How long from consult to getting braced?

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#1 Post by **shayw** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 12:19 pm

I went in for a consult last Thursday and got molds done. I go back this Thursday to discuss my treatment plan. I am kind of expecting to walk out this Thursday with braces but I don't know if that is how it works.
How did your first few visits go? I am almost 30 so I know if I have gone this long, I can go a few more weeks but I am just so anxious.

#2 Post by **nogota** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 12:23 pm

At my ortho they do two appointments as part of the consult. I had the first one in July and the second in September. I didn't get my braces until mid October. It sounds like your process will be a lot shorter than mine, but they can take a while.

#3 Post by **iBorg** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 12:29 pm

I left my consult with spacers. Braces came the next week. My son, same ortho, had about a month between consult and being wired. I think in my case it was the timing as well as they sensed my nervousness.

Mike

#4 Post by **Dutch** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 12:58 pm

I went in on a Wednesday for a consult, they took impression and installed spacers. On the following Tuesday I had photos taken and Wednesday I was wired. I am 43 so I said if you wait I may chicken out. They got right on it.
Good Luck

#5 Post by **CactusZAF** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 1:03 pm

I went to the initial consult, my ortho looked at my teeth and bite, told me what problems were obviously present and that they could be fixed. I was then asked if I wanted to have records taken (impressions/ photos/ Xrays/ etc) so that a complete assessment could be done and a treatment plan could be worked out, I did this straight away, and was told to make an appointment in five weeks so the treatment plan could be worked out etc. I went back after the five weeks to discuss the treatment plan , accepted it (at this point finding out there was more wrong with my mouth than previously suspected) and was told by the ortho to make a bonding appointment ,he reckoned in approximately eight weeks, I got one in three weeks.
I must admit once I made my mind up to have something done, it couldn't happen fast enough (dunno if I was scared my courage would fail me if I waited too long).

#6 Post by **Hempstead** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 1:59 pm

I had the spacers puts in a few weeks after they took impressions and worked out the plan. I had the spacers in for almost three weeks and just got my arch expanders put in this morning.

My top molars are still tight, so they are giving it some time to sit and I go tomorrow after work to get the arch expanders cemented on. Then I think it may be a week before the key is turned for the first time and the expansion actually begins. I will confirm this tomorrow.

I get braced about a month after expansion has started.

It has been a longer-than-expected ramp up to getting wired, and I have felt impatient at times. But, I am glad they are taking the time to make sure everything's right and ready. I am 33 so, like you, I can wait, I guess.

#7 Post by **Carolinahigh12** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 2:53 pm

Well my journey started March 07 with a free consultation with an orthodontist. No impression done just digital photos. Then in April I went back for molds and xrays. In the same month I had my consultation only to find out that I needed to have a bicuspid removed. I couldnt get brackets of spacers, because I also needed to have two wisdom teeth removed and have my teeth cleaned and a flouride treatment. So in May I had my surgery to remove my wisdom teeth, and in June I had a bicuspid removed. In July I got spacers and 5 days later I was completely braced.
If you havent gotten your bi-annual cleaning, then I suggest you go ahead and place that appointment. Some orthos require a good cleaning and flouride treatment prior to beginning orthodontic treatment.

I guess it all depends on the treatment plan, if it requires coordination with another dentist or surgeon, then your start time will be delayed until you are somewhat "healed". If you need palatal expanders, then that too will delay your inital bracket treatment.

So I guess it is all in the treatment plan that your ortho goes with and if you need any additional pre-ortho treatment

#8 Post by **elpi** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 3:36 pm

10 and a half weeks and *boy* are they dragging!!

#9 Post by **MsVarlene** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 8:20 pm

Hereâ€™s how it worked out for me.

1. Initial exam
2. Records (1 week after first appt.)
3. Consultation, financial agreement and separators on (2 weeks after records)
4. Full braces on (1 week after 2nd consultation)

All in all, it was about a month from the 1st visit to getting fully braced

#10 Post by **Bracing412** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 11:06 pm

For me, I went in for a consultation on Monday, took impressions on Tuesday, and decided to skip the lagging and got braced the following week. So all in all, it was a week and a half after initial consultation. Each extra day you wait is another day from a perfect smile! Good luck.

#11 Post by **shayw** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 11:27 am

Thanks for the responses everyone!

I am just so ready to go. I am hoping I can at least get started when I go on Thursday. I am such an impatient person. Hopefully we will get the ball rolling soon!