Understanding the Three Phases of Orthodontic Treatment
Posted on Jul 18, 2017 2:40pm PDT
Orthodontic treatment can have a tremendous effect on both your oral health and your confidence
in your smile. Although most people think orthodontic treatment always
starts in the kids’ dentist office, that is no longer the case.
Adults can and do get orthodontic treatment to fix parts of their smile
that they are unhappy with and to achieve better health. During your next
dental check-up in Lake Stevens, WA, find out if you are a good candidate
for orthodontic treatment. If you decide to go forward with care, here
are the three phases you can expect to go through.
Planning
Your first few visits with your dentist or orthodontic may focus strictly
on planning your treatment. During these appointments, your dentist will
take a complete medical history, perform an oral exam, and take molds
of your teeth. He or she may also take computer-generated photos of you
head and neck and X-rays of your teeth and jaws. Using this information,
he or she will talk to you about your treatment options and develop a
care plan that will help you achieve your goals.
Active Treatment
The active treatment phase of orthodontic care is the part in which you
are wearing your braces or aligners. During this phase, you will need
to see your orthodontist on a regular basis for adjustments and to ensure
that your treatment plan is progressing as expected. The number of times
you need to see your orthodontist and the length of the active treatment
phase depends on the kind of treatment you’re receiving and the
nature of your orthodontic issues.
Retention
The retention phase is one of the most crucial parts of orthodontic treatment,
because it ensures that you keep the results you achieved during active
treatment. Your orthodontist will create retainers for you to wear after
your braces are removed or you finish with your aligner treatment. Retainers,
which are removable in most cases, prevent your teeth from shifting back
to their pre-treatment positions. Your orthodontist will advise you how
long you need to wear your retainers.