In our office, we use the most up-to-date bonding methods available. Your brackets and bands are designed to withstand normal bite forces. If you don’t eat hard or sticky food, your braces will stay in place, holding throughout your treatment.
Most breakage occurs when patients indulge in foods that are off limits during treatment. This includes anything hard, sticky, or chewy.
Please do not eat the following:
Jolly ranchers, tortilla chips, hard taco shells, taffy, starburst, jerky, corn on the cob, lifesavers, caramel, pizza edges, French bread crust, popcorn, meat on the bone, hard fruits and/or vegetables (will need to be cut into small pieces), pens, pencils, and/or other foreign objects need to be kept out of the mouth.
Broken or loose appliances:
If you discover that you do have something broken, please call our office as soon as possible. Some breakage needs to be taken care of right away, while other breakage can wait until mutual schedules can easily accommodate a repair appointment.
Please do not wait until your regular adjustment appointment to inform us of breakage. Time is allotted for the procedure we have planned to perform only. Often, we do not have time do to both the repair and the planned adjustment. Consequently, excessive breakage will influence the length if your overall treatment. A call ahead of time may allow us to add more time to an adjustment appointment, or schedule a separate repair appointment as soon as possible. When calling to report breakage to our Scheduling Coordinator, please be specific. This will allow them to determine the amount of time to schedule in order to complete the repair procedure and allow Dr. Parker to give his undivided attention to your treatment.
Wire Shift:
Occasionally during treatment, the arch wire may shift and become more exposed behind the molar band on one side. This can be very uncomfortable and we will remedy this as soon as possible. Be sure to notify our office any time there is pain or discomfort due to a wire poking, or if there is a wire out of the slot. Please use the wax provided until we see you to avoid irritation.
Thanks for helping us, help you!
TIPS FOR YOUR FIRST WEEK IN TREATMENT
- Take over the counter pain remedies, like what you would take for a headache. These medications should be taken as soon as discomfort is noticed. Always follow proper dosage, which is labeled on bottle by the manufacturer.
- Sores are a common occurrence when new treatment begins. Wax may be used to help with this irritation and will keep sores from becoming any larger. To use the wax, break off the amount you need and place around the appliance in the area affected by discomfort. Please wax before lesion occurs during the hot spot phase.
- Keep your appliances and mouth clean. Tissues in the mouth will heal faster if the presence of bacteria is minimal.
- Eat foods that are soft and easy to chew. Consult your “food list” and avoid the items listed on front of this page.
- Use wax at the first sign of irritation to prevent sores and to reduce further irritation.
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Item
Wax
Orabase
Proxy Brush
Travel toothbruses
Toothbrush
Brushing Timer
Peroxyl
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Use
Covers appliance to comfort sore
Topical anesthetic; numbs tissue
Cleans hard to reach small areas
Compact toothbrush for easy caring
Regular brush for home use
Use to help insure proper brushing
Antiseptic rinse; soothes and cleans sores
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ORTHODONTIC PROBLEMS
& AT HOME SOLUTIONS
Every question is a good question. We are here to provide information that will help you successfully navigate through your orthodontic treatment. It is our goal to provide you with the best orthodontic experience possible. A part of that is clear communication. We are happy to answer your questions, little or big.
Here are some at quick fixes for common problems that you can do at home until an appointment can be scheduled with our office.
If you have. . .
A Loose band or bracket: If your band or bracket is still attached to wire, leave it in place. If it is uncomfortable you can place wax on it. If it comes out completely, put your brace or bracket in an envelope and bring it to your repair appointment.
A Loose wire: First, try to place wire back in place with tweezers. If that is not possible, clip your wire with fingernail clippers behind last tooth to which it is securely fastened, being careful to not swallow the wire. If you have any discomfort, place wax on it.
A Poking wire: First, try to push the sticking wire down with a spoon or eraser head. If that is not possible, you can place wax on it.
A Lost tie-wire or color tie: Notify us at next appointment.
Soreness: Rinse with Peroxyl for up to five minutes. Use a topical numbing agent (orabase). Use Tylenol or Ibuprofen for discomfort.
A Loose appliance: If the appliance is sticking or poking, place wax on it and do not try to remove it. If appliance comes completely out, save it and call our office to schedule an appointment.
If the Headgear does not fit: Sometimes this is caused by not wearing it as prescribed or it can happen if damage has occurred. If the face bow is bent, please call the office to schedule an appointment, we will be happy to adjust it.