What is an orthodontist?

Orthodontists are qualified dentists, who after graduating from dental school, go on to additional full-time university-based education in an accredited orthodontic residency program supervised by orthodontists. That training lasts at least two to three academic years—sometimes more. By learning about tooth movement (orthodontics) and guidance of facial development (dentofacial orthopedics), orthodontists are the uniquely educated experts in dentistry to straighten teeth and align jaws.

Orthodontists diagnose, prevent and treat dental and facial irregularities. Orthodontists limit their practices to orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics. That means that orthodontic treatment is what they do, and that is all they do. Orthodontists treat a wide variety of malocclusions (misaligned aligned teeth and/or jaws). They regularly treat young children, teens and adults.

Selecting an orthodontist who is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) is your assurance that you have chosen an orthodontist: the dental specialist with at least two to three years of post-doctoral, advanced specialty education in orthodontics in a university-based program accredited by the American Dental Association. Specialty education includes the study of subjects in biomedical, behavioral and basic sciences; oral biology; and biomechanics.

When should I begin treatment?

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that all children get a check-up with an orthodontist no later than age seven. Although only a few orthodontic problems need to be corrected at that age, an early exam allows the orthodontist to offer advice and guidance as to when the appropriate age to start treatment would be. Let your orthodontist guide you as to when to start treatment. Feel free to ask questions about the timing of treatment.

How long will my treatment take?

The length of treatment varies depending on the complexity of the orthodontic problem that requires correction, growth and tissue response to treatment as well as the level of patient cooperation during their treatment. Orthodontic care requires a team approach in which the family dentist, the orthodontist and the patient play key roles that can impact the length of treatment and the quality of the end result. Generally, the length of comprehensive orthodontic treatment can range from approximately 18 months to 30 months, depending on treatment options and individual characteristics.

What are the stages of treatment?

Generally, there are two or three stages of orthodontic treatment. Most patients will benefit from an active corrective stage followed by a retention stage. Some patients will benefit from two active treatment stages often referred to as two-phase treatment. The goals of each stage should be discussed with the orthodontist so that patients and/or parents have realistic expectations.

You just got orthodontic appliances – Now What?

As your mouth adjusts to the appliances, it is normal to feel soreness during the first few days. Tenderness will vary from patient to patient; however, most soreness should be gone within a few days.

How do I use the wax?

Although the brackets have been rounded and smoothed, you may find it helpful to use a small piece of wax around the bracket. We will give you a supply of wax at the start of treatment, and you can always call our office for more if your supply of wax runs out.

What are some eating guidelines?

A careful orthodontic patient can probably eat almost any food without doing damage to his / her appliances. However, there three types of food can cause trouble by bending wires, breaking braces, and loosening the cement that attaches the appliances to your teeth: Hard Foods like hard bread, ice, popcorn, jawbreakers, croutons, hard pretzels, whole nuts and hard taco shells. Sticky foods like caramels, starburst and taffy. Foods high in sugar. Sugar can increase the plaque that forms on your teeth, causing cavities and permanent white marks.

What is expected of me during treatment?

Like other types of health care, patient cooperation with the directions of the orthodontist are key in determining the length of treatment and the quality of the outcome. Patients cannot sit back and relax and let the braces do all the work for them. In many instances, patients’ cooperation is needed to help make sure the bite is right. Aligned teeth within each jaw won’t stay optimally aligned unless the teeth of each jaw fit properly together. Patient compliance with elastic wear, functional appliance wear or headgear wear can be very important in insuring a successful outcome. In addition, you must continue to see your dentist at least every six months, or more often if recommended, for check-ups and professional cleanings.

Proper cleaning of the teeth to remove food debris and plaque is important to prevent cavities, gum disease and permanent scarring of the enamel.

Keeping braces from breaking or wires from getting bent will speed treatment. Avoiding hard, sticky, and chewy foods, including ice, will go a long way in preventing broken braces. Pen and pencil chewing should also be avoided.

How do I take care of my braces?

Extra time is needed with toothbrushing to make sure that all areas around the braces have been cleaned properly. Specialized brush tips are available to help get in between the braces and under the wires. Floss-threaders are helpful in passing floss under archwires to facilitate flossing of the teeth. Oral irrigators are often helpful to dislodge food debris from around the teeth. Over-the-counter mouth rinses can be used in conjunction with oral irrigators to help reduce the level of bacteria around the teeth.

When should I call the orthodontist?

Broken orthodontic appliances: Call the office if you have a broken wire, broken archwire, bent headgear or if a band or bracket comes loose from a tooth or comes completely off a tooth.