably be noticed initially by your dentist, who will then refer you to an orthodontist.
This referral will make it easier for you to make an appointment with an orthodontist. However, you can also make an appointment independently. While a referral does give you the peace of mind that you’re following the braces process step by step without jumping the gun or choosing a less than ideal orthodontist, if you’re concerned about your teeth or the teeth of a loved one going straight to the orthodontist is absolutely an option. While a referral will often allow your dentist to go ahead and send along their notes and your dental xrays, you should do this on your own if you independently schedule an appointment.
2. Consultation
When looking at the braces process step by step, your consultation may seem like a basic element. However, it’s actually one of the most important parts of the process. This consultation is essentially your opportunity to talk to your orthodontist about your concerns, and the orthodontist will at the same time examine and assess your teeth. Just because you’re referred to an orthodontist and attend a consultation doesn’t mean that orthodontic treatment is right for you. That is really more of the orthodontist’s call; they are the experts, after all! You may very well think that you need perfectly straight teeth. However, your orthodontist may feel that your teeth are already healthy and that further treatment would be unnecessary or perhaps even harmful.
During this initial consultation, your orthodontist will examine your teeth, and like take xrays as well. You may also be required to make a mold of your teeth, which will further help your orthodontist plan and make decisions about the treatment process. This would be a good time for you to ask about any potential treatments that you’d heard about in the past if you were wondering about whether or not they would be right for your needs or those of your loved ones. Here is where you and your orthodontist may be able to start making a plan for your individual braces process step by step by step. However, it’s really at the next step where the plan starts to take hold.
3. Treatment Design
As any good orthodontist will tell you, there is no single braces process step by step that everyone follows. In fact, your orthodontist needs to help create a good treatment plan for you and will use the mold that was made of your teeth to create a proper set of braces for your specific teeth. At the beginning, this will actually be a mockup. Prior to your braces actually being made, however, you should discuss with your orthodontist any specific type of braces that you’re interested in. While a lot of people end up choosing traditional metal braces these can be customized in many different ways. If the braces are a part of kids care, it may help the child in question feel better if their braces are bright and colorful, or include neon rubber bands. For that matter, you actually don’t have to choose metal braces, depending on the type of case you’re dealing with.
Invisalign braces are popular options for those who want to wear braces without necessarily looking like they’re wearing braces. Invisalign braces are actually clear, which makes them far less noticeable. Though they can be more expensive than traditional braces, there are payment plans available which will make them less expensive, or at least easier to finance. You should talk to your orthodontist’s office about payment plans.
4. The Application Of The Braces
Once your orthodontist is fully informed and has made up a plan for your braces in accordance with your wishes, it’s time for the part of the braces process step by step that you’ve probably been looking forward to or dreading the most. You may be surprised by how long the first appointment is. This is because it will probably involve conditioning your teeth in preparation for the application. This itself will be preceded by a standard cleaning. Once the braces are conditioned and cleaned cement will be laid for the braces’ brackets. The brackets will then be laid down.
Once the brackets are down, you will then have the wires applied to the braces. The wires will be cut to a certain length by the orthodontist, and then bent and twisted to fit the needs of your teeth perfectly. Once bent perfectly, the wires are placed on the brackets and the bracket doors are closed to keep it in place. After this is done, your orthodontist will discuss with you oral care and how you can best take care of your braces. One of the reasons why a lot of people struggle initially with the care of their braces is because they don’t ask the right questions. So make sure that you’re clear with your orthodontist about any points of confusion.
5. Adjustments
One of the reasons why the braces process step by step is so complex is that braces often need to be adjusted after they’re initially applied. Braces are something of a struggle at first, as you may feel uncomfortable, or even notice some soreness around your braces. While your teeth may naturally adjust to your braces, there may also need to be real adjustments made to them. Usually, there is a three to four week waiting period in between the initial application of your braces and the first adjustment.
Each time you visit your orthodontist, you will actually have a new wire inserted. The second wire is usually much stronger than that first initial wire, though it can still be bent and changed as need be. It’s incredibly important that you keep up with your braces. Some may be easier to maintain than others, and your orthodontist may require you to have adjustments more or less frequently depending on how they’re working out. With that being said, many people find that their braces are fairly easy to keep up with. While the amount of time that you spend with your braces will likely vary depending on how the state of your teeth and how you incorporate your braces into your typical health and wellness routine.
6. Upkeep
There are a number of issues that come with having your braces if you don’t properly maintain them. The main problem that a lot of people run into is that of food getting stuck in their braces. This isn’t a problem if you adjust your diet properly, cutting out certain pastas, popcorns, and candies. While this might not be the easiest thing to do at first, a lot of people find that a lot of their dietary changes are so beneficial that they actually end up keeping them for the long term. Of course, you need to do more than just stay away from certain foods if you’d like to keep your teeth healthy and your braces whole. You should also steer clear of sugary drinks, and make sure that you brush your teeth thoroughly.
With that being said, there are a lot of upkeep issues that will vary depending on the types of braces you have and how long you have them. At the same time, you must keep up with your regular dental appointments. It’s not enough to simply avoid certain foods and go to your orthodontist appointments. You mostly definitely must also keep up with your teeth in terms of regular cleanings and checkups. Your dentist can offer tips when it comes to cleaning your teeth and getting around your braces. Of course, you should also consider the fact that if you do choose Invisalign braces, you’ll actually have totally different upkeep requirements. Just as there is no single way to approach the braces process step by step, there is no single way to take care of braces.
of course, the final part of the braces process is going to be having them removed. This will be done by your orthodontist, and again it could take months or years before it’s time for your braces to be removed. It really does depend on how well you take care of them, and for that matter how severe your problem was in the beginning. You really can’t take for granted that a timeline you’re advised of in the beginning is going to be the timeline that you and your orthodontist ultimately stick with.
Don’t let these variable dissuade you from getting braces, however. If you are advised to get braces, your orthodontist did so for a reason. You need to be aware of the fact that skipping braces may have consequences beyond the cosmetic. Many wear braces so that they are better able to eat, and live without tooth or jaw pain. No matter how much you may think that you like your smile without braces, your smile is not the only reason why you’ll take them on. Ultimately, people wear braces so that they’re both healthier and happier; and they’re worth the process.
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