You are about to get braces. It’s exciting! You probably have a million questions when you first walk through the door of Ohana Orthodontics. Which questions do you ask your orthodontist on your first consultation for braces?
We know you’ll have questions to ask about braces, questions to ask when getting braces, braces financing questions, and other questions to ask your orthodontist on your braces consultation. Here are some suggestions on what to ask your orthodontist during your first orthodontic consultation.
When Will I Get Braces?
Will I get braces on the initial consultation? It’s a common question. The short answer is no, you won’t get braces on your first visit. You will get a thorough examination to discover what dental issues we need to fix.
You’ll also get a tour of our office and meet our friendly, professional Ohana Orthodontics team. You’ll also meet Dr. Rachel Yamakawa, our amazing orthodontist!
We will show you a treatment plan that suits you best, whether that’s with metal braces, clear ceramic braces, or Invisalign clear aligners.
How Long Will I Wear Braces?
Your treatment time depends on how many dental issues we must fix and how severe they are. After your initial examination, we will draw up a braces treatment plan. That orthodontic treatment plan will include how long you will wear braces.
Is There Pain With Braces?
You may experience some discomfort when you first get your braces. It’s usually minor and disappears after a few days. You can rinse your mouth with warm salt water to soothe your teeth and gums. You can also use over-the-counter pain medication as directed on the box.
You may also feel discomfort after braces tightening during your office visit. Again, it should only last a couple of days. Call us if any discomfort lasts more than a week or gets worse.
Can I Play Sports With Braces?
Yes! We know many of you love to play sports, and we want to encourage you. We ask that you wear a mouthguard to protect your braces and mouth from injury.
It’s crucial in contact sports like wrestling, football, and soccer, or sports with flying objects like baseball or lacrosse.
Are There Foods to Avoid With Braces?
Yes, you will need to avoid hard, crunchy, sticky, or chewy foods because they can damage your braces. This can include:
- Hard taco shells
- Tortilla chips
- Gum
- Popcorn
- Bagels
- Whole apples
- Raw vegetables
- Nuts
- Hard candies
- Taffy
- Caramels
- Jerky
Keep in mind this is only temporary. You can go back to enjoying these foods once your braces are off!
How Often Will I Visit the Orthodontist?
It depends on the treatment type and how often we see you. Generally, we see our patients every 5-10 weeks. We will check your progress during your visit. If you’re wearing braces, we may tighten them to keep your treatment on track.
Invisalign patients get checked and may get new clear aligners to wear for a few weeks.
What If I Get a Cavity With Braces?
Cavities are bad, especially with braces, as they can delay your treatment. Depending on the location of the cavity, we likely will have to remove the bracket from that tooth and remove the archwire for all the teeth on that jaw.
Your dentist will need to fill the cavity and check to ensure there aren’t any more cavities or problems with your gums, such as gingivitis. Then, you’ll return to us to have the bracket placed back on the tooth and the archwire placed back onto the braces.
It’s much easier to treat a cavity if you wear Invisalign, but you still must go several hours without wearing your tray, which can delay treatment.
The best way to avoid cavities is to brush your teeth properly. Don’t forget to floss your teeth at least once a day, every day. In addition to brushing and flossing, you can use added tools such as a water flosser or mouthwash to help wash food particles from around your braces.
What Do I Do in a Braces Emergency?
What happens if you break a braces bracket? A loose braces bracket or a broken braces bracket needs to be repaired fairly quickly.
If you damage your braces, don’t panic. Even if you swallow a bracket (they’re nontoxic!), we can repair your braces. Give Ohana Orthodontics a call, and we will schedule an appointment to bring you in for repairs.
Will I Wear a Retainer After Braces?
Yes! Once you finish your braces treatment, we will fit you with a retainer to stop your teeth from moving and preserve that beautiful, new smile.
You’ll need to wear your retainers 22 hours a day for the first few months, but we will reduce that eventually to a few hours a day. Most people choose to wear their retainer overnight.
How Do I Pay for Braces?
What good is finding out about braces treatment if you can’t afford them, right? At Ohana Orthodontics, we work with you during your first visit to make braces or Invisalign affordable for you.
Ohana Orthodontics offers in-house, interest-free financing with payments that can extend beyond your treatment time. That way, you can lower your payments to something that will fit your budget.
We also work with you to determine how much your insurance will cover. We accept payments from Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) cards. We accept all major credit cards. We even offer third-party financing through CareCredit.
Ohana Orthodontics will work with you to make your treatment costs affordable because we believe you deserve a beautiful smile and great oral health!
Braces and Invisalign in Canby, OR
These are some of the most common questions we get on a first visit to Ohana Orthodontics, but you’re not limited to these questions. We know you may have other questions related to your braces treatment or Invisalign treatment in Canby, OR. We are happy to answer all of them!
