FAQs

An Orthodontist is a dentist who has done a masters course of 3 years and specialises in

Straightening and aligning irregularly placed crooked teeth and closing gaps between teeth for all ages.

Identifying a problem in the growth and development of jaws at an early age for growing kids and correcting and redirecting the jaws to grow well.

Identifying a problem in the size and position of jaws in adults and correcting it.

Is a braces specialist.

Worldwide, all Orthodontists recommend that as a general rule of thumb children should first see an Orthodontist when they are around 7 years old.

Your Orthodontist will

Evaluate Jaw development

Baby teeth and permanent teeth development

Help predict future problems in teeth and jaw growth

Suggest any preventive treatment, if needed

So do not wait for all milk teeth to fall before you call upon an Orthodontist for your child.

Dr. Vidhi Shah provides orthodontic treatment at Andheri, Powai, Goregaon East, and Vile Parle. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Vidhi Shah, you can visit the website and call on the number provided on the website, send a WhatsApp message by clicking on the icon or submit an inquiry on the online inquiry form to arrange an appointment.

Your Orthodontist will call you for a recall visit with your retainers at 3 months, 6 months and 1 yr in the first year after completing the orthodontic treatment. Thereafter, you should visit your Orthodontist once a year to check the alignment and stability of your teeth and for a general oral health check-up.

For braces, you must see an Orthodontist. An Orthodontist is a dentist who has undergone 3 yrs of specialized training and has earned a MDS degree in Orthodontics which is a branch of dentistry that specializes in handling patients that need teeth and jaw alignment. An Orthodontist is both braces and aligner specialists.

Orthodontics is a specialized branch of dentistry. Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics is a branch that deals with the diagnosis, prevention, and correction of malaligned teeth and jaws for patients of all ages. Dentofacial Orthopedics refers to the treatment that focuses on timely diagnosis of problems in jaw growth and redirecting the growing jaws in children with appropriate treatment to achieve optimal growth and development of their jaws and teeth.

General dentists take care of your overall oral health. Orthodontists are braces and aligner specialists with 3 yrs of specialized training and a MDS degree in Orthodontics. They are experts in handling patients that need jaw and teeth alignment and bite correction.

Preventive and Interceptive orthodontics play an important role for children since it helps identify and address potential dental issues early, often before they become more severe or require complex treatment. By guiding proper dental and jaw development, it can prevent more serious problems in the future, reduce the need for extensive orthodontic procedures, and promote overall oral health and function.

Braces and Invisalign both are highly effective and efficient appliances for orthodontic treatment. It is important to understand that the final result does not depend upon the appliance that you choose, it depends upon your Orthodontist, his/her experience and the treatment plan that is devised for you. Braces or Invisalign aligners are just ways/means to reach the final result. Choosing between braces and Invisalign depends on individual needs and preferences. Factors to be considered are dietary and food habits, oral hygiene routine, esthetic concerns, daily schedule and lifestyle. Consulting with an orthodontist can help determine the best choice based on your specific needs and lifestyle. Here is a quick link to help you Compare braces v/s aligners.

Invisalign is definitely more comfortable than traditional braces. The aligners are custom-made with well trimmed and smooth margins making it easier for the patient to get used to them with minimal irritation to the cheeks and gums. With braces treatment, the adjustment period is generally longer for the patient due to the brackets and wires in the mouth. Braces may cause more discomfort, soreness and irritation to the cheeks and gums as compared to Invisalign aligners. Compare braces v/s aligners

Yes, you can realign your teeth even if they have shifted after removing braces. You will need to undergo a second round of orthodontic treatment with either Braces or Invisalign aligners to correct the misalignment. It’s important to consult with an Orthodontist who will assess the current condition of your teeth and help you with the further treatment needed. In the future, wearing a retainer as recommended by your Orthodontist will help maintain the alignment and prevent further shifting.

It’s normal to experience discomfort while eating after getting braces, especially in the first few days. To ease this, stick to soft foods like soups, dal-rice, khichdi, idli, yogurt, mashed potatoes, and smoothies. After the initial adjustment period, you can gradually return to more solid foods like roti, paratha etc. It’s better to avoid pain-killers, but if the pain is unbearable then you can consult your Orthodontist and take some mild pain-killers to alleviate the pain.

The most critical step after the braces are taken off is the retention phase.To maintain your teeth alignment you need to wear removable retainers as instructed by your Orthodontist. Wearing retainers is crucial for long term success of your orthodontic treatment. Retainers help to keep your teeth in their new position by allowing the bone around the teeth to become strong in the new position. Regular check-ups with your Orthodontist are also important to monitor your general dental health and alignment and stability of your teeth.

A recessed, retrognathic or underdeveloped lower jaw can be corrected with myofunctional appliances and braces treatment in growing kids. In adults, the severity of recession or deficiency of the lower jaw will determine whether braces can fix it or not. In mild to moderate cases, camouflage treatment is done with braces to improve the recessed lower jaw. For severe cases jaw surgery (orthognathic surgery) may be needed. Consulting with an Orthodontist is important to determine the best treatment plan based on the severity of the jaw recession.

It’s common to experience mild pain and discomfort for about 3 to 5 days after getting braces. The pain is from the pressure being applied by the braces and generally lasts for 2-3 days. It is recommended to eat soft foods like dal-rice, khichdi, idli, mashed potatoes, soups etc during the first few days after getting braces. The discomfort is from the braces and wires and it usually takes about a week to get used to eating, brushing, talking, sleeping and doing all the regular activities with the braces and wires in the mouth. Orthodontic wax can be used to cover any areas that feel sharp or poke and quadragel can be applied to any ulcer or bruise in the gums during the initial days till you get used to the braces and wires.

The time taken for any orthodontic treatment whether for closing gaps or for correcting any bite related issues depends on the following factors:-

Severity of the problem which is best assessed by your Orthodontist.

Compliance of the patient in following the instructions given during the course of the treatment.

Being consistent with the regular check-up appointments every 4-6 weeks.

Accurate diagnosis and precise treatment planning by the Orthodontist.