TREATMENT
progression
The first step to start orthodontic treatment is to have a consultation.
During this visit, the treating dentist or specialist will discuss about your treatment goals, concerns and treatment possibilities.
A clinical examination, a preliminary diagnosis, an estimate of the duration and costs of the treatment will be made.
All of the patient's questions should be addressed so that the patient can feel comfortable with their decision to begin orthodontic treatment.
Depending on your dentist, registers as pictures, scans and x-rays could be obtained during this visit or on a different day.
It is extremely important that the patient has undergone a dental examination and oral hygiene before coming for consultation or before starting orthodontic treatment to ensure that the teeth and gums are healthy.
The patient should be monitored by a dentist and hygienist during the orthodontic treatment to ensure the integrity and health of dental and periodontal tissues.
CONSULTATION
for diagnostics
REGISTERS
Scans
Scans are the latest technology used to register teeth, gums and bite in a three-dimensional plane. It consists of a device that takes multiple images that are ensembled together to obtain a detailed tridimensional image of the teeth anatomy and surrounding tissues. It's much nicer than the old impressions and allows a faster case processing.
Pictures
Facial and intraoral images are taken to register the initial condition of the patient and to aid diagnosis and treatment planning.
Radiography
All cases require a panoramic radiography and most cases may require a lateral radiography, especially when treating growing children or complex cases. Depending on the patient's needs, additional X-rays or imaging, such as a CBCT, may be needed.
Once all the registers have been taken, the dentist proceeds with the 3D planning of the treatment.
This is a process that can take several weeks.
3D
treatment
PLANNING
TREATMENT
During this 45 min - 1 h visit, the attachments are bonded and the aligners are delivered together with instructions for use and care.
A monitoring device can be supplied depending on the choice of the attending dentist / specialist.
start
If you have received a monitoring device, it is extremely important that you send the scans / pictures according to the instructions. This is the best way to reduce the amount of visits to the clinic and monitor the progress of your case weekly. With the help of a monitoring device, you maintain your motivation to use the aligners. Your treating dentist can closely monitor your treatment and also your dental hygiene.
REMOTE
visits
When you visit the clinic, this time can be used in different ways: checking the aligners fitting, solving a fitting issue, performing interdental shaping or polishing, bonding and/or removing attachments, knobs or other aids, to get rubber bands, to provide more aligners, or for taking new images and scanning in order to achieve a new set of films. These are the most common routine activities during a clinical visit.
clinical
VISITS
During orthodontic treatment with aligners, several sets are needed. There are usually at least 2-3 sets of aligners in total. This depends on the complexity of the treatment and the patient's commitment.
ALIGNER
series
FINALIZATION
After orthodontic treatment, all additional aesthetic and prosthetic procedures can be performed.
If you need implants, they can sometimes be placed a little earlier. Your dentist will assess the correct timing.
Prosthetic and aesthetic treatments should be done when the position of the teeth has been corrected and the bite has settled.
All attachments and buttons are removed and home teeth whitening treatment is delivered.
The retention wires are bonded and the final pictures and scan are taken to order the removable retainers. Removable retainers are similar to orthodontic films, but thicker. These are used at a later stage, only at night.
visits
RETENTION
When the treatment is finalized, you will be scheduled for retention visits. You must bring the removable retainer with you so that their, condition, hygiene and fit can be assessed. During this visit, the treatment outcome, bite stability, integrity of the retention wires and general dental hygiene are evaluated.