Orthodontic Treatment Questions

What causes orthodontic problems in the first place?
Most are inherited. Crowding, extra teeth, missing teeth, too much space and differences between the jaws all tend to run in families. Some are acquired, from an injury, from thumb or finger sucking, from airway obstruction, from dental disease, or from baby teeth being lost too early or too late. Many of these affect facial development as well as the alignment of the teeth. See common orthodontic problems.

Do we really need X-rays and photographs, or can you just look?
We need them. Looking tells us about the teeth we can see. X-rays show the roots, the unerupted teeth, the bone and the jaw relationship, which is where most of the actual diagnosis lives. Photographs let us show you what we are describing, and give us a fixed record to measure progress against. Together these are your orthodontic records.

Can I have braces if I am missing a tooth?
Usually yes. A missing tooth changes the plan rather than ruling treatment out. Depending on the case we may close the space, or open and hold it so that your dentist can place a replacement later. Either way it needs planning from the start, so tell us about it at the exam.

How long are teeth sore after braces are put on or adjusted?
Usually a few days, and it eases from there. A salt water rinse helps, and an over-the-counter pain reliever helps if the rinse is not enough. Soreness that is severe, or getting worse rather than better after several days, is worth a phone call. See orthodontic emergency care.

Do braces need to be tightened?
Not exactly, though everyone calls it that. At each visit we change or adjust the wire, replace the elastic ties, and check that the teeth are moving as planned. Some visits involve a heavier wire, some are just a check. The idea is steady, gentle force over time rather than a big tightening every few weeks.

Do I still need to see my regular dentist during treatment?
Yes, and it matters more now, not less. Keep your six month cleanings and checkups throughout. Braces make teeth harder to keep clean, and your dentist is the one catching what a toothbrush missed. See braces and appliance care.

What happens if we miss appointments?
Treatment stretches out. Every missed or postponed visit is time the wire spends doing nothing new, and it is the most common reason a case runs past its estimate. Schedule the next appointment before you leave, since we book several weeks ahead and the convenient slots go first.

Do you take patients who started treatment somewhere else?
Yes. Transfer patients are common, especially in a region people move around in for work. Bring whatever records your previous orthodontist can send, including the treatment plan and any recent X-rays. We will examine you, tell you honestly where the case stands, and explain what finishing it here would involve before you commit to anything.

Do you need to know about medical conditions and medications?
Yes, always, and please keep us updated if something changes mid treatment. Some medications affect how bone responds to tooth movement, some conditions change how we plan appointments, and a few require us to coordinate with your physician. Nothing you tell us complicates things as much as something we did not know.

How do I schedule or change an appointment?
Call the office you normally attend, or request an appointment online. If your week has changed and a different office is easier, say so. We treat patients across Oshkosh, Fond du Lac, Ripon and Berlin, and your records travel with you.