Metal Mouth Message Board

i understand that your answer will differ from country to country and from state to state, but my assumption was that most ortho treatments included cleanings. i found out that my 3-month cleanings were not included. just wondering.

My cleanings are also "NOT" included here in California... you have to go from the ortho office to your detist office for cleanings...

~Tim~

SDFD TSchott wrote:My cleanings are also "NOT" included here in California... you have to go from the ortho office to your detist office for cleanings...

~Tim~

Same here.

ah. thanks guys.

SDFD TSchott, what a beautiful cat. which breed?

Thankfully, my dentist and orthodontist are down the hall from each other.

So the plan for my cleanings (which are not part of my ortho treatment) will be: go to ortho's office to have archwire removed, then walk down the hall for my cleaning appointment, and then back to my ortho to get the wire back in.

A lot of walking, but better than having to space it out over days like some people probably have to.

My regular dental cleanings and ortho services are two different bills. BUT when I do have some early build up on my lowers, the ortho does go ahead and scrape it off for me.

Also, my dentist prefers that I keep my archwire in for my cleanings.

LadyJ wrote:
A lot of walking, but better than having to space it out over days like some people probably have to.

Hey your getting your exercise in at least

~Tim~

newguy, not sure what breed cat that is I found it on a smilies website :p

Miss Smiley wrote:Also, my dentist prefers that I keep my archwire in for my cleanings.

same here
- mariah

My cleanings are definitely not included. Right before the braces were put on the ortho used a conditioner on my teeth, but that's the extent of it.

My cleanings aren't included. I just had my teeth cleaned 6 weeks ago and my braces go on tomorrow and I have another cleaning scheduled for 2 months from now.

Cleanings not included. I think my insurance pays for one cleaning a year. But the others are on me.

Changing the subject a little...I'm looking into seeing a hygienist and was considering going to one closer to home rather than to the one at my ortho's office. Was wondering though whether most hygienists would be happy/used to treating patients with braces? Maybe it would be better to stick to one at my ortho's office since lots of people with braces see that hygienist?
Back on topic. Cleanings seem pretty expensive! I think appointments are around $100 New Zealand dollars from what I've seen. I dont mind though, because I found my teeth hard enough to keep clean when they were unbraced. Dont want to leave it much longer to have it done. Will be interested to see what exactly is done though, but i'm sure it'll be worth it!

I see an orthodontist for braces and a dentist for teeth cleanings.
So, no, my orthodontist doesn't clean my teeth.

My general dentist's hygienist does my cleanings. My ortho doesn't offer this service. I'm not sure if he will clean them when I get debraced or if I'll have to go to the dentist for it.

Meryaten wrote:Well, on that score, Lisa, my ortho polished off all residual bonding material, but I still returned to my general dentist for my cleaning. I would bet this is how most orthos operate.

Yep, you won't find many (if any) orthodontists that have hygienists on staff for cleanings....some may have them for patient education, but not for cleanings....

Routine cleanings are a large part of a general dental pracitce's income....taking that away from a dentist (by offering cleanings in the ortho office) would likely not be well received by the DDS and would likely show itself by DDS's not referring their patients to that orthodontist for treatment.
Dr. S