What Can Leave You Unhappy After Orthodontics?
Orthodontic treatment requires a lot of effort and commitment, which only means you wouldn’t want to be left unhappy with orthodontics, right? When your orthodontist is working on you during your orthodontic treatment, they have to deal with many factors that can pop up at many different times.
Sometimes teeth are harder to move than usual and complicate the orthodontist-recommended treatment plan to move all your teeth to their desired positions. In other situations, patients don’t maintain proper oral hygiene and compromise their own teeth’ integrity, putting even more obstacles in the way.
Because of these and many more factors, there are occasions when orthodontic treatment gives results different than what a patient expects. Keep reading to know why it happens, what to do in those situations, and how to avoid it.
Can I Be Unhappy After Orthodontics?
Yes, there are some occasions when an orthodontic patient is unhappy with the treatment they just had. There are many valid reasons for a patient to feel underwhelmed or even disappointed with the orthodontic treatment that took months to complete.
Sometimes, your teeth won’t align correctly with the center of your face, giving an asymmetrical look. On some other occasions, your teeth may have different shapes and sizes that don’t allow for uniformity throughout your smile.
In some more severe situations, you can even find out white spots on your teeth where your braces were, leaving patches of different colors on all your teeth. This last situation is due to the patient not taking good enough care of their oral health during their treatment. Nonetheless, most patients won’t be happy with a result like this and will require some type of additional procedure.
Orthodontists wish for the best results possible for you. If by the end of your orthodontic treatment, you have straight teeth but are not happy with the overall results, just voice your concerns to your orthodontist. They will mostly offer you a couple of solutions for the extra treatment needed.
How Can I Make Sure I Get a Good Orthodontist?
You can rest assured that most orthodontists you will encounter are good at their job. Because of the requirements of being an orthodontist in the United States, the bar is pretty high for most of them. For someone to become an orthodontist, they first have to have an undergraduate degree, complete dental school, complete a residency, and pass the Integrated National Board Dental Examination. After all that, orthodontists can begin their entry-level practice.
If you still wish to have an extra layer of certification on your dental professional, make sure to look for a board-certified orthodontist. The American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) is a professional association that certifies orthodontists who prove they are up to the highest standards of orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics. The American Association of Orthodontists patterns with the ABO, while the National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards recognizes the ABO as the national certification board for the mentioned specialties.
Going through dental procedures with a board-certified orthodontist means having the best dental care available in the country and having the results you wanted and expected after your treatment.
The Importance of Wearing a Retainer
Using permanent or removable retainers after any type of treatment involving orthodontic appliances is incredibly important if you wish to maintain the results you fought for during months or even years of treatment. Retainers are the only thing stopping your permanent teeth from shifting back to their original positions.
When you use appliances like traditional braces or Invisalign, the bone structure surrounding your teeth weakens and allows for the movement needed. Once your teeth reach their desired position, they and the bone tissue need time to heal and set in place. This healing period is much larger for older patients, and thus, it is much more important for them to wear it.
Additionally, your teeth will naturally shift as you grow older. While this may not happen the first few years after your treatment, it could happen at any point. Your retainer will prevent any movement from happening and allow you to preserve your smile many years into the future.
Permanent retainers make it very easy for the patient, but if you use removable retainers, remember to use them as much as instructed and to check with your orthodontist regularly.
Start Your Certified Quality Treatment With Us
Here at Westwalk Orthodontics, we commit ourselves to providing you with the best dental services possible. I you are unhappy with the orthodontic treatment you received or just wish to start your quality treatment from scratch, schedule your appointment with us here, and we’ll have you come into the office as soon as possible.