Yes, a patient in braces should keep seeing dentist during braces, usually on the same routine schedule and sometimes a little more often. Braces trap plaque around the brackets and wires, which makes professional cleanings matter more during treatment, not less. The dentist handles cavities and gum health; the orthodontist moves the teeth. The two roles work in parallel.
Dr. Rodrigo Viecilli is an ABO Diplomate with a PhD in orthodontic biomechanics, a co-inventor of the SmartArch wire system, and the author of more than 27 peer-reviewed publications. Across 5,000+ treated cases at Limestone Hills in Austin, one pattern is consistent: the cases that finish cleanest are the ones where the orthodontic office and the general dentist stay in sync.
That coordination is not a formality. Limestone Hills shares diagnostic records with a patient’s dental office on request and times restorative work against tooth position, so a filling or crown placed during treatment still fits the corrected bite.
Generic advice says “keep seeing your dentist.” The practice-level version is more specific: keep the cleanings, tell both offices what is planned, and let the orthodontist sequence the restorative work.
Yes, Keep Seeing the General Dentist
Starting braces does not pause routine dental care. A patient in fixed braces or clear aligners still needs cleanings, exams, and X-rays from the general dentist on the normal schedule. The orthodontist focuses on moving teeth into position; the dentist keeps the teeth and gums healthy while that happens.
The reason this matters is mechanical. Brackets, bands, and wires create new surfaces that food and plaque collect against. Areas that were easy to brush before braces become harder to reach, especially right at the gum line and between the brackets.
Skipping cleanings during treatment lets that plaque sit. Over many months in braces, that can mean decalcification spots on the enamel, inflamed gums, or early cavities that were avoidable. Routine professional cleaning removes what a toothbrush around brackets cannot.
Decalcification deserves a specific mention. White marks can appear on enamel around where a bracket sits if plaque is left on that surface for a long time. They are one of the more common avoidable problems in a long braces case, and routine dental cleanings combined with good home care are the main defense against them.
So the honest framing is the opposite of what some patients assume. Braces do not make the dentist optional for the duration. They make those visits more important, because the appliances make day-to-day cleaning harder.
How Often Cleanings Should Happen During Treatment
Most patients keep the same cleaning interval they had before braces. For many people that is roughly every six months, which is the schedule a general dentist typically recommends for routine maintenance.
Some patients benefit from more frequent cleanings while in braces. A patient whose gums inflame easily, who builds plaque quickly, or who has a longer or more complex treatment may be advised to come in every three or four months instead. That decision belongs to the general dentist, who is watching gum health and plaque control directly.
Limestone Hills does not set the dental cleaning schedule, and no single number fits every patient. The practical rule is simple: follow the dentist’s recommended interval, and lean toward more frequent rather than fewer cleanings while appliances are on the teeth.
Clear aligners change this picture only slightly. Because the trays come off for brushing and flossing, cleaning is easier than around fixed brackets. The routine dental schedule still applies, since aligners do not remove the need for professional cleanings or for the dentist to monitor cavities and gum health.
If a patient is unsure, the consultation is the place to ask. Dr. Viecilli will say plainly whether a given case is long enough or plaque-prone enough that a tighter cleaning schedule is worth raising with the dental office. The point of the question is to set the right interval early rather than discover a problem at the end of treatment.
The Orthodontist and Dentist Division of Care
Both a general dentist and an orthodontist hold a dental degree. The difference is what each one does day to day, and during braces both roles are active at the same time.
The general dentist manages the health of the teeth and gums. That includes routine cleanings, cavity detection and fillings, periodontal health, and the X-rays that catch problems early. During orthodontic treatment, none of that stops.
The orthodontist completed additional residency training focused specifically on tooth movement and jaw relationships. The orthodontist diagnoses the alignment problem, designs the treatment plan, places and adjusts the appliances, and moves the teeth into position. The orthodontist does not take over the patient’s general dental care.
| Responsibility | General Dentist | Orthodontist |
|---|---|---|
| Routine cleanings and exams | Yes, continues through treatment | No, refers the patient back to the dentist |
| Cavities and fillings | Diagnoses and treats | Flags suspected decay, coordinates timing |
| Gum and periodontal health | Monitors and treats | Watches for movement-related changes, refers as needed |
| Diagnosis and treatment plan for alignment | Refers to the orthodontist | Diagnoses and plans |
| Appliances and tooth movement | Does not provide | Places, adjusts, and supervises |
| Crowns, bridges, implants | Performs the restorative work | Times the work against tooth position |
The division is not territorial. It is two clinicians doing different jobs on the same mouth at the same time, which is exactly why communication between the two offices matters during treatment.
What to Tell the Dentist at a Cleaning
When a patient in braces sits down for a routine dental visit, a short briefing helps the dental team work efficiently and safely around the appliances.
Tell the dental office that orthodontic treatment is active, name the orthodontist, and describe what is in place. Fixed braces, clear aligners, an expander, or a temporary anchorage device each change how a hygienist cleans and how X-rays are taken. A team that knows what is on the teeth works around it without guessing.
Mention anything the orthodontist has flagged. If a wire is poking, a bracket feels loose, or a spot is consistently hard to clean, the dentist and hygienist can note it and clean those areas with extra care.
