It is very common to feel nervous before getting braces, but it is important to note that the process of applying braces has been developed over hundreds of years of orthodontic practice.
Orthodontic specialists today have many advanced tools to make the process as quick and painless as possible. Because it may help to calm your nerves if you know exactly what to expect from your visits to the orthodontist, let’s take a look at how exactly dental braces are applied.
The first visit to your orthodontic center is called a consultation visit. During this time, your orthodontic specialist will determine what kind of dental work will be necessary given the specific condition of your teeth. X-rays will be taken of your teeth and mouth using a cephalometric x-ray. This is an x-ray of the head that shows the alignment of your teeth and how they are growing. Your doctor will then determine the best course of action and discuss what your treatment options are.
If your orthodontic specialist decides that braces will be a necessary treatment, your next visit will be to fit the small dental brackets to each of your teeth using a strong dental adhesive. This process starts with your doctor using a cheek retractor to open your mouth and keep your teeth visible and accessible during this procedure. Next, your teeth are polished and air-dried so that the brackets will be able to bond to the smooth surface. A conditioner is put on the front of the teeth to further prepare the teeth to bond to the brackets. Special dental cement is placed on the back of each bracket and then your orthodontic specialist will carefully place the brackets on your teeth, one at a time. This process may take a long time because the placement of the brackets must be exact to ensure proper alignment of the teeth.
Once all the brackets are placed on your teeth, your orthodontist will remove the excess cement on your teeth using a scaler – a tool with a curved hook on one end. In order to harden the cement and ensure the brackets are completely bonded to the teeth, the orthodontist will use a curing light, which is a high intensity UV light.
The cheek retractors are removed from your mouth and your doctor will now thread the archwire through the brackets. This wiring is used to guide the teeth into their new positions. A distal end cutter is used to cut the wire so there are no ends sticking out in your mouth.
Once the wire is put through all of the brackets, it is time for the last step at this appointment. The wire placement is secured using ligatures, which are elastic bands that go around each bracket and keep the wire in the correct position. These elastics are usually changed at each follow up appointment.
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