Short answer: At a check-up appointment the dentist examines whether the teeth are moving in the planned direction, assesses the fit of the aligners or wire and your oral hygiene, and if necessary hands over new aligners or makes an adjustment. Appointments are mostly short; how often they take place is determined by the dentist according to the person’s treatment and the method used.
Why is a check-up appointment important?
Orthodontics is based on moving the teeth in a controlled way over time. Regular follow-up is needed for this movement to proceed in line with the plan. If a problem is noticed early, it can often be solved with a small correction; if check-ups are skipped, the treatment time may become longer.
What is usually done at the appointment?
- General review: You are asked how long you have been wearing the aligners, any discomfort you have had, and any parts that have broken or been lost.
- Examination inside the mouth: The teeth, gums and risk of tooth decay are reviewed. Gum health is important for the continuation of orthodontic treatment.
- Aligner and attachment check: It is checked whether the aligners fit onto the teeth and whether the attachments are in place. You can find information on attachments in our article on attachments in clear aligners.
- Assessment of treatment progress: The movement of the teeth is compared with the plan; if necessary, a digital scan or photographs are taken.
- Necessary procedures: If steps such as interproximal reduction (IPR), the use of elastics, or adding or repairing attachments have been planned, they can be carried out at this appointment. For IPR you can look at our article what is IPR.
- Handing over new aligners: The next part of the aligner series is given and the wear routine is reminded.
- Planning the next appointment: The time of the next check-up is set.
Check-ups for those with braces
With fixed appliances, a wire change, fitting of elastics or a bracket check may be carried out during the check-up. For the care of removable and fixed appliances, the article cleaning and care of orthodontic appliances may be useful.
How often are check-ups held?
There is no single interval that applies to everyone. At the start of treatment, check-ups can be planned more or less frequently depending on the difficulty of the stage and the method used. In clear aligner treatment, remote follow-up may also be considered in place of some check-ups; the dentist assesses this according to the patient’s situation. For the general process you can look at our page on the clear aligner treatment process.
How do you prepare for the appointment?
- Brush your teeth and come to the appointment that way.
- Bring the aligner or appliance set you are using, and the previous aligners if you have them.
- Note down the problems you have had, the hours you did not wear the aligners and your questions; in particular, mention any parts that are broken, lost or pressing.
- Make sure you are wearing the aligners for enough hours a day. On the subject of wear time you can look at our article how many hours a day should clear aligners be worn.
Factors that affect check-up intervals
- Which stage of treatment you are at
- Whether additional appliances, elastics or attachments are being used
- The patient’s aligner wear routine and oral hygiene
- Age and growth status, especially in children and teenagers
- Where the patient lives; for patients coming from a distance, appointments can be combined
What should you ask the dentist during the check-up?
- Am I progressing according to the treatment plan?
- How long will I wear the next aligner set?
- Is there anything I should change in my diet or cleaning routine at this stage?
- What warning signs should I watch for until the next appointment?
Writing down your questions before the appointment helps you not to miss anything in a short consultation.
Check-ups in children and teenagers
In patients who are still growing, check-ups are important not only for the teeth but also for monitoring jaw development. For this reason, parents accompanying the child to the appointment and passing on to the dentist any problems at home and the child’s appliance or aligner wear routine helps treatment proceed steadily. For the orthodontic process in children, you can look at our page on orthodontic treatment in children.
What if you miss an appointment?
If an appointment is delayed, let the clinic know as soon as possible. If a new appointment cannot be made before the aligner series runs out, there may be a risk of the teeth loosening; the dentist tells you what to do in the meantime. A page has also been prepared for patients coming from out of town.
If you notice something at home, let us know straight away
There are situations that may require contacting the clinic without waiting for the next appointment: an aligner cracking, an attachment falling off, a wire poking, or an appliance part breaking or being lost. In such cases do not intervene on your own; taking a photograph and notifying the clinic makes it easier for the dentist to decide quickly what to do. For urgent situations you can look at our page on orthodontic emergencies.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a check-up appointment take?
Most check-ups are short; however, if there are procedures such as IPR, renewing attachments or an additional scan, the time may be longer.
Does anything hurt during the check-up?
A routine check-up is mostly comfortable. After an aligner change or an adjustment, mild pressure may be felt for a few days.
Can I come to the check-up without my aligners?
Unless the dentist has said otherwise, bring your aligners with you; it may be necessary to assess whether they are seated and how well they fit.
How do you find out what suits you?
The information here is general; the right plan for you is determined by an examination and the dentist’s assessment. At our clinic in Oran, Çankaya, Ankara, we go through your questions together during the first orthodontic examination.
