Broken braces are not an immediate emergency, but please call us as soon as possible to schedulable an appointment to repair the broken brace even if it close to your next visit or the same day as your visit. Any appointment that involves the placement of braces must be done between the hours of 9am and 3pm as longer visits are offered during the day and not before or after school. Most breakages can be prevented by an appropriate diet and breakages delay your treatment.
Elastics or rubber bands are used to help move your teeth from one place to another. If the rubber bands are not worn as directed the teeth will not move and treatment will be prolonged. These little things play a very important role in getting you out of braces. Below is a list of things you should be familiar with:
· Elastics should be worn twenty-four hours a day unless you have been told otherwise.
· Remove them only when you brush your teeth or eat meals. Put them around a finger so that you will remember to put them back in immediately afterwards.
· Carry extra elastics with you all the time. If one should break, and they will, you can then replace it immediately.
· Should you lose them or run low, please call us so that we can adivise you on a time to pick them up or we can mail you more. We do not want you to lose any wear time.
· Sometimes the teeth will get sore when the elastics are started. Usually, this soreness lasts only a few days. Wearing elastics sporadically will also cause tooth soreness and makes it difficult to move the teeth.
· Do not double up on your elastics to make up for lost time. It does not work and you could actually shock the tooth which will lock it up in the bone preventing it from moving the way that we want it to move.
· Elastics will lose their strength after a period of time so you should change them at least twice a day.
· Your elastics may be difficult to put on in the beginning. After a few days of practice, placing the elastics will become very easy.
· If for some reason, you cannot wear your elastics as you have been instructed, please call our office for an appointment so that we can either reinstruct you or fix the problem that is preventing you from getting them on. This is not considered an emergency but we do want to fix the problem ASAP.
POOR ELASTIC WEAR WILL INCREASE YOUR TREATMENT TIME
**REMEMBER: THE EFFORT YOU MAKE EQUALS THE RESULTS YOU WILL ACHIEVE**
We recognize that emergency situations do arise. Our team will do our best to respond immediately. If we cannot be reached at the office at (905) 789-8888 (Trinity), 905-791-1618 (Brampton) or (905) 949-6688 (Mississauga), the doctors' home telephone numbers are in the Thornhill and Toronto phone books. There is no need to call your family dentist.
The success of your orthodontic treatment is highly dependent on YOU! Regardless of the type of device you have, not following your customized instructions will result in a less than perfect bite and a longer treatment time. We need you as part of our team!
Have you been wondering what to do about a mouthguard now that you have braces? You may want or be required to wear a mouthguard during sports. When an athlete is in braces, it is advisable to purchase a moldable mouth guard. Please remember to always remold your mouth guard very frequently. As your teeth shift the shape of your mouth will also change. Remolding your mouthguard will help to prevent breakages. Moldable mouthguards can be purchased at most sporting stores.
Once you start orthodontic treatment you have joined the orthodontic team. We all want you to have a beautiful, healthy smile - you are the one who must keep your teeth and gums healthy - we'll take care of straightening your teeth. Remember to brush at least twice a day, rinse, and look to make sure your teeth and gums are spotless. Teeth can develop cavities and permanent stains; gums can become sore and swollen without brushing regularly. The best type of toothbrush is the one that gets used. An interproximal "Proxy" brush and special dental floss are recommended as other aids to keep your teeth and gums clean.
We will provide you with all of the supplies you need to keep your mouth clean during treatment. And remember to go to YOUR FAMILY DENTIST for regular cleanings!
After the braces are removed; everyone is given individually prescribed retainers. There are many types of retainers. Some retainers you can remove and some are attached to your teeth. Wearing your retainers as prescribed by your orthodontist is a very important part of treatment. Retainers keep your smile beautiful and your teeth straight. Generally, you wear retainers for life.
With braces, you should not eat any foods that are very sticky, hard or high in sugar. For example avoid eating taffy, and apples have to be cut. Eating these foods can lead to breakages of the braces or cavities, both of which can result in a longer treatment time.