At your initial exam, the orthodontist will look at your face and teeth and talk to you about your orthodontic needs. Then, the orthodontist takes your records. Orthodontic records include photographs of your face and teeth, x-rays, an intraoral and extraoral exam, and molds of your top and bottom teeth.

If the orthodontist recommends bands for your back teeth, spacers will be placed between your back teeth to make room for the bands.

Before the braces are placed, the orthodontist or treatment planning coordinator will go over what your treatment will consist of. Then, you will get your braces!

If you needed spacers, the spacers will be removed and bands will be cemented on your back teeth. The assistant will get your teeth ready for the brackets, and then the brackets will be placed.

After the orthodontist positions each bracket, a bright light will be used to cure the glue.

After the glue is cured, you will get to pick out your colors. You can change the colors at every adjustment appointment. Wires will be placed, and the colored elastics secure the wire to the bracket.

You will be seen every four to six weeks during treatment. At each appointment, your elastics will be changed. Sometimes, you will get a different size wire.

Also, brackets may be placed on newly erupted teeth or put in a different position depending on how your teeth are moving. Once thicker wires are placed, you may have to wear rubber bands from your top teeth to your bottom teeth to align your bite. It is very important to wear your rubber bands as prescribed by the orthodontist to progress in treatment.

During the final phase of your orthodontic treatment, your orthodontist will bend the wires to position your teeth into the perfect place.

When you are finished with treatment, all of your braces will be removed. Final photographs, x-rays, and molds of your top and bottom teeth will be made, and you will get retainers to keep your teeth in place. It is very important to wear your retainers so that your teeth do not shift.

You will be seen over the next year on a regular basis to make sure that your teeth are not relapsing. Remember to bring your retainer to each of these appointments!