Frequent visits to your orthodontist are vital for keeping your orthodontic treatment on track, but visiting your dentist for checkups and cleanings are super important too! Here's why.
I doesn't matter whether you have traditional metal braces or Invisalign, you'll be in your orthodontist’s office pretty frequently throughout your orthodontic treatment. It's important for your orthodontist to monitor your progress regularly to make sure that your treatment is on track.
The role of your orthodontist 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.
Which is why it's so important to continue visiting your dentist for regular cleanings and checkups throughout your orthodontic treatment. Every smile is unique, you may find that visiting your dentist even more often than usual is helpful.
Whether you choose braces or Invisalign, any orthodontic treatment method can create crevices on your teeth where food particles, plaque and debris can get stuck. Which means that even people who are diligent about brushing and flossing have an increased risk of developing cavities and gum disease during treatment. That's why seeing your dentist regularly, as well as your orthodontist, is so important.
When you visit the dentist's office for regular cleanings they remove excess plaque or tartar buildup from your teeth to help and prevent problems from occurring. Not only that, 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 extra visits during your orthodontic treatment are a good idea for helping you achieve a healthy straight smile.