Your First Orthodontist Visit
Your First Consultation
Congratulations! You have just completed the first step on your way to a beautiful smile and better oral health! Dr. Robison has just performed an extensive examination and given you treatment and financing options. The next step is to get started by taking initial photos, x-rays, and placing your braces or taking impressions for Invisalign®.
Diagnostic Records
A complete set of diagnostic records will be taken at your first appointment. These consist of two x-rays and diagnostic photographs. After these records are complete, you are ready to get started!
Placing Your New Braces or Appliance
This is called your “bonding” appointment. Your new braces are placed or your Invisalign or appliances are “fitted” in order to be placed at your next visit. This will generally be your longest appointment, so please schedule accordingly. For braces, plan on being in the office for 90 minutes; for the fitting of appliances or Invisalign, plan on 30-45 minutes. To deliver the highest care to all of our patients and to be accommodating before and after school or work, these appointments are ONLY scheduled between the hours of 9:00 am and 2:00 pm.
Adjustment Appointments
We will schedule you to return to our office for adjustments of your new appliance and/or braces every 5 to 10 weeks until the completion of your treatment.
Progress Records
To evaluate your progress during treatment, we will take a panoramic x-ray and adjust the braces or Invisalign as needed.
Debanding
This is the step that you’ve been waiting for! Your braces, Invisalign or orthodontic appliances are scheduled to be removed. You’ve successfully completed this phase of your orthodontic treatment. We will take final records of your mouth and teeth, including impressions that will be used to make your retainers. You will now want to make an appointment with your dentist to have your teeth cleaned and checked. This is a great time to have your teeth whitened as well!
Retainers
Generally retainers are worn full time for 6 months and then nightly for a lifetime. The time that you will be wearing your retainers is as important as the time wearing your braces or Invisalign. Your retainers support the teeth in the corrected positions and guide them as they settle into a functional occlusion (bite). We will continue to monitor your retention for 1 year following the removal of your braces or Invisalign.