Having an idea of what you can expect from a visit to an orthodontist can help reduce the anxiety, fear, and reluctance often associated with such a visit. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that you should take your children to McGill Orthodontics consultations by the time they reach seven years. That is because your children’s jaws are still developing, and permanent teeth have not appeared, making them susceptible to dental irregularities.
Still, even if you are older, it is often never too late to get a beautiful smile and, therefore, require treatment by an orthodontist.
Orthodontic treatments can help fix oral health issues you or your child may have, such as tooth grinding, overbites, and underbites. Orthodontic treatment may also help relieve your sleep apnea and improve your speech, which severely misaligned teeth may have impaired.
Moreover, orthodontics can help repair your jawbone damaged by an injury, avoid teeth overcrowding, and safeguard you against future dental problems. Consequently, below are what to expect from a visit to consult your orthodontist.
Review of your medical and dental history
Always ensure that you visit your orthodontist with all your past and current medical records.
Your orthodontist will have to examine your medical and dental history to gather vital information, including the last time you had your x-rays and the last time you visited a dentist. Your medical and dental history can also help your dentist determine the right treatment plan for your dental problem.
Dental examination and imaging
Your dentist may have to subject you to oral examination and take images of your dental structures, including gums and teeth. Dental examination and imaging can assist your dentist in identifying issues that your medical records may not have captured.
For instance, you may have a dental cavity requiring a filling before the installation of braces.
Your orthodontist may ask you a few simple questions during the examination of your medical and dental health history and oral examination and imaging. You can also seize that moment to ask questions you may have about your dental issue and orthodontic treatments. A professional orthodontist will give you enough time to ask questions and answer them satisfactorily.
For instance, you may want to know if the orthodontist is qualified and experienced, better understand the reasons for the preference of certain treatments, the history of the dentist’s work, and enquire about the overall cost of treatment.
An orthodontic consultation may last about 40 or 60 minutes.
After consultation
After the end of the orthodontic consultation, your orthodontist may require that you come for further consultation at a specified date. You may have to visit your dentist after six months or one year to get another review of the status of your oral and general health.
If you have a dental issue that needs correction, your orthodontist will discuss the issue with you and recommend potential buxic treatment options such as braces, clear aligners, or retainers. Your dentist will devise an initial treatment plan and request you schedule your first appointment for orthodontic treatment.
For instance, although you may require a single appointment to fix your braces, you may need further visits to your orthodontist to adjust your braces after every five or six weeks.
