Here’s what to expect when you become a patient with us.
Our patients are grinning from the beginning.
What to Expect at Your First Orthodontic Visit
Comprehensive Treatment (Braces or Invisalign©)
If you are a candidate for comprehensive treatment, you and Dr. Connell will work together to decide whether Invisalign© or traditional braces are right for you. We will either take impressions and more x-rays right away or schedule for a later date if you prefer.
If you’ve gone the traditional route, Dr. Connell will prepare the placement of your brackets, and you’ll come back 1-2 weeks afterward to place your braces! Once they’re on, you’ll notice a few things. They feel a bit strange and are somewhat uncomfortable while your lips get used to them. This doesn’t last very long, but we do have products and suggestions to help if it continues to be a problem.
If you’ve gone the Invisalign© route, we will take a digital scan. Dr. Connell will prepare your prescription and Invisalign© will create your aligners. In 3-4 weeks they will be ready, and you will schedule an appointment to pick them up and get started!
The average time between regular appointments is between 6 to 12 weeks. Through use of the Invisalign© app, in person appointments could be even less frequent than that. After some appointments or aligner changes your teeth will be sensitive for a few days, but many times you’ll have no discomfort at all. If your teeth bother you, you may take a mild pain reliever and be sure to eat soft foods.
Learn More About
And one last thing!
Proper dental care with traditional braces takes a little extra effort, but it will be well worth it. Brushing and flossing can speed up your treatment time and will prevent plaque from making marks on your teeth. All the brackets and wires in your mouth create places for plaque to hide. Plaque is sticky and made up of food and bacteria. When plaque attaches your braces and teeth, it causes cavities, swollen gums, bad breath, and can even permanently stain your teeth around where your brackets used to be. We want you to be successful on your orthodontic journey, and will be consistently communicative about proper oral hygiene.
