What are the steps in the whole process of orthodontics?

The first step: tooth extraction

Tooth extraction should be done before treatment. Generally, orthodontic tooth extraction is symmetrical, with four or eight teeth pulled out. Tooth extraction under the guidance of a doctor won't do any harm to the body, but it must be done in a regular stomatological hospital, especially when wisdom teeth are pulled out. Don't be greedy for temporary cheapness and do harm to the teeth.

The number of tooth extractions should not exceed two at a time. Generally, the teeth on the same side should be pulled out together, which is beneficial to the recovery of teeth. If no abnormalities or adverse reactions are found at intervals of about one week, you can continue to extract teeth.

Step 2: Consultation and inspection

After you decide to have orthodontics, you should go to the orthodontics department of the hospital for consultation and examination, and then have orthodontics. At the first visit, the doctor will have a preliminary understanding of your teeth through conversation, asking about the parts you want to correct and the expected results you want to achieve. What do you care about most? How are your teeth arranged? What's your face when you smile? How is your facial coordination? How is your occlusion? The role of teeth in chewing exercise and the health status of teeth. After that, a series of preparatory work is needed, such as grinding teeth (that is, taking a model), taking pictures, taking X-ray orientation films, and testing liver function. The doctor will make a diagnosis and make a correction plan according to the data results of model analysis and X-ray projection measurement.

Step 3: Determine the treatment plan.

At the first visit, the doctor will analyze your problem in detail and discuss the treatment plan with you to determine whether to extract teeth, how many teeth, the course of treatment and the cost. Generally, simple orthodontics will not extract teeth, but the treatment of more complicated tooth problems will involve tooth extraction. In some cases, the doctor will advise you to have your wisdom teeth removed. This should be decided according to everyone's different situation. Orthodontic treatment usually takes one and a half to two years. The time for young patients with mild illness will be shorter, and the time for adult orthodontics will be appropriately extended.

The fourth step: orthodontics first treats dental diseases.

Before orthodontic treatment, dental diseases and periodontal diseases in the oral cavity must be treated, such as treating dental caries and cleaning dental calculus. This is very important because only healthy teeth can be used for orthodontic treatment. If the teeth are in poor condition, it will affect the orthodontic treatment process and seriously lead to treatment failure. So don't neglect the dental examination. Some people may need a long period of periodontal treatment before orthodontics, but these are all worthwhile.

Step 5: Install the equipment.

You can continue to visit after tooth extraction. Usually the doctor will install an appliance for you. Some serious dentofacial deformities are ineffective after orthodontic treatment and must be corrected by surgery.

After wearing the appliance, you should strictly follow the doctor's advice and actively cooperate with the doctor, so as to ensure the therapeutic effect. In the first three or four days after wearing the appliance, you will feel uncomfortable with the appliance, such as mild pain and soreness. This is a normal phenomenon and requires a period of adaptation.

It is also very important to maintain good oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment, because the disease resistance of teeth and periodontal tissues decreases during orthodontic treatment, and poor oral hygiene will lead to dental caries more easily than usual.

Step 6: Make regular follow-up visits.

After installing the equipment, you should follow up once every month or so. Orthodontists will gradually apply force to the appliance according to each person's treatment. This will cause pain again. Some people think that pain is caused by overexertion. In fact, proper orthodontic force sometimes causes tooth pain. Therefore, it is a measure to relieve pain by using appropriate orthodontic force to prevent trauma in orthodontic treatment. With the extension of treatment time, the degree of this pain will be reduced.