Question about getting braces off

[chops]

So I was just curious...does the ortho always announce when your debanding date will be or is it possible that the next visit may just be a surprise debanding appointment?

This is awful, especially since I think I am near the end of treatment, but my ortho and I don't really (if at all) discuss the process of my treatment. So I'm always left wondering and left persuading myself to just trust the ortho 100%....What can I say? I'm getting a little worrisome.

[jennandtonic]

So I was just curious...does the ortho always announce when your debanding date will be or is it possible that the next visit may just be a surprise debanding appointment?

This is awful, especially since I think I am near the end of treatment, but my ortho and I don't really (if at all) discuss the process of my treatment. So I'm always left wondering and left persuading myself to just trust the ortho 100%....What can I say? I'm getting a little worrisome.

I'm not sure since I'm nowhere near the end of my treatment, but have you asked your ortho about it in the past? If so, is he just not very talkative? You mention that you and your ortho don't really discuss progress, but is it reticence on his part, or do you ask?

Just curious.

[chops]

I think it's a little me and a little of him....in the beginning before treatement I had asked questions and he answered them, but sometimes in a not very inviting sort of way(?). Some answers were more like half-answers...so I guess since nothing's definate, I just quit asking. I guess I've also been afraid to ask q's during treatment beucase I feel like he's the professional and so he should know what he's doing and perhaps that I'd be belittling his wisdom by asking. Also perhaps because I didn't really know what q's I should be asking. so maybe what I really needed was simply reassurance that things were going smoothly....

I'm pretty sure Im nearing end here, but he never said anything about a debanding date yet. Althoug hes asked me if I like the results (key word!!). I've noticed that other patients don't really ask questions either, but then again more often than not, they were kids.....

[jennandtonic]

I can actually sympathize with you because so far my orthodontist is not very talkative when it comes to my treatment. I think she's used to dealing with kids or teenagers that don't care about what is going on as long as they get the great smile in the end. I think some orthodontists need a reminder that there are many adult patients who want to know what's going on.

I don't think asking questions would be belittling his wisdom...it is YOUR mouth, you know!

If you feel you need reassurance on your progress but don't know what to ask, a suggestion I have is to write down some questions you want answers to, or write down what you are curious about in terms of your treatment. I have done and still do that when I feel I need answers, really only to organize my thoughts so when I get to the event (orthodontic appointment or not!) I'll have an idea of what to say.

[Charles08b]

As for whether or not you would know ahead of time, you probably would, since your ortho would ask you to book a longer appointment than usual. I just got my braces off last week (hurrah!) and I was there for a while. The actual snapping off of the bands and brackets didn't take very long at all, but there's a lot of cleaning, polishing and other stuff they have to do. They'll probably take a mould for your retainer(s), as well. In addition, some orthos like to take "final product" photos (so wear a nice shirt - to match your nice smile! ). All in all, I think I was there a little under an hour. Good luck!!!

[chops]

^^thanks for the advice...I will definately try to write down my questions!! hpoefullly I won't get any half answers !!

^I guess I'm not getting debanded next appointment then haha...even though it's past my estimated time. I'm still pretty sure I'm near end though! I'm curious, did ur ortho do any sanding on the surfaces of your teeth as to make it appear more "straight horizontally"...I think it's called levelling?? not sure though. I've noticed that I have some ridges and points that sure wouldn't mind some sanding...but I'm not sure this is possible since the surface I'm guessing is very sensitive.

[Charles08b]

Yeah, my ortho did mention some "levelling off" of my teeth (mainly because I asked about it! ) but he wants to wait a little while in case things "settle in" a little bit, so we only have to do it once.