Follow-up appointments are an essential part of the recovery process of any medical procedure. It allows your physician to check and monitor your progress and to know what is required to ensure a smooth recovery.
After getting your braces fixed, you may think that all is done, but this is not so. To ensure that your braces are correctly fitted for normal functioning, you will need follow-up appointments to adjust your braces after the first fitting.
The purpose of follow-up appointments is to ensure that your braces are doing what they are supposed to and to make any necessary adjustments. During these appointments, your orthodontist will check to make sure the braces are correctly fitted and will also check the wires and the adjustment pattern of the teeth. Your orthodontist will also help identify any potential problems that may occur while wearing braces.
Failing to attend these follow-up appointments can lead to several issues, some of which we highlight in this blog post. Please read on.
Why Your Followup Appointments are Necessary
Measure Progress
The end goal of orthodontic treatment is often to make specific corrections in the general oral health and appearance.
Missing your follow-up appointments can delay the progress of the braces and make the entire process longer. This is because you would be unable to tell if the teeth are moving correctly, if the soreness you feel is normal, or if the wires and bands are too tight. However, if properly monitored, your orthodontist can detect issues early and on time and adjust your bands to advance the progress of teeth adjustment.
Make Adjustments
When braces are initially fixed, they usually will fit tightly, sometimes to the extent of causing soreness. As you talk, eat, move, and drink, your jaw moves or adjusts; this can make the braces shift slightly and not fit as tightly as needed. The fit of your braces is responsible for the adjustment, and when looseness sets in, they cannot fulfil the task they are supposed to. You may not notice or feel these slight changes, but your orthodontist will during a follow-up check.
Your orthodontist can adjust the wires back into position or replace the bands if necessary. If anything is coming in the way of your progress, it can be identified and solved.
Oral Health
Maintaining oral health while wearing braces can be tricky. This is because when you eat and drink with braces, food particles often get stuck between your teeth, gum, and braces, leading to gum irritation or the excessive build-up of dental plaque. Brushing and flossing may also be tricky due to the braces. This build-up of particles can cause weakening and erosion of the teeth. In some cases, it may even cause the gums to bleed. You can avoid such complications by visiting your orthodontist when needed. During your follow-up appointments, you can get your teeth cleaned properly. This will help prevent plaque build-up and reduce the risk of cavities and gum disease.
Your follow-up appointments are essential for the success of your orthodontic treatment, and missing them will only reduce the effectiveness and increase the length of your treatment. It is, therefore, essential to make sure you attend follow-up appointments as instructed by your orthodontist.
Contact Beauty Smile Orthodontics for a consultation. We provide orthodontic treatment for every member of the family. Reach out to us here to achieve your smile goals.