orthodontist office

You’re going to be bringing your child for their first visit to an orthodontist office to see about getting their teeth straightened. How will this play out? We’re here to help you prepare for this visit and learn about what is going to happen:

What Is An Orthodontist?

Orthodontists are dental specialists who work with patients who have misaligned teeth and help put them back into the correct position by using different equipment, including braces and Invisalign. They will work closely with you and your child to give them straight teeth again.

When You First Arrive

When you get to the orthodontist office, you will fill out paperwork and then talk with them about what brought you there. Your dentist may have sent over the necessary dental records. The orthodontist will want to conduct their own exam, though, to make sure of what the next course of action should be.

Imaging

According to Forbes, the orthodontic process starts with a precise 3D digital scan of your teeth, which is used to create your custom treatment plan. Once the orthodontist has made sure that there are no dental issues, such as a cavity that wasn’t included in the dental records, they will do imaging with X-rays and also make a mold of your child’s mouth. This will help them decide which treatment path is best for your child.

The Treatment Plan

There might be things that need to be fixed before moving ahead with braces or Invisalign. Your child’s mouth might be too crowded, which would keep certain teeth from being able to turn into the correct position. The orthodontist would extract a tooth or two to make room. After that, the orthodontist will talk about the best way to straighten your child’s teeth. Invisalign is good if the treatment is fairly straightforward. If there are some teeth that have to be turned a lot, then braces would be the better option. Braces would require a lot more visits to the orthodontist office since they would have to regularly tighten the bands on the braces.

It’s up to you to decide what plan you want your child to follow. There are a lot of factors to consider, including your budget. Ultimately, your goal will be to get straight teeth for your child. The orthodontist will work with you to get that. Then everyone will be smiling. Are you looking for an orthodontist office near you? Contact Nowlin Orthodontics today!