The orthodontic treatment process follows the same basic path for braces and Invisalign: an exam, a custom plan, regular progress visits, and a retainer once your teeth reach their new positions. What changes from one treatment to the next is how your teeth are moved and what happens at each visit. Orthodontic specialists recommend a first orthodontic check-up by age 7, and adults can start at any age.
An early check-up does not mean early braces. For many children, that first visit simply confirms that nothing needs treatment yet, or sets up monitoring while the jaw and adult teeth develop, so families can make a plan without rushing into one.
Here, I walk through each step for metal braces, ceramic braces and Invisalign, how often you will come in, how long treatment usually takes, and what happens once your teeth are where they belong.
Key Takeaways
- First visit: The process starts with an exam and records that show how your teeth and bite fit together.
- Treatment plan: Your plan names the appliance, the expected timeline and the fee before you commit to anything.
- Braces placement: Brackets are bonded to each tooth and connected with an archwire in a single visit, followed by a few days of tenderness.
- Invisalign start: A digital scan is used to plan a series of aligners that you switch every one to two weeks and wear 20 to 22 hours a day.
- Progress visits: Check-ups usually happen every six to ten weeks, and most braces cases take 12 to 24 months.
- Retainers: A retainer holds your result, starting with full-time wear and moving to nighttime wear over the long term.
What Happens at Your First Orthodontic Visit?
Your first visit is an exam and a conversation about your teeth, your bite and what you would like to change. The orthodontist looks at how your upper and lower teeth meet, checks for crowding and spacing, and takes records such as photos and X-rays or a scan. Those records show where each tooth sits and what is developing below the gumline, and every later step of treatment is planned from them.
At my office, the first consultation is complimentary, and you meet with me one-on-one. I examine your teeth, explain what I see, and answer your questions, with no obligation to start treatment that day. I also speak Spanish, so parents and patients can go through the whole conversation in the language they are most comfortable with.
How Is Your Treatment Plan Built?
Your treatment plan is built from your records and spells out which appliance will move your teeth, the order of those movements, the estimated timeline and the fee. Most plans use one of three options:
- Metal braces: Stainless steel brackets and an archwire that handle a wide range of crowding, spacing and bite problems.
- Ceramic braces: Tooth-colored brackets that work the same way as metal braces but are harder to see, though they can chip a little more easily.
- Invisalign: A series of removable clear aligners, each shaped to move your teeth a small amount, for patients who want treatment that is close to invisible.
Each option reaches the same goal by a different route. Metal braces are the most durable, ceramic brackets blend in with your teeth, and Invisalign can be taken out to eat and brush but only works when you wear it consistently. The types of braces differ mostly in appearance and upkeep, so your bite and your daily habits usually matter more to the decision than looks do.
Your treatment plan is built from your records and spells out which appliance will move your teeth, the order of those movements, the estimated timeline and the fee. Most plans use one of three options:
- Metal braces: Stainless steel brackets and an archwire that handle a wide range of crowding, spacing and bite problems.
- Ceramic braces: Tooth-colored brackets that work the same way as metal braces but are harder to see, though they can chip a little more easily.
- Invisalign: A series of removable clear aligners, each shaped to move your teeth a small amount, for patients who want treatment that is close to invisible.
Each option reaches the same goal by a different route. Metal braces are the most durable, ceramic brackets blend in with your teeth, and Invisalign can be taken out to eat and brush but only works when you wear it consistently. The types of braces differ mostly in appearance and upkeep, so your bite and your daily habits usually matter more to the decision than looks do.
What Happens When Braces Go On?
Getting braces on takes a single visit, and it is usually the longest appointment of your treatment. The steps are the same for metal and ceramic braces:
- Cleaning and preparing: Your teeth are polished and dried so the bonding material holds firmly to the enamel.
- Bracket placement: Each bracket is bonded to the front of a tooth with dental adhesive, then set with a curing light.
- Archwire: A thin wire is threaded through the brackets and held in place with small elastic ties, which you can pick in different colors.
- Care instructions: You leave knowing which foods to avoid, how to brush and floss around brackets, and what to do if a bracket comes loose.
Placing braces does not hurt, but most people notice pressure or tenderness for a few days afterward as their teeth begin to move. Soft foods and an over-the-counter pain reliever help during that first stretch. If you choose ceramic braces, the brackets resist staining, though the elastics can pick up color from foods and drinks like coffee, tea and curry until they are replaced at your next visit.
How Does Invisalign Treatment Start?
Invisalign starts with a digital scan of your teeth instead of brackets and wire. The scan becomes a 3D model, and from it a full series of aligners is planned, with each set shifting your teeth slightly closer to the finished position. Some cases also use small tooth-colored attachments bonded to certain teeth, which give the aligners extra grip for harder movements.
