Orthodontics is a long-term process, and there are many factors in the early, middle, and late stages of orthodontic treatment that determine the final orthodontic effect.
The whole process of orthodontic treatment
1. Intraoral examination
The doctor will carefully examine all the problems inside and outside of your mouth, such as caries, periodontal disease, whether there are missing teeth, whether there are fixed or removable dentures in the mouth, whether there are damaged roots, whether the bite is disordered, whether there is a Bad mouth habit such as breathing, night grinding, unilateral chewing, whether there is rhinitis, tonsillitis, whether the face is symmetrical, whether the temporomandibular joint is abnormal, whether there is a systemic disease, whether there is a family history, or even the occupation, etc. These questions are closely related to making a correct diagnosis and formulating a complete treatment plan for you. The more detailed you know about your oral condition, the more comprehensive you can think about it. Don’t think the doctor is too annoying! Be sure to tell your doctor the truth about you.
At this time, we can inform the doctor of our medical needs, such as wanting to improve the protruding face, using more beautiful appliances, uneven teeth, difficulty cleaning, etc., to help the doctor understand the needs for correction, and formulate an appropriate treatment. plan.
2. Take the model
If the clinical examination is “looking, smelling, and asking”, then taking the film and taking the mold is the key “cut”.
Taking pictures and taking models includes taking X-rays, taking intraoral teeth, occlusal photos, taking pictures outside the mouth, and taking models. Some hospitals will use intraoral scanners instead of membranes to obtain more accurate data. The whole process is basically not too uncomfortable, and a few people feel uncomfortable because of tension. The radiation dose of X-rays taken by the conventional oral cavity is very small, and the harm to the human body is basically zero. But pregnant women should avoid taking X-rays.
This information will provide a specific data analysis basis for the doctor’s treatment plan and program.
3. planning
This step is one of the keys to determining whether the correction can be successful, and it is also a step that condenses the doctor’s many years of skill learning and clinical experience.
When making a correction plan, doctors need to design the ideal arrangement of teeth, occlusal relationship of teeth, facial smile curve, and the effect you want to achieve through the analysis of facial aesthetics, dentition model, and X-ray films. At this time, the doctor will discuss the treatment plan and the choice of the appliance with you in detail, and will also inform you about the possible risks. Sign the relevant informed consent form with you to ensure that you start orthodontic treatment under the premise of clear understanding. Minors and patients without self-care ability should be accompanied by their guardians to understand the treatment plan and sign the informed consent form.
4. Preparation before correction
If you have periodontal problems or caries, etc., it is recommended to perform treatment before orthodontic treatment, and start orthodontic treatment after completion.
People who need to have their teeth extracted for orthodontic treatment should also complete the extraction before wearing the appliance.
5. Wearing braces
After so much work, I can finally put on braces (aligners)!
The fixed appliance is composed of brackets and archwires and generally needs to be worn for one and a half to two and a half years to complete the correction.
During this period, a follow-up visit is required every 1 to 3 months, and the orthodontic appliance is adjusted by the doctor. The appliance is like a magic tool in the hands of the orthodontist, guiding each tooth to move to the most suitable position in a healthy way.
6. Wear a retainer
The long career of braces has ushered in a harvest day, and I can finally see the beautiful smile after correction! However, you still need to keep working hard to keep a perfect smile~
After the correction is completed, the doctor will remove the appliance and re-take the membrane to make the retainer. The use of this retainer is the key to making us always have a beautiful smile!
In the beginning, you need to wear the retainer every day and night for half a year. It can be worn every night after half a year and every other day after a year.
Adolescents need to wear it at least until the end of the growth and development period, adults at least two years, and some need to wear it for life. Follow-up visits every six months while wearing a retainer.
“Relapse” may occur if the retainer is “lazy” or not worn for as long as required.
Reminder:
Orthodontics has a certain degree of irreversibility, especially for those cases of tooth extraction, once the orthodontic treatment fails, it will increase the difficulty of re-treatment.
Therefore, it is necessary to choose a regular hospital and high-quality products before the correction begins. Physicians with superb skills and rich experience will make reasonable plans according to your actual situation and formulate the perfect treatment plan.
