“How do I know if my braces are working?”
I am a 17 year old female. I want to know how do I know if my braces are working?
8 Answers
You should notice the difference in 2 appointments.
Braces are a slow process because you want to protect the health of the tooth and not cause too much discomfort. Try taking pictures of yourself every month and see if you can track the change! And, talk to your orthodontist about where they think you are in your treatment.
That's a tough question. If you see changes in alignment of your teeth or bite then the teeth are being moved by the braces. As to whether the movements are what is desired, ask your orthodontist to review your progress when you are in for an appointment.
Progress photos are very helpful and so are actual measurements at your orthodontic visit. You should make progress every month if all is going well. Be careful about cell phone photos as they can be deceiving if not taken exactly the same way each time. Make sure you ask your orthodontist each visit.
You should keep all your appointments, follow all the indications as needed, should be compliance with your oral hygiene, keeping your recalls appointment up to date every 6 months (twice a year). Your Orthodontist or specialist will keep you updated every time about any changes. Also you can compare before and after pictures and you will notice drastic changes throughout your comprehensive treatment.
Dr. Yoram Kohanzadeh
Orthodontist
There are a lot of ways that braces work, depending on the style and technique. It's not that simple. Pressure (you feel this for only 3 days) helps to illicit movement, but you don't feel it because you get used to it. Then the bone remodeling needs to take place, and that is a histology lesson that was explained and taught to us over years. Best to talk to your orthodontist.
You can probably see improvements in how straight you teeth are. Also, you can ask your orthodontist how things are going when you go in for checkups.
Thanks
Dr. Price
Thanks
Dr. Price
There are several ways to monitor the progress of orthodontic treatment. The first is cosmetically. If your teeth are looking more aligned that is a good sign that things are progressing well. Second, orthodontists take photographs of their work, especially before and after treatment. You can ask your orthodontist to see your starting photos and compare them to where you are at now. Finally, orthodontics can make your bite feel different, usually better. If you feel that your teeth are hitting better it would be a good sign that your treatment is progressing well.
Marc D. Thomas, DDS
Marc D. Thomas, DDS
