Treatment
Orthodontic monitoring
Remote orthodontic monitoring lets your orthodontist check your progress between office visits. You take a short series of photos of your teeth at home with your phone, using a simple attachment, and the images are sent securely to the practice for review.
It does not replace your orthodontist. It adds more check-ins between visits, so small issues can be noticed early and in-office visits can be planned around what your teeth actually need.
Awaiting clinical review by Dr. Camille J. Rose Kong, orthodontist.
Who is orthodontic monitoring for?
Monitoring can be part of treatment for many patients, including:
- Patients in clear aligners, to confirm each tray is fitting and doing its job before moving on.
- Patients in braces, between adjustment visits.
- Children whose growth and incoming teeth are being watched before any treatment starts.
- Patients in retention, to check that teeth are staying where treatment placed them.
- Families with busy school, sport and work schedules who value fewer unnecessary trips.
How does remote monitoring work?
Setting up monitoring takes a few minutes at a regular visit. After that, it becomes a short routine.
Set-up at the office
We help you install the monitoring app, show you how to use the scanning attachment, and take a first scan together so you know what a good one looks like.
Your scans at home
On the schedule your orthodontist sets, the app reminds you to take a scan. It takes a few minutes and guides you through each step.
Review by your orthodontist
Your scans are reviewed by the practice. If something needs attention, such as an aligner that is not seating fully, we contact you with clear instructions.
Visits when they are needed
In-office visits continue throughout treatment. Monitoring helps us plan them around what your teeth need, and invite you in sooner if something looks off.
How long is monitoring used?
Monitoring runs alongside your treatment rather than adding time to it. It can continue for as long as you are in active treatment or retention, as your orthodontist recommends.
Each home scan usually takes a few minutes. How often you scan and how often you visit the office are set in your own plan; your plan may differ from someone else’s, and it can change as treatment progresses.
What about my privacy?
Your scans are photos of your teeth, and we treat them as part of your health record. Before you start, we explain which app is used, what it collects, who at the practice can see your images, and how they are protected.
You are welcome to ask any question about your information at any time, and you can choose not to use monitoring. If you would rather not, your orthodontist will plan in-office visits instead.
How do I take a good scan?
- Scan in good light, facing a window or a bright lamp.
- Brush your teeth first, and wear your aligners unless the app asks you to take them out.
- Follow the prompts slowly. A steady scan is more useful than a quick one.
- If the app shows an error or you are unsure, call or text us and we will help.
Why do you offer monitoring?
Between visits, a lot can happen that no one sees: an aligner that stops seating, a wire that shifts, a tooth that falls behind the plan. Regular scans let your orthodontist spot those moments sooner, and they give you a clear picture of your own progress.
Questions we are often asked
Do I still need office visits?
Yes. Monitoring adds check-ins between visits; it does not replace the visits where your orthodontist examines your teeth and adjusts your treatment in person.
What do I need at home?
A smartphone and the scanning attachment we give you at set-up. The app guides you through each scan.
What happens if a scan shows a problem?
We contact you with clear next steps. That might be continuing with your current aligner a little longer, a small change at home, or a visit sooner than planned.
Can children use monitoring?
Yes, with a parent or guardian helping. A scan takes a few minutes, so it fits easily into an evening routine.
Your next step
The simplest way to find out what is right for you is a complimentary Smile Analysis. Reserve a time online, or call or text us and we will be glad to help.