When I found out my kids were going to need braces, it was a whole new world for me. I didn’t know the first thing about braces. After my first visit to an orthodontist, I got a treatment plan and quote. My head was spinning. Was this really the best treatment option? How much could I afford? What type of braces would be best? After some deliberation and another quote or two, I finally scheduled an appointment with E&S Orthodontics to start my son, Rennon, on the braces process.
This conversation is sponsored by E&S Orthodontics. All opinions are my own.
You think you’re ready and know what to expect when you head to the orthodontist to get braces. I mean, what’s there to know? You go and they just do it right? If you don’t know, then you hope that by the time you leave, you will be given all the information that you do need. Nobody likes being in the dark or being blind-sided though. So, here are some things you should probably know about your kid’s first visit to the orthodontist to get their braces on.
What to Expect at Your First Orthodontist Appointment
There will be many visits. This isn’t just a one time a year visit. Having braces on means that your child will need to come in on a regular basis. At each visit, the orthodontist will re-adjust the braces to make sure that they are continuing to correct the teeth. Be sure that you like the office of the orthodontist you choose. You will be making frequent visits.
The first visit will be longer than the rest. The first official visit will obviously be longer than the rest of them. Plan to be there for around 2 hours. The first visit is where they will be putting the braces on the child’s teeth. It takes a while to do this and get it all set up right. They also take time to explain to you what they will be doing and what to expect.
There will be documents to sign. You will need to sign the agreement for treatment. You may also be signing the payment disclosure. Depending on your payment agreement, you may be expected to pay something this day. Check with the orthodontist beforehand to be sure.
Your child will be sore. Braces are meant to move the teeth around in the jaw. Some kids will experience more discomfort than others. It should only take two or three days for the discomfort to stop. You should probably be sure that you have some painkillers on hand for when and if your child needs them. Tylenol works great. I also heard warm drinks help. Try giving them some hot chocolate.
Bring something to do. If your child will be there for a few hours. You will be too. After a while, you will probably be bored. Make sure to bring a good book or a way to charge your phone. Bring your laptop if you have some work to do. Our orthodontist office, E&S Orthodontics, is set up with families in mind. They know that you will be hanging in the waiting room sometimes. They keep a fully stocked coffee station with fresh cookies. If you’ll need to bring other kids with you, be sure to have things for them to do also. Our orthodontist office even has a video gaming station set up in office just for this purpose. The other kids can be entertained while they wait.
Have soft foods on hand. After the braces are on, there will be limits on what your child can eat. The first couple of days, though, they might not feel like even eating anything. Make sure you have some softer foods like bananas on hand. Some other ideas are soup, pudding, or oatmeal. Rennon’s front teeth were the sorest, so biting into anything is what bothered him. We found foods that we could cut into smaller pieces so that he didn’t have to bite into anything.
Listen to your child’s concerns. This may be a happy occasion for them, but they may also be apprehensive. The kids at school can sometimes not be so nice. Make time to talk to your child and address any fears or worries they may have about braces. Let them know what to expect and the different ways their life will be a little different for a while. Encourage them to look ahead at when the braces are off and their smile is straight.
Rennon’s first orthodontist appointment at E&S Orthodontics went great. He was more excited than I thought he would be. The staff was great. They really made him feel relaxed and at ease about the whole process. They answered all of the questions we had and made me feel informed about the whole process. It was good to know that the staff members were highly skilled and had been putting braces on for years.
Rennon and I are still learning about braces as we go, but so far, it hasn’t been bad. E&S Orthodontics has made the process very simple without any surprises. Keep following us on our braces journey. I will let you know the different things I find out that may be beneficial. You can watch the progress and check out the end results when the braces are finally ready to come off!