The process of getting braces involves preparatory appointments completed before the hardware is physically placed. The number of required appointments typically ranges from two to four, depending heavily on the patient’s individual oral health needs. These initial visits gather necessary data and ensure the mouth is healthy enough to begin orthodontic treatment, managing expectations for the timeline before active tooth movement can start.
The Standard Mandatory Appointments
Almost every patient requires two distinct appointments to establish the foundation for their treatment plan. The first is the initial consultation, which focuses on a preliminary visual assessment of the teeth, jaws, and bite. During this visit, the orthodontist discusses the patient’s primary concerns and treatment goals, while also performing a general clinical examination to determine if the patient is ready for treatment.
The second mandatory visit obtains comprehensive diagnostic records, which function as the blueprint for the entire treatment plan. This appointment involves documenting the initial condition using clinical photographs of the face and mouth. Data collection continues with specialized X-rays, including panoramic and cephalometric radiographs. Finally, digital scans or physical impressions create detailed three-dimensional models of the teeth, allowing the orthodontist to analyze the occlusion and crowding accurately.
The Treatment Plan Review
Once the diagnostic records have been analyzed, a third appointment is scheduled to discuss the findings and present the proposed treatment strategy. The orthodontist presents the specific mechanical options available, such as traditional metal braces, ceramic braces, or clear aligners, explaining the rationale for each recommendation. This detailed review includes a projection of the anticipated treatment timeline and a discussion of the total cost of care and payment options. The meeting concludes with the patient formally accepting the proposed treatment plan, which allows the practice to proceed with ordering any necessary custom appliances or materials.
Necessary Pre-Braces Procedures
The total number of appointments before braces placement can increase significantly beyond the standard two or three, depending on a patient’s baseline oral health. Placing braces on a mouth that is not fundamentally healthy would compromise the treatment’s success. Therefore, the orthodontist may require the patient to obtain general dentistry clearance, which often involves an additional appointment with a primary care dentist.
This clearance visit typically includes a professional deep cleaning to remove plaque and hardened calculus (tartar) and may involve treating any existing dental caries (cavities) with fillings.
If the diagnostic records reveal issues like severe dental crowding or impacted teeth, additional appointments for tooth extractions may be necessary before the braces can be placed. Extractions create the required space within the dental arch, which is a fundamental step for correcting alignment and bite problems. This procedure may require coordination with an oral surgeon, adding at least one or two separate surgical and follow-up visits to the overall timeline.
Orthodontic Separators
In cases where the back molars are tightly packed, an appointment for placing orthodontic separators may be required a week or two before the final bonding appointment. These small rubber bands or metal springs are placed between the molars to gently push them apart, creating space. This separation allows the orthodontist to correctly fit metal bands around the back teeth, which anchor the main archwire.
Minor Surgical Procedures
Less common are appointments for minor surgical procedures, such as exposing an impacted canine tooth to attach a bracket. This is a specialized preparatory step for guiding the tooth into its proper position. These preparatory steps ensure the foundation is stable, which dictates that the final number of appointments depends entirely on the complexity of the patient’s oral health baseline.