An initial orthodontist visit will prepare you or your child for braces. You'll discuss appropriate treatment options, expectations of outcome, treatment planning, and costs. This is a great opportunity for the future braces-wearer to get used to the orthodontist office.
Ask about reading material to take home. Use this low-cost or no-cost preliminary visit to ask any questions you may have. It may help to jot down notes beforehand.
Depending on how crowded the teeth are in the mouth, the orthodontist may extract teeth (or refer you to an oral surgeon) before beginning treatment with braces.
In a second visit, molds are made of the patient’s teeth. The orthodontist photographs the patient’s teeth and smile. A "panoramic x-ray," is taken to obtain a 360-degree x-ray image of your skull. Using modern imaging equipment, the amount of radiation used for these x-rays is tiny. For example, state-of-the-art panoranic x-ray machines use about 1/40th of the radiation of used for a single chest x-ray. The x-ray beam is so focused some states don't even require lead aprons or shielding.
Depending on the treatment method your orthodontist has selected, you may need an additional pre-braces visit to have “spacers” put on your teeth. Spacers are tiny rubber bands that gently nudge the molars apart for about a week. Creating this space is necessary so the metal bands will fit around all the molars when the braces are put on.
A day or two before having braces put on your teeth, have your dentist clean your teeth and place sealant on your molars to help prevent decay. The dentist should also examine your teeth and mouth to ensure that there are no cavities or periodontal problems.
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