The typical treatment process includes these general steps:

  1. Examination and diagnosis
  2. Consultation
  3. Treatment
  4. Retention Care

Examination & Diagnosis

We’ll start by examining your mouth, teeth, and jaw. We’ll also collect diagnostic records to help us make an accurate diagnosis and suggest an appropriate course of treatment. These records usually consist of:

  • X-rays of the teeth to determine how sound they are and whether the bony support for them is adequate
  • A film of the skull to see the relationship of the teeth to the jaws and the jaws to one another
  • Photographs of the face to assess the profile and the effect that any proposed tooth or jaw movement may have
  • A clinical exam to check for cavities and gum disease
  • A medical history review, as there are many underlying physical problems that can impact the success or failure of orthodontic therapy

Consultation

You will first meet with a doctor, who will outline the diagnosis and recommended treatment plan. The actual problem will be explained to you in a language you can understand. You will be told why the correction is advised and how it is to be achieved. You’ll also be informed of any reasonable alternative methods of resolving the problem.

As with all forms of medical treatment, you need to be made aware of any risks, limitations, or compromises that relate to your specific situation. You will also be told what result you can expect from undergoing orthodontic therapy versus what will occur if no treatment is undertaken.

Treatment

It is now time to begin treatment. The braces or appliances will be specifically tailored to each patient’s particular problem. This may require removable and/or permanent appliances. Some of the treatment options we offer include:

  • Traditional (metal) braces
  • Ceramic braces
  • Self-ligating braces
  • Invisalign braces
  • Incognito braces

Once the braces are attached to the teeth, you will be given careful instructions on how to care for them. It is very important to follow these instructions so that treatment progresses in a timely and healthy manner.

Patients also have certain responsibilities to meet in order to achieve the best results possible. Some of these are:

  • Maintaining good oral hygiene
  • Wearing rubber bands or headgear as instructed
  • Keeping regularly scheduled appointments
  • Continuing to see a general dentist at least twice a year unless your orthodontist recommends otherwise

Retention Care

At the end of active treatment, you or your child will undergo a period of retention care. This phase of treatment is necessary to evaluate and help maintain the results achieved. An appropriate retainer will be made to maximize the stability of the finished result. It is normal for there to be some movement of the teeth over the years, but this should be minimal if the retention care plan is followed.