Seeing your orthodontist is very important when it comes to keeping your mouth healthy. However, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t ask questions before starting treatment. Understanding why treatment is important and everything that goes into it can help you better prepare and learn why the treatment is necessary. If you need orthodontic treatment, here are five questions that you should always ask your orthodontist before getting started.
1. What Are All of My Options?
Today, according to the American Association of Orthodontists, nearly 4 million Americans have braces. However, there may be different options available depending on the severity of your misaligned teeth. You’ll also want to see which treatment options work best for your lifestyle, and whether or not you are comfortable with the length of the treatment and the care needed during it.
2. Can I See Examples?
Another question to ask your orthodontist is if you can see pictures of results that the treatment you need has produced. For example, if you need braces, ask if you can see any before and after images of previous patients. This way, you can gauge whether or not you feel comfortable with the results you will be getting.
3. Do I Need to Make Lifestyle Changes?
Many orthodontic treatments, like braces, will require a few lifestyle changes. Careful dental hygiene, food choices, and protecting your teeth, are just a few that your orthodontist may require. If you play sports, for instance, your orthodontist may recommend investing in a guard to help protect your mouth and braces during play. You also may need to be more careful when eating certain things, as well as change the way you brush. All of this should be found out before starting treatment.
4. How Long Will Treatment Last?
Depending on how severe the misalignment is, treatment time with braces can vary. You will want to ask your orthodontist about how long treatment can be expected to last so that you can gauge whether or not you’re willing to commit to the full time needed. However, even the best estimation can sometimes be off, and in some cases, additional time will be needed if teeth don’t move sufficiently within the original time frame.
5. What Can I Expect From My Treatment?
This can be one of the most important questions to ask, and it can help give you an idea of just how your treatment can benefit your smile and overall oral health. Although everyone’s case will be a little different, asking about your expectations can help remove any uncertainty and take out any guesswork on your part.
If you are in need of orthodontic treatment, keep these five questions in mind so that you can ask them before starting any specific treatments.