Throughout childhood, your child’s mouth is going through a whole lot of changes really quickly. First, there’s the teething phase, as the primary teeth (baby teeth) erupt through the gums and your little one transitions to eating solid foods. Soon, the baby teeth are replaced by permanent teeth, and your child’s dental landscape starts looking a little more complicated.
With so much change happening all at once, it can be hard to know when or if your child might need braces. Take the guesswork out of braces and get an individualized treatment plan by scheduling a free consultation with one of the orthodontists at Families First Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics. Here’s everything you need to know about your first consultation and appointment, as well as what you should do to prepare.
What happens at an orthodontic consultation?
Our free, no-obligation orthodontic consultation is really about getting to know one another and establishing a baseline. Complete with high-resolution imaging, one of our orthodontists will spend time examining your child’s mouth, discussing a personalized treatment plan with you, and addressing your questions.
After the consultation, you can schedule the first major appointment to get your child’s braces on. After that, they’ll typically have follow-ups every 6 to 10 weeks to adjust their braces until treatment is complete.
What happens at a child’s first orthodontic appointment?
It’s an exciting and nerve-wracking time when the day comes for your child to get their braces on. The initial appointment begins by taking very detailed photographs of your teeth.
After all of the photos have been taken, the dental assistant will place cheek retractors to keep the lips and cheeks from touching the teeth. The assistant is then able to prepare the surface of the teeth by cleaning and drying them to ensure the brackets adhere properly. A special bonding agent is applied, and then the orthodontist carefully places each bracket on the teeth in just the right position. Once each bracket is set, a curing light hardens the adhesive. Then an arch wire is placed in the brackets and small, colorful rubber bands are tied around each bracket to hold the wire in place. These colors can be changed at each appointment.
The process is typically painless and takes about 1–2 hours. While your child’s mouth may feel a little sore afterward, they’re officially on their way to a straighter, healthier smile!
Preparing Yourself and Your Child for the First Braces Appointment
Bring important information: Collect any relevant dental or medical records, dental insurance information, as well as the name and location of your child’s dentist and primary care provider. At Families First Pediatrics, your care team works across specialties and departments to create a comprehensive care plan, making this initial step easier for you.
Take some time to think through any questions or concerns you may have and write them down in advance. There can be a lot of information to take in, and having a list will help reduce the risk of forgetting something in the moment.
Visit the dentist: Before you apply semi-permanent appliances to your child’s teeth, it’s a good idea to get a thorough cleaning. In the meantime, remember the importance of regular brushing and flossing.
Involve your child from the start: Get your child engaged early in the process. Explain why an orthodontic checkup is important. Talk about the possibility and benefits of braces so they can be actively invested in the decision. Discuss any questions they might have before the visit and write them down, along with your own questions. You can even research answers together in advance and come up with a final list before the first visit.
Explain what getting braces will be like: Many kids are anxious about pain or discomfort while the braces are being applied. The good news is that it’s a relatively straightforward process, doesn’t take very long, and usually isn’t painful. It is normal to feel soreness or tenderness for a few days after each visit. Walk them through the details of how their braces will be attached (see the section above on what happens at the first appointment).
Set realistic expectations: It’s normal for a kid to be less than excited about getting braces, and the first question on many of their minds is when the braces will come off. The truth is that the duration of treatment is different for everyone and depends entirely on your child’s specific needs. On average, orthodontic treatment lasts between one and two years, followed by the use of a retainer to maintain the results. It’s also worth noting that patients typically become accustomed to their braces quickly, and many even come to miss them for a little while when they’re removed. If your child has negative feelings about braces, let them know that those are legitimate and that they’ll pass.
Get brace-friendly foods and snacks: Kids with braces can go about their lives more or less unaffected, but some minor changes in food and snacks will help your child’s treatment progress with minimal issues. Hard foods, such as nuts, popcorn, or chips, and sticky foods like caramel, gummies, and hard candies run the risk of breaking wires and brackets or injuring your child’s sensitive teeth and gums. Help prepare for the first few days by stocking up on your child’s favorite soft foods or some of these brace-friendly lunch and snack ideas. Make getting braces an exciting time by taking your child on a special trip to the store to pick some soft foods they can eat right after getting their braces. It will help your child feel more prepared and ready for their braces.
Maintain routines: Brushing and flossing are more important than ever during orthodontic treatment, as food and plaque have more places to hide out and cause damage. Talk with your child about the importance of keeping their teeth clean before, during, and after getting braces. When braces are placed, we will go over critical techniques to keep braces clean, along with a few tips and tricks to help along the way.
Keep your eyes on the prize: Your child might focus on the negative aspects of braces, and that’s understandable. Things like unkind classmates and awkward photographs can feel so overwhelming when you’re young. Help your child refocus on why braces are the right choice for them with these eight tips to help them feel confident with braces. Let them know that about half of all kids wear braces at one point in their lives, so while they might feel singled out, they are far from alone. More importantly, in a relatively short time, the braces will be off and they’ll have a beautiful smile that can last a lifetime.
Wherever you are in your orthodontic journey, the team at Families First Pediatrics is here to answer your questions, talk through treatment options, and provide guidance before and throughout your child’s treatment.
