What Does Orthodontic Treatment Involve?

What does orthodontic treatment involve?

1. Planning Phase 

The first step in developing a treatment plan is completion of a thorough visual examination of a patient’s smile. After completing this, your care provider creates diagnostic records which include panoramic x-rays, photographs and digital scan of the teeth. If treatment is needed to realign the teeth, this is discussed extensively.

Examining diagnostic records allows for the development of a predictable treatment plan. Your dental professional can also work with an oral surgeon if the symmetry of the face needs to be altered. In the case of an overcrowded mouth, one or several teeth may need to be extracted to prepare for the realignment process. Once the diagnosis and preparation phases are complete, a fixed or removable orthodontic appliance is used to move the teeth and jaw arches into ideal alignment.

2. Active Phase

Active treatment involves visiting your provider on a regular basis for adjustments and following specific treatment requirements to ensure successful treatment.

All of the above diagnostic tools will be used to diagnosis and develop a customized treatment plan for the patient.  Next, they will recommend custom orthodontic device(s) to gently move the teeth into proper alignment.  This orthodontic appliance may be fixed or removable.  Most commonly, traditional fixed braces are affixed, which utilizes individual dental brackets connected by an archwire.  Lingual braces are also fixed, but fit on the inside (tongue side) of the teeth to make them less visible.

Removable devices are an alternative to fixed braces.  Examples of removable devices include clear aligner systems, headgear and facemask.  These devices are designed to be worn for a specified amount of hours each day to expedite treatment.

Whatever the orthodontic device, they will regularly adjust it to ensure adequate and continual pressure is being applied to the teeth.  It is essential to visit at the designated intervals and to call if part of the device breaks or becomes damaged.

3.  Retention Phase

When treatment is completed, the braces and/or appliances are removed and a new appliance is made.  The goal of the retainer is to ensure that the teeth do not begin to shift back to their original positions. Usually these retainers are removable and will maintain the changes made to your teeth if worn continuously until the teeth and bone are stabilized in their new positions. There are a few basic things to consider for proper use and maintenance of your retainer.

• Don’t lose the appliance – Removable retainers are very easy to lose.  It is advisable to place your retainer in the case it came in while eating, drinking, and brushing.  Leaving a retainer folded in a napkin at a restaurant or in a public restroom can be very costly if lost because a replacement must be created.  A brightly colored case serves as a great reminder.
  

• Don’t drink while wearing a retainer – It is tempting to drink while wearing a retainer because of the unobtrusive nature of the device.  However, excess liquid trapped under the trays can vastly intensify acid exposure to teeth, increasing the probability of tooth decay.
  

• Don’t eat while wearing a retainer – It can be difficult and awkward to eat while wearing a removable retainer and it can also damage the device.  Food can get trapped around a Hawley retainer wire or underneath the palate, causing bad breath.  When worn on the upper and lower arches simultaneously, VFR retainers do not allow the teeth to meet.  This means that chewing is almost impossible.
  

• Clean the retainer properly – Removable retainers can become breeding grounds for calculus and bacteria.  It is essential to clean the inside and outside thoroughly as often as possible.  Hawley retainers can be cleaned with a toothbrush.  Because harsh bristles can damage the PVC surface of a VFR, denture cleaner or a specialized retainer cleaner is recommended for this type of device.

• Wear the retainer as directed – This phase of treatment is critical. The hard work has been done; the braces are off, and now it is tempting not to wear the retainer as often as the orthodontist recommends.  Retainers are needed to give the muscles, tissues, and bones time to stabilize the teeth in their new alignment. Failure to wear the retainer as directed can have regrettable consequences, such as teeth returning to their original position, added expense, and lost time.

Treatment and retention times vary depending on each individual case.  Your provider will ensure you have a successful treatment for a beautiful smile that can last a lifetime.  

If you have questions about orthodontic care and procedures, please be sure to ask your dental office.