Orthodontics (Braces)

1. At first, you may find the appliance(s) a mouthful. Your mouth will water for a few days, and that your speech may affected slightly.
   
2. Functional appliances are meant to be worn 24 hours a day, including sleeping and eating (except Bionator, which needs to be removed when eating). The muscle activities make the appliances work.
   
3. You are given an orthodontic progress diary. We marked the insertion day. This is a free day, so that you can take the appliance(s) in and out as much as you want to practice getting used to it. But from then on, you (not your parent) are to mark on the book each day the number of hours the appliances is our of your mouth, other than routine cleaning the appliance. Be honest, there is nothing wrong if you forget sometimes. We are not playing policeman, we only want to know what kind of result we can expect.
   
   • If expansion screws are incorporated into the appliance, cross marks are placed on the days your are to turn the screw(s) once in the arrow direction. Please place a check mark on the book after you have done so.
     
     You are to bring this orthodontic progress diary every time you come for orthodontic treatment.
     
4. Clean the appliance daily before bedtime with a soft brush, and soak it in a commercial mouthwash for ten minutes each day.
   
5. When playing active sports or swimming, the appliance can be removed. Be sure to place the appliance in its protective case whenever it is out of your mouth to prevent breakage.
6. Your appliance may fall out at night when sleeping during the first few nights. Keep your pet away from the appliance.
   
7. If the appliance hurts you in any way, please call us any time.
   
8. It is very important you keep your next visit appointment. The timing of your next visit, including the number of turns made to the appliance, is calculated the give the best result. If you do miss a visit due to some unforeseen circumstances, make sure you call to arrange another visit as soon as possible. We shall do our best to accommodate you after school or during lunch hour, but your treatment must come first.

PLEASE KEEP THIS INFORMATION SHEET FOR FUTURE REFERENCE 

In order to accomplish the highest quality of results in the shortest time, and for everyone’s convenience, we ask you to: 

1. Keep all appointments. Remember a time has been reserved for you. Missed adjustments can delay completion time or cause us to lose control of your treatment. If you are unable to keep an appointment, please call ahead of time so that we can reschedule you another time. We will do our best to arrange appointment times that are convenient to you, but on some occasions this may be impossible. Especially if you have to reschedule a missed appointment. 
   
2. Follow all instructions most carefully. Wear the elastics (rubber bands), head gears, or removable appliances as prescribed. 
   
3. Continue to keep your check up and cleaning appointment during orthodontic treatment. Bands do not cause decay and will not be placed over an area in which there is decay, however, decay can occur on areas unprotected by the bands and these areas should be checked every six months. 
   
4. Please avoid really hard foods, foods that are sticky and high in sugar content. These foods can break the cement seal of the bands and destroy the delicate orthodontic archwires. Try not to chew ice, avoid caramels, taffy, hard sticky candy. Be careful with popcorn; the husks can get caught under the wires and brackets and under the gum tissues. 
   
5. Occasionally a bond or band will become loose. It can usually be left until your next scheduled appointment, but please call to check. 
   
6. If the bands or wires bother your lips, gums, cheeks, or tongue, place a small piece of soft wax, or cotton or sugarless gum over the offending bracket, tube or wire. Such irritation will usually disappear after a day or two; but if it doesn’t, please call for an emergency visit. You are not to suffer! 
   
7. Occasionally a wire may break and poke you in the cheek or lip. If you are unable to bend it out of the way using a spoon, or cut it off with a nail clipper, place the wax provided, sugarless gum or cotton over the wire until you can come in to have it repaired.
   
8. It is important that you floss and brush your teeth and bands after eating and before going to bed. Poor oral hygiene habits can result in undesirable marks on the teeth, discoloration of teeth and brackets, and swollen gum tissue. If teeth are not cleaned, the enamel may get decalcified. It may leave permanent white spots on teeth after the braces are removed. 
   
9. Wear your retainers. Severely rotated or displaced teeth have a tendency to return to some degree to their original position. This is call relapse. Full cooperation in wearing the retainer is vital. 
   
10. Potential risks and limitations. In some cases, the roots of the teeth are shortened or blunted during treatment. This is called root resorption. There is also a risk that a joint problem may flare up during orthodontic treatment. Non vital of dead tooth may become noticeable. Lack of facial growth and delayed eruption of teeth can all complicate and delay orthodontic treatment. 

In some cases, after appliances are inserted, or after periodic treatment visits, you may complain of a general soreness of the mouth or tenderness of the teeth. Aspirin or Tylenol may be taken every four hours while the tenderness continues. If the soreness does not lessen after 3 – 4 days, you are advised to phone for an appointment so that an adjustment can be made. The length of time treatment takes varies with the severity of the malocclusion, the interest and co-operation of the patient and the response of the tissue to tooth movement. Every effort will be made to obtain the maximum results in the minimum amount of time. 

We thank you for the confidence you have placed in us. If any questions or problems should arise during the course of the treatment, please ask the dentist or the staff so we can discuss them. 

A smile is forever!

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