So you have taken your child to the orthodontist and it went well. What do you do now?

The first thing that comes to mind is “silence”. Right after the orthodontist appointment, parents are so shocked by what they learn or didn’t learn during said orthodontist appointment. Silence is pretty much the only thing that can come out of their mouths. Not a single word comes out after a child has been told they need orthodontic treatment, and even if orthodontic treatment is going to be wonderful for them long-term, it can be overwhelming.

The orthodontist will give you orthopedic appliances. These are things that are going to move the teeth into the right spots before any orthodontic treatment starts. They are far better than braces in the fact that they don’t need to be worn all day, or during eating times. There is no peeling them off if they get wet.

Orthopedic appliances are things that look like retainers, but they aren’t the same thing. They are more for function than aesthetics – orthodontics is about both appearance and function. So orthopedic appliances come in different types of moldable waxes that you heat up and use to push the teeth into the right places. They can help orthodontic treatment go much, much smoother.

Orthopedic appliances are also great for getting children used to wearing orthopedic appliances. They’re a way of “training” your child before orthodontic treatment starts so their ‘muscles’ get used to them wearing orthopedic appliances. They also help orthodontic treatment go much, much smoother and can take away some of the shock of orthodontic treatment .

So there you have it! You now know how to prepare your child for a trip to the orthodontist