Most important, raise any planned dental work. A filling, a crown, a planned extraction, or implant work all interact with tooth movement. Telling the dentist that braces are on, and telling the orthodontist that restorative work is being considered, lets both offices sequence the work in the right order.
A short checklist covers most visits. Confirm that orthodontic treatment is active and name the orthodontist. State what appliances are in place. Report any new pain, a loose bracket, or a poking wire. List any dental work the patient is considering, even if it is months away. That briefing takes under a minute and prevents the most common coordination gaps.
Coordinating Restorative Timing
The place where coordination matters most is restorative dentistry. Moving teeth changes where they sit, and a permanent restoration is built to fit a specific position.
Small fillings can usually proceed during treatment without much sequencing concern. The calculus changes for crowns, bridges, veneers, and implants.
If a tooth is going to move, a crown placed before the movement may not fit the bite once the tooth reaches its final position. An implant placed in the wrong spot cannot be moved later, because implants do not respond to orthodontic force the way natural teeth do.
This is where Dr. Viecilli’s background changes the conversation. Planning tooth position against future restorative work is a biomechanics problem, and the practice treats it as one. Limestone Hills shares the treatment plan with the patient’s dentist, on the patient’s authorization, so the restorative dentist sees where each tooth is heading before committing to permanent work.
The practical outcome is a defined order of operations. The orthodontist often moves the teeth into position first, then signals the dentist that the tooth is ready for its final crown or implant. Coordinating that sequence is the difference between a restoration that fits the corrected bite and one that has to be redone.
Limestone Hills formalizes this through its referral and partner relationships. The /health-partners/ page describes how the practice coordinates with general dentists and other specialists so the records, the timing, and the plan move together rather than in separate silos.
The Honest Part
The candid point is worth stating directly. Braces make some areas of the mouth harder to clean than they were before treatment, which means dental visits matter more during treatment, not less. A patient who treats braces as a reason to skip the dentist is taking on avoidable risk to the enamel and gums.
The second honest point is about scope. The orthodontist does not replace the general dentist. A patient who only sees the orthodontist during a year or two of treatment, and skips routine dental care that whole time, can finish with straight teeth and new cavities. Dr. Viecilli says this plainly at the consultation rather than letting a patient assume the braces appointment covers everything.
There is also a timing point patients rarely hear. The general dentist may want active decay or significant gum inflammation addressed before braces go on, because it is harder to treat a problem cleanly once appliances cover the teeth. A pre-treatment dental visit is a reasonable step, and Limestone Hills supports it rather than rushing past it.
None of this is meant to make dental care during braces sound complicated. For most patients it is straightforward: keep the regular cleanings, brush and floss carefully around the appliances, and tell both offices what is planned. The coordination work happens between the orthodontist and the dentist, not on the patient’s shoulders.
Austin and the Hill Country
Limestone Hills coordinates with general dentists across Austin and the surrounding Hill Country, including patients who travel in from Lakeway, Cedar Park, and Round Rock. The coordinated-care principle does not change by city, and it does not require the dentist and the orthodontist to share a building.
What it requires is communication. Whether a patient’s dentist is around the corner from the practice or near their home in Bee Cave or Steiner Ranch, Limestone Hills shares records and times restorative work the same way every time. The /health-partners/ page outlines how that coordination runs for both patients and referring dental offices.
Common Questions About Dental Visits During Braces
Can you see a dentist while wearing braces?
Yes. A patient in braces should keep every routine cleaning and checkup with the general dentist. Braces trap food and plaque around the brackets and wires, so professional cleanings matter more during treatment, not less. The dentist works around the appliances, and Limestone Hills coordinates with the dental office whenever a procedure needs planning.
How often should you get your teeth cleaned with braces?
Most patients keep their normal cleaning schedule, often about every six months. Some patients benefit from more frequent visits because fixed braces make certain areas harder to clean. The right interval is set by the general dentist based on each patient’s gum health and plaque control, not by a single universal rule.
What should you tell your dentist when you have braces?
Tell the dental office that orthodontic treatment is in progress, who the orthodontist is, and what appliances are in place. Mention any planned fillings, crowns, or extractions so timing can be coordinated. With patient permission, Limestone Hills shares records so the dentist sees the treatment plan rather than guessing around it.
Does the orthodontist replace the general dentist during braces?
No. The orthodontist diagnoses alignment and moves the teeth with appliances. The general dentist continues to manage cleanings, cavities, and gum health. The two roles run in parallel during treatment, and Limestone Hills treats coordinated care between the offices as part of a well-run case.
Can you get a filling or a crown while wearing braces?
Often yes, with coordination. Small fillings can usually proceed during treatment. Crowns, bridges, and implants are timed against tooth position, because moving a tooth changes how a final restoration should fit. Dr. Viecilli plans restorative sequencing with the patient’s dentist so the finished work matches the corrected bite.
Sources. Standard guidance on concurrent dental and orthodontic care (plaque retention around fixed appliances, division of clinical responsibilities, restorative-orthodontic coordination), stated qualitatively. Specifics that could not be independently verified are stated qualitatively rather than as exact figures. Clinical observations from Limestone Hills Orthodontics, Austin, TX.