You'll be visiting your orthodontist regularly for checkups and adjustments throughout the course of your orthodontic treatment, but remember that it's important to visit your regular dentist too for checkups and cleanings.
Regardless of whether you have traditional metal braces or Invisalign, you'll be in your orthodontist’s office pretty frequently throughout your orthodontic treatment. Your orthodontist needs to monitor your progress regularly to make sure that your treatment is on track.
An orthodontist’s job is to straighten your teeth and give you a healthy, stable bite. They can’t do that if your oral health is compromised due to cavities or gum disease.
That's why it's so important to continue visiting your dentist for regular cleanings and checkups throughout your orthodontic treatment. In fact, you may find that visiting your dentist even more often than usual is helpful.
Any orthodontic treatment, whether you choose braces or Invisalign, can create more crevices on your teeth where food particles, plaque and debris can get stuck. Which means that even people who are diligent about brushing thoroughly twice a day and flossing daily have an increased risk of developing cavities and gum disease during orthodontic treatment. That's why seeing a dentist regularly throughout your treatment is essential.
Only dental professionals can remove excess plaque or tartar buildup from your teeth to help and prevent problems from occurring. Your dentist will be able to catch problems early and keep them from getting worse, which of course will help to keep your orthodontic treatment on track.
Ask your dentist if they think that twice yearly visits are appropriate for you, or if they think that extra visits during your orthodontic treatment are a good idea for helping you achieve a healthy straight smile.