You have braces and see an orthodontist every 6 weeks or so. That means you don’t have to go to the dentist while you have braces, right? Wrong. Visiting the dentist during braces treatment is just as important as it is when you don’t have braces.
Petrous Orthodontics will work with your dentist throughout your braces treatment. That’s because your dentist is as important as your orthodontist during that time. We will straighten your teeth, but you won’t have a perfect smile when we’re done if they’re full of cavities.
How does your dentist help your orthodontic treatment? They help in more ways than one!
Part of orthodontic treatment involves visiting the orthodontist every six weeks or so for regular checkups. With so many checkups, you may think that visiting the dentist won’t be necessary.
Visiting the dentist is important, though. Our job is to keep your braces or Invisalign in good condition and working properly. Naturally, we’ll alert you if we spot any problems. But it’s your dentist who looks more closely for cavities and other potential issues.
Your dentist typically examines your mouth for problems, including cavities and gum disease. They will check for signs of enamel weakness, including discoloration, irritated gums, or tartar buildup.
They also give your teeth a professional cleaning by cleaning and polishing every surface, removing any tartar, and making sure the areas between your teeth are as clean as the other surfaces.
Dentists will also let you know if you need further treatment. Do you need a fluoride treatment to strengthen your enamel? Do you have cavities that need to be filled? Are you brushing and flossing correctly and as often as you should?
Your dentist does a lot more than just clean your teeth. They make sure your mouth stays healthy, and that’s incredibly important during treatment with braces or Invisalign.
How does a dentist clean your teeth during orthodontic treatment? It’s obviously easy with Invisalign. They’ll have you remove the Invisalign trays and clean your teeth as they normally would.
It’s a little trickier with braces, but it’s not as difficult as you think. In addition to the standard tools, your dentist will have special brushes that can reach around braces, brackets, and under wires to clean every part of your teeth.
Your dentist will remove any buildup of plaque or tartar on your teeth, along your gum line, or around your braces. They’ll be able to see if you are keeping up your good oral hygiene habits with braces. If not, they can make recommendations on better ways to clean your teeth.
Your dentist can help keep your teeth clean while your braces or clear aligners help create your new smile.
Since you’ll be visiting the orthodontist regularly, does that mean you should see the dentist less? Definitely not!
You should visit the dentist twice a year, whether you have braces or not. If you have a lot of plaque or tartar buildup, you may need to see the dentist even more than normal while you’re in braces. You may need to go up to 3-4 times a year instead of just twice.
Plaque and tartar buildup can weaken your enamel and lead to white spots on teeth after braces. Visiting the dentist regularly can help avoid this, along with regular brushing and flossing.
Once those pearly whites are nice and clean, you’ll want to keep them that way! It may seem like it’s not that easy with braces, but trust us, it’s easier than you think! Here are a few tips for keeping your braces teeth clean between dentist visits.
What if you have Invisalign? It’s easier to brush and floss with Invisalign — you just remove them and brush and floss as you usually would. However, you do need to keep your Invisalign and your teeth clean.
Our primary focus is to ensure your teeth are moving properly and your braces or clear aligners are fitting and working as they should. Your dentist focuses on dental cleanings and on maintaining your oral health. You need to see both for the best results.
Yes, your dentist or dental hygienist will use special tools to get around the brackets and wires. They’ve likely seen plenty of braces patients during their time. They’ll take good care of you and your braces.
You should see your dentist at the same intervals as you would without braces — once every six months. If you’re prone to plaque buildup around your braces, we may shorten it to every 3-4 months during your treatment.
Skipping visits could lead to plaque and tartar buildup, which could increase your chances of cavities and gum disease, both of which could slow your orthodontic treatment while they’re being treated. You could also end up with enamel demineralization, which can cause white spots on your teeth after braces. We strongly recommend you visit your dentist regularly during treatment.
It’s just as important to see your dentist during braces treatment as it is at any other time. Treatment from your dentist will complement your orthodontic treatment. Both work together to give you a healthy, beautiful new smile.
If you’re ready for treatment with braces or Invisalign in Royal Oak, MI, schedule an appointment with Petrous Orthodontics. Let’s get started on that amazing new smile!
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