For decades, both metal braces and clear aligners have helped patients leave crooked, crowded, or gapped teeth in the past. However, if it has been years since you’ve undergone orthodontic treatment or this is your first time, you may be wondering what it feels like to get braces. To help ease your concerns, keep reading for what to expect from your first appointment to your final visit!
The Day You Get Braces
Your experience at your first visit largely depends on the type of braces you are getting. If you are opting for metal brackets and wires, then your teeth will be prepped, the glue will be applied, and the braces themselves will be anchored in place. On the other hand, if you are using a more discreet alternative, like Invisalign, then you will be given your first set of trays and your dental team will show you how to wear and care for them. Either way, you can expect to experience minimal to no discomfort!
The First Week of Wearing Braces
Although traditional braces and popular alternatives are distinct, they have one thing in common: they are designed to gradually shift your teeth into a more aesthetically pleasing position. As you adjust to the pressure being placed on your teeth, you can expect to experience low-grade, steady soreness. After all, that means your braces are working! Luckily, you can keep that aching feeling at bay by rinsing with warm saltwater, sticking to soft foods, and taking over-the-counter pain medication.
After Each Orthodontist Appointment
Whether your treatment plan takes a couple of months or a few years, your monthly appointments are crucial. To ensure you stay on track, your orthodontist will use these visits to configure your arch wires, provide you with the next set of aligners, attach elastic bands, and whatever else needs to be done to keep your teeth moving into the right position. Therefore, you can expect some discomfort in the days following your routine visits. Again, use the above tactics to stay comfortable.
Your Final Braces Appointment
By the six-month mark, your routine adjustments and consistent pressure from your braces will likely no longer phase you. After all the adjustments have been made or you have worked through your entire set of trays, it will be time to see your new and improved smile! To preserve your hard-earned results, you’ll be given a retainer. Not only will this device keep your teeth in their new position, but it is completely comfortable as well – no soreness or discomfort at all!
Thanks to advancements in the field of orthodontics, you can get the smile you’ve always wanted with minimal to no discomfort. If you’ve been considering braces, contact your orthodontist today to schedule your appointment!
About the Practice
Led by Dr. James Hart, our entire team at Hart Orthodontics is united by our mission to provide each patient with custom treatment plans, superior customer service, and, of course, jaw-dropping smiles. Whether you need traditional orthodontics to correct a severe overbite or are interested in clear braces to address crowded or spaced-out teeth, you will find everything your smile needs through our doors. To learn more about your braces options, visit our website or give us a call at 817-645-2432.