Kids love to ask questions! Their curiosity and eagerness to learn is an amazing thing, but it can also be tough sometimes when we don’t have all the answers. If it’s your child’s first visit to the orthodontist, they may have a lot of questions like, “What does an orthodontist do?” Here’s how to answer.
What is an Orthodontist?
An orthodontist is a type of dentist. Just like a regular dentist, it’s their job to make sure your teeth are healthy. An orthodontist checks if teeth are straight and creates a plan to fix crooked teeth.
What Does an Orthodontist Do?
When you see an orthodontist for the first time, they may take pictures of your teeth called x-rays and use a special kind of putty to take a mold of your teeth so that they can study it and decide the best way to make your teeth healthy and straight. They may tell you that you need braces, but those can be fun.
What Are Braces?
Braces are neat because they can help your teeth figure out where they are supposed to be so that they don’t get squeezed or stuck behind other teeth, but rather all stand in their proper place. Braces come in a lot of different colors that you’ll get to pick each time that they adjust them.
Do Braces Hurt?
Braces may feel different at first because they are new and your mouth isn’t used to them yet. If you get braces and they don’t feel comfortable, just tell an adult and we can help you figure out how to make them feel more comfortable.
Why Do I Need to See an Orthodontist?
It’s good for every kid to see an orthodontist to check if their teeth are healthy, but not every kid has the chance to. If you are able, it’s a great option to go to the orthodontist so that we can make sure your teeth are healthy and happy!
When You Have Questions
Parents have questions, too, and we’re always glad to answer them! If you have any questions, even if they feel simple like, “What does an orthodontist do?” don’t hesitate to give us a call. We’re here for you and your child from the very first step into orthodontics and throughout the journey.
Call our Indianapolis, IN, orthodontics office, to make an appointment with a dentist who may be able to help you find out more about this topic, and improve your oral health.