How Is Orthodontic Treatment Performed?
The course of orthodontic treatment varies by the patient’s condition, but it generally consists of the following stages:
Examination and Diagnosis (Planning Phase)
Initial Consultation: The orthodontist listens to the patient’s concerns and performs an intraoral examination.
Radiography and Impressions: Panoramic or dental tomographic X-rays are taken to obtain detailed information about the teeth and jaws. Dental impressions are taken (with conventional molds or digital scanning).
Treatment Plan: All data are analyzed to determine a personalized treatment method (braces, clear aligners, and/or auxiliary appliances) and the estimated duration.
Active Treatment (Tooth Movement Phase)
At this stage, the selected orthodontic appliances (braces or aligners) are applied to the teeth and the teeth are gradually moved into the desired positions.
| Treatment Method | Application |
|---|---|
| Fixed Orthodontic Treatments (Braces) | Brackets (metal or ceramic) are bonded to the front surfaces of the teeth and an archwire is passed through the brackets. The dentist adjusts the wire at regular intervals to apply force to the teeth. |
| Lingual Braces | A fixed treatment in which brackets are bonded to the inner (tongue-side) surfaces of the teeth rather than the outer surfaces, making them invisible from the outside. |
| Removable Appliances | Plate-like devices that patients—especially children—can insert and remove themselves, used to guide jaw growth or provide minor tooth movements. |
| Bracket-Free Orthodontics (Clear Aligners) | A series of custom, transparent, removable trays are produced using digital impressions. The trays are changed at set intervals (usually every 1–2 weeks) to move the teeth gradually. This option is very popular among adults with aesthetic concerns. |
Retention (Stabilization Phase)
After active treatment is completed and the braces or aligners are removed, retainers are used to help teeth adapt to their new positions and to prevent relapse. These may include:
- Fixed Retainer: A thin wire bonded to the inner surfaces of the upper and lower front teeth, usually remaining in the mouth for many years.
- Removable Retainer: Clear trays or plate-type appliances that the patient wears at night or as instructed by the orthodontist.
The duration of orthodontic treatment generally varies between 6 months and 3 years depending on the severity of the problem and the patient’s age.
Candidate Patients Accepted for Treatment Must Meet the Following Conditions
1- Good Oral Hygiene
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day for a minimum of 3 minutes.
- Use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste (preferably fluoride) when brushing. Spit out the paste after brushing and rinse your mouth.
- Replace your toothbrush regularly (at least every 6 months).
- You may need to use dental floss or interdental brushes as advised by your dentist to maintain oral hygiene.
- Do not skip your routine dental check-ups.
2- Absence of Dental Caries
- Existing tooth decay will prevent you from starting orthodontic treatment.
- Because the appliances used during braces treatment adhere to the teeth, brushing and oral care become more difficult. In addition, the bonded parts on the teeth may prevent fillings needed to treat cavities.
- Caries are not always on visible surfaces. Patients or parents may not notice them. Therefore, regular dental check-ups are important.
- “White spot lesions,” the earliest stage of decay, can be described as surface demineralizations. They often appear chalky white/opaque and may not look dark like cavities. They have a high potential to progress to decay, and poor oral hygiene accelerates this process. These lesions may also go unnoticed by patients and parents; sometimes only a dentist can detect them—hence the importance of regular check-ups.
3- Absence of Inappropriate Restorations (Fillings/Prostheses, etc.)
- All necessary restorations should be completed before orthodontic treatment. In some cases, existing restorations may need to be renewed or removed. Improper or very old fillings may need replacement prior to orthodontics. Bridges placed for missing teeth may need to be removed.
- Regular dental check-ups are required to determine whether restorations need renewal.
4- Good Overall Oral Health (No Infections, Cysts, or Mucosal Problems)
- If there is an existing oral disease, it must be treated before starting orthodontic therapy.
- These conditions may involve the soft tissues of the mouth, or they may be intra-bony lesions such as cysts or tumors that are not externally visible and therefore not noticed by the patient; they may also include pathologies or infections affecting the teeth.
- Orthodontic treatment can begin once these conditions are treated and brought under control—another reason why regular dental examinations are essential.