You switch to a new set of aligners every one to two weeks and wear them 20 to 22 hours a day, taking them out only to eat, drink, brush and floss. That wear time is what moves your teeth, so trays left in their case are not doing any work. The details of how clear aligners work explain why consistent wear matters so much more than the number of trays in the series.
As an Invisalign Certified Provider, I build each aligner plan myself from your scan and walk you through the full path from your current smile to the finished one before your first trays arrive.
How Often Will You Need Check-Up Visits?
Check-up visits are typically scheduled every six to ten weeks for both braces and Invisalign. With braces, these visits are when the archwire is changed or adjusted and the elastics are replaced, which keeps steady pressure on your teeth. With Invisalign, they confirm your teeth are tracking with the plan and give you your next sets of aligners.
How long treatment lasts overall depends mostly on how much movement your bite needs. Ranges like these are typical:
| Case Type | Typical Treatment Length |
| Mild crowding or spacing | 8 to 12 months |
| Most braces cases | 12 to 24 months |
| Complex bite problems | About 2 years or longer |
Missed appointments, broken brackets and skipped aligner wear all stretch these ranges, while steady attendance keeps your case moving on schedule.
Every visit at my office is with me, so the person checking your progress is the same doctor who made your plan. My clinical assistants are all Registered Dental Assistants with more than ten years of orthodontic experience, and Monday and Tuesday appointments start at 7:30am for families who need to come in before work or school.
What Happens When Treatment Ends?
Active treatment ends once your teeth reach the positions in your plan and your bite fits together correctly. With braces, that means a removal appointment where each bracket is gently released, the leftover adhesive is cleaned off, and your teeth are polished smooth. With Invisalign, there is no removal visit, since your last aligner is simply the final step in the series, and any attachments are polished off.
In both cases, this is also the appointment where retention begins. Your teeth have just finished moving and the bone around them is still settling, so the retainer is fitted at the same time your active treatment ends.
Why Do You Need a Retainer After Treatment?
A retainer keeps your teeth where treatment moved them. The bone around your teeth keeps remodeling for life, and everyday forces from chewing and speaking push teeth to drift, which is why most people should expect to wear retainers for the rest of their lives in some form. Skipping a retainer for even a few days can let teeth shift noticeably.
Most patients wear their retainer full-time at first, taking it out only to eat, drink and brush, and later move to nighttime wear. That shift happens gradually, once your teeth show they are holding steady.
I offer two types: clear removable trays that look similar to Invisalign aligners, and fixed wire retainers bonded behind the teeth. I make each one from impressions or a digital scan of your finished smile, set your wear schedule based on your case, and see you for follow-up visits to make sure it is doing its job.
Starting Your Orthodontic Treatment in Salinas
Every orthodontic treatment process comes down to the same sequence: an exam and records, a plan built for your bite, steady progress visits, and a retainer that protects the result. Braces and Invisalign differ in how they move teeth, not in that path, and knowing each step ahead of time makes the months in between easier to plan around.
I have run Matthew Ronconi Orthodontics as a sole practitioner since 1987, and Monterey County Weekly readers have voted me Best Orthodontist every year from 2023 through 2026.
Call my office at (831) 422-7424 or book online to schedule your first visit, and I will help you decide which treatment fits your teeth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can adults start orthodontic treatment in Salinas?
Adults can start orthodontic treatment in Salinas at any age, and about one in three orthodontic patients is an adult. I treat adults with braces and Invisalign using the same steps as for teens, though treatment can take slightly longer because adult bone is denser.
Can I pay for orthodontic treatment over time?
You can pay for orthodontic treatment over time at my office. I go over the full fee at your consultation, and you can spread the cost with a flexible payment plan or CareCredit.
What foods should I avoid with braces?
Avoid hard, sticky and chewy foods with braces, such as popcorn, nuts, hard candy, caramel and gum, because they can break brackets or bend wires. Cutting fruits and vegetables into small pieces makes most healthy foods easy to keep in your diet.
What should I do if a bracket comes loose?
If a bracket comes loose, call my office so my team can decide whether you need to come in before your next scheduled visit. Until then, cover any sharp edges with orthodontic wax and avoid chewing on that side.
Can I play sports with braces or Invisalign?
You can play sports with braces or Invisalign as long as you protect your mouth with a mouthguard. Braces patients need a mouthguard designed to fit over brackets, while aligner patients can take their trays out during a game and put them back in right after.
Do I still need to see my dentist during orthodontic treatment?
You still need to see your dentist for regular cleanings and check-ups during orthodontic treatment. I focus on moving your teeth and correcting your bite, while your dentist watches for cavities and gum problems that could slow your treatment down.
