Let’s face it, no one is perfect and it’s impossible to always be on time for everything. Whether you overbooked your schedule or your appointment simply slipped your mind, you may have missed an orthodontist appointment.
If this ends up happening, there’s no need to panic. However, since it’s in your best interest to finish your orthodontic treatment on time, it’s important to do everything you can to make it to your appointments on time.
Why Are My Appointments Important?
Whether you have traditional braces or Invisalign, visiting the orthodontist on a regular basis is an indispensable part of your treatment. You will need to go into the office so your orthodontist can take a close look at your progress and adjust your treatment accordingly. Even if you have Invisalign, you won’t just be able to get your new aligners in the mail. Supervision by a licensed orthodontist is required to ensure you get the best results possible.
If you have missed an orthodontist appointment, it can slow down your treatment progress somewhat since you will essentially be starting the next phase a little bit later. Needless to say, making a habit of missing appointments can draw out your treatment to an unpleasant length.
What Should I Do if I Missed an Orthodontist Appointment?
If you forget about your appointment or simply get too busy to make it on time, you should reschedule another appointment as soon as possible. Call the office to let them know what happened and that you would like to schedule another visit as soon as you can. The sooner you can get your braces adjusted or get your new Invisalign aligners, the less your treatment end date will be affected.
How to Avoid Missing Orthodontic Appointments
Sometimes life circumstances are unavoidable, such as getting stuck in traffic behind an accident or having to deal with an emergency. But you should definitely do what you can to give yourself the best chance of making your orthodontist appointments.
Scheduling your next appointment before you leave the office after your current visit gives you the best chance of getting a date that is convenient for you. Waiting until it’s almost time for your next visit to schedule something will limit the times the staff is available and potentially leave you pressed to get to the appointment.
You should also make a habit of putting your next appointment in your phone’s calendar or in your physical planner if you prefer to use paper. Be sure to include your teen on the calendar events if he or she is that patient and has a cell phone.
If you find that notes help you remember things, put up an old-fashioned reminder on your bathroom mirror. Most orthodontic offices send out a text or email the day before the appointments, so be sure they have your contact information correct to receive these automatic reminders.
Getting your perfect smile will take some time, but it will be well worth it in the end. And you can make your treatment go by as smoothly and quickly as possible by sticking to your scheduled appointments.
