5 Things to Know About Orthodontic Treatment When You Are Getting Married

Straight Teeth For Wedding

Published by Dr. Charles Gemmi

A Board Certified Orthodontist and a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, Dr. Charles Gemmi has been a practicing orthodontist with Orthodontics Limited since 2000 and is a member of the teaching staff at Einstein Medical Center. Orthodontics Limited is a Diamond+ Provider of Invisalign in Philadelphia and Hatboro, PA.

Your wedding day is probably one of the most special days of your whole life, so you want to look perfect, right? Not only for your spouse-to-be that day, but in those professional photographs that you will be looking at for years to come as well.

If you have been unhappy with the condition of your smile, but haven’t done anything about it until now, the thought of those wedding photographs taken probably has you thinking about it now. With orthodontic treatment you will have that beautiful smile you have always dreamed about, but of course there are some time constraints you need to factor in.

Here are 5 things to know about orthodontic treatment when you are getting married:

1. Orthodontic Treatment Takes Time

Unfortunately there is no quick way to achieve a straighter, healthier smile so you need to be realistic about your expectations. If you are having a long engagement, it is not as much of an issue, but if you are getting married in a year or less, then you will be limited to what you can get done before the big day.

2. Consider Invisalign Treatment

Most orthodontic treatment can take up to two to three 3 years where Invisalign usually can be completed within nine to twelve months. Another great plus is that the Invisalign aligners are made of a clear plastic and are removable. So even if you are not completely finished treatment yet, no one will even really notice them in your mouth. You could also talk to your orthodontist about the feasibility of not wearing the aligners for a couple of hours just to get the ceremony and pictures out of the way.

The Invisalign 3D technology allows your orthodontist to create a step by step plan for your treatment so you will know what to expect every step of the way. The orthodontist will take x-rays and impressions of your teeth to create a 3-D image of your teeth and then will use this to map the exact movement of teeth needed to straighten them out.

Once the plan is in place, your first set of aligners will be custom fit to your mouth and you will need to wear them for at least 20-22 hours a day. If you don’t wear them for the prescribed amount of time, you will risk delaying your treatment so be diligent about wearing them.

Only certain teeth will be moved at a time. The Invisalign aligners control not only how much force is exerted on your teeth, but the timing of it. Your aligners will be switched out every two weeks as your teeth gradually shift into better alignment so expect more frequent trips to the orthodontist.

Unlike with braces, when you wear Invisalign aligners, there are no food restrictions because you can remove the aligners when you eat. Brushing and flossing your teeth is also easier because you can remove them. The one big rule for wearing Invisalign aligners is that you need to keep them in your mouth 20 to 22 hours a day. If you don’t, you will end up delaying treatment and you won’t be done as quickly as you would like.

3. Metal Braces Are Not That Easy to Remove

Don’t just assume that if you have metal or ceramic braces, that the orthodontist can just simply remove them for the big day. There are a lot of factors that go into this. The orthodontist needs to look at your individual situation to see if he or she would allow it in the first place, and then there is the additional costs that go into taking them off and putting them back on again. Not to mention the fact that you are probably going to delay your progress and end up stuck in braces for a lot longer.

4. Accelerated Options Do Exist

There are some options available for accelerating your treatment. AcceleDent is a FDA-cleared medical device that you can use at home to stimulate the bone remodeling needed to properly align your teeth. The SoftPulse technology used in the device allows a consistent gentle pressure to be applied to the teeth. This pressure in conjunction with the pressure being asserted by the braces allows the repositioning of teeth to happen more quickly. Most patients see results after using it for just 20 minutes a day. You can cut your treatment length almost in half with this device.

How does it work: You insert the mouthpiece attached to the lightweight device around your braces or aligners. AcceleDent also contains a usage indicator that tracks how many sessions and how many minutes per session you have worn the device. This data can also easily be shared with your orthodontist. This device is only available by prescription from your orthodontist.

Propel Chairside Excellator is another accelerated orthodontic treatment option. This one has to be done in the orthodontist’s office though. Sometimes your doctor can use it during your normal orthodontic appointments, but that is not always the case. Ask him or her if you need to set up a separate appointment to take advantage of this treatment. The Propel system also accelerates the bone metabolism and shortens the duration of treatment.

Sometimes teeth-straightening surgery can also accelerate your treatment, but it is not appropriate for every patient. You need to talk to your orthodontist to find out if it will work for you.

5. Not All Photographers Will Edit the Braces Out for You

Not every photographer will willing or has the skill or proper software to edit your braces out of each wedding photo effectively. Don’t just assume whoever you are will be able to do it. If this is really your plan, you talk to all prospective photography candidates upfront before you make the official hire.

At Orthodontics Limited, the staff really care about their patients and will work closely with you to get the most beautiful smile possible for your wedding day. They understand that you want to feel confident on your big day and will go over all your options with you. Call them today for your free initial consultation.

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