Orthodontic treatment usually moves through seven stages: consultation, treatment planning, appliance placement, regular check-ups, a mid-treatment review, removal, and retention. Most patients wear braces for between six months and two years, depending on what needs correcting.
How quickly you move through each stage also depends on how consistently appointments, wear time, and care instructions are followed, which is why we explain every step before treatment begins.
Knowing what happens at each stage makes the whole process easier to plan around school, work, and family schedules. Below, we walk through every step at Sherman & Balhoff Orthodontics, from your first visit at one of our four offices to the day you pick up your retainers.
What Happens at Your First Orthodontic Consultation?
Your journey begins with a complimentary, 60-minute initial consultation. During this visit, one of our orthodontists performs an extensive examination that looks at oral development, skeletal growth, airways, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) function, because a healthy bite depends on far more than how straight the front teeth look. We also take X-rays and photos so our doctors can study your teeth and jaws in detail.
This first visit is designed to answer the questions families ask most, including whether there is a condition orthodontics can correct, whether treatment is needed now or should wait for more growth or tooth eruption, whether any permanent teeth need to be removed, roughly how long treatment will take, and what it will cost. You can read more about how to prepare on our first visit page. Our goal is for every patient to leave with a clear understanding of their specific orthodontic needs.
Parents often ask when a child should have this first visit. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends an orthodontic check by age seven, when the bite pattern can already be examined for irregularities. Many children simply need monitoring at that age, while others benefit from early orthodontic treatment that guides jaw growth before problems fully develop.
How Is Your Treatment Plan Created?
While we can often answer general questions during the initial exam, specific recommendations come after our doctors carefully analyze your diagnostic records. We then typically schedule a consultation visit to walk you through treatment options, time frames, and financial arrangements, so you can make a decision with all of the information in front of you.
Instead of messy impression trays, we use the iTero scanner to create a 3D digital model of your teeth and jaw in minutes. Those scans guide your customized plan, and they also let us show you a model of what your projected smile may look like once treatment is complete. This is also the point where you choose your appliance, and our orthodontists will explain which options fit your bite, lifestyle, and goals.
| Option We Offer | How It Works | Good to Know |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional metal braces | Brackets connected by an archwire that gradually moves teeth | Durable and effective, with colored bands you can change |
| Clear ceramic braces | Same design as metal braces with tooth-colored brackets | Less noticeable, though they need a little more care |
| Self-ligating braces | Built-in clips hold the wire instead of elastic bands | Adjustment visits tend to be shorter and less frequent |
| Invisalign and Spark aligners | A series of removable, custom-made clear trays | Each set is typically worn for about one to two weeks |
What Happens on the Day Your Braces or Aligners Go On?
If you are getting braces, we bond the brackets to your teeth and connect them with an archwire, and the tension in that wire is what slowly moves your teeth into place. You can compare metal, ceramic, and self-ligating designs on our types of braces page before you decide.
If you are using clear aligners, you will receive your first set along with instructions on wearing and caring for them. We are an experienced provider of both Invisalign and Spark aligners, and our SprintRay 3D printers allow us to produce retainers and our own in-house aligner system at each of our four locations. Either way, our team will show you how to clean around your appliances and which foods to avoid.
How Often Will You Visit the Orthodontist During Treatment?
Patients with braces come into our office every few weeks so we can adjust the wires and keep steady tension on the teeth. Self-ligating braces often need shorter and less frequent adjustment visits, and aligner patients move to a new set of trays about every one to two weeks as their plan progresses.
These check-ups matter more than many people expect. Patients who take good care of their braces and keep every appointment are more likely to finish on schedule, while missed visits and broken brackets can add time. Between appointments, the DentalMonitoring app and ScanBox pro let you send photos of your teeth and communicate with our team securely from home, which is especially helpful for busy families and students.
Day-to-day habits also shape your timeline. With fixed braces, it is best to avoid hard foods such as nuts, hard candy, and popcorn kernels, sticky treats such as caramel and taffy, and chewy foods such as jerky and tough meats. Our braces FAQ covers brushing, flossing, and mouthguards for sports in more detail.
What Is a Mid-Treatment Evaluation?
Throughout treatment, our doctors keep a close eye on how your teeth and bite are responding, and new photos or digital scans may be taken to confirm that everything is moving the way the plan intended.
If a tooth is lagging behind or the bite needs fine-tuning, the plan can be adjusted. Making those changes early keeps treatment efficient and helps avoid surprises near the finish line, which is a big part of why our orthodontists put so much emphasis on careful diagnosis from the very beginning.
What Happens When Your Braces Come Off?
Once your teeth have reached their planned positions, we remove your braces, or you finish your final set of aligners. The removal appointment itself is usually quick, and it is one of the most exciting visits of the whole process because you finally get to see your new smile without appliances.
Before you leave, we talk through the next phase. Treatment is not quite finished at this point, because teeth naturally want to drift back toward where they started, so protecting your result becomes the new priority.
Why Is the Retention Phase So Important?
Retainers hold your teeth in their new positions while the surrounding bone and gums settle. Your orthodontic treatment plan with us includes six months of follow-up visits and one final set of retainers.
Wearing your retainer exactly as instructed is the single best way to protect your investment. We also offer an optional Retainer Insurance Plan that covers lost or broken retainers for five years, and you can review the details on our post-treatment options page.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Orthodontic Timeline
How long does orthodontic treatment take?
Most patients can expect to wear braces for between six months and two years. Minor straightening can be quick, while more significant bite corrections take longer, and your orthodontist will give you an estimate after reviewing your records.
How long is the first orthodontist appointment?
Our initial consultation is complimentary and lasts about 60 minutes. It includes an extensive exam, X-rays, and photos, along with time to answer your questions about treatment, timing, and cost.
Can I speed up my orthodontic treatment?
The best things you can do are keep every appointment, follow your food and hygiene guidelines, and wear aligners or elastics exactly as directed. Broken brackets, missed visits, and skipped wear time can all add time to treatment.
Will I need to see the orthodontist after my braces come off?
Yes. Your plan includes six months of follow-up visits after your appliances are removed so we can check that your retainers fit well and your teeth are staying in place.
Start Your Orthodontic Timeline With Sherman & Balhoff
Every great result starts with a clear plan, and the first step is simply getting answers to your questions. Our team serves families across the Baton Rouge area from our offices in Baton Rouge, Prairieville, Central, and Addis, and we will help you choose the location that fits your schedule.
When you are ready, request your complimentary consultation online or call us at (225) 769-1276, and we will help you take the first step toward a healthy, confident smile.