ORTHODONTIC PATIENT INSTRUCTION SHEET

First appointment separating elastics have now been placed on your teeth…..
There are certain things you will experience: –

Discomfort from the

1.  The separating elastics – they will feel like you have something stuck between your teeth. Please do not remove them with a toothpick or by using floss. They are needed to create space for the molar bands that will be placed on your molars in seven day’s time.

2. Brackets – theses can cause mechanical irritation to the cheeks and lips over the next few days. Making them feel rough and raw. Nothing to worry about. The lips and cheeks will eventually strengthen up.

The arch wires although we bend them behind the last tooth, can rotate and irritate the cheeks. It is your responsibility to check your mouth and feel for anything sharp that is irritating you, before you leave the rooms, so that we can remove the irritation or give you some wax to protect your cheeks. These wires can irritate the cheeks as the arch form changes and as the arch wires move from left to right due to the pumping action of chewing.

3. Tender teeth/ slightly loose teeth – your teeth will become tender over the period of your orthodontic treatment especially when new arch wires (Bent Wire System) and elastic bands are placed. Please always bring this to the attention of the doctor. It needs
to be monitored.

4. Inflammation – In order for teeth to move through solid boneLoose wires (Bent Wire System) –is activated to move teeth both backwards, forwards and in width. With young children this activation is small and tends to loosen in within 2 to 3 weeks. Please call and book an appointment to tighten the BWS or the patient might play with it causing it to fall out. If it does fall out (no panic) please keep it in a packet and bring it in for replacement.

5. Brushing your teeth – Please note the brushing technique is different to when you had no braces. You are expected to brush:-

• Twice daily minimum
• Rinse once daily recommended
• over the brackets and wires,
• from the top down and
• from the bottom up.
• Two teeth at a time for a minimum of five seconds.
• Your gums must be massaged, or they will start swelling because of lack of stimulation (keratin).

We recommend that you must brush your teeth and gums carefully in the morning, evening and each time you eat something (Even snacks). Remember to take a toothbrush to school or work (a travel toothbrush, is very handy for this purpose). If it is not convenient to brush, at least rinse your mouth with water after eating.

All the bands and wires should be free of food particles and plague and the orthodontic appliance should shine. If not completely clean brush them again. We recommend that you use a fluoride containing mouth rinse such as listerfluor.After brushing, rinse your mouth with capful for one minute. spit out and do not rinse with water. Try not to eat or drink for half an hour after rinsing.

NB!! Poor tooth brushing will lead to bracket failure tooth decay. Permanent stains on your teeth and swollen or bleeding gums.

FOOD AND EATING HABITS

Certain foods can damage, break or bend your appliances and should be avoided during your treatment. HARD FOOD bends wires and breaks off brackets. STICKY FOOD bends wires and loosens cement. Highly SWEETENED FOOD &DRINKS cause tooth decay and if frequently used while your braces are on, will cause white decalcification rings on the teeth after we remove the braces.

• Diet – please follow the principles below
• Soft foods (no hard diet)
• cut all food into small pieces
• chew with your back teeth
• chew gently.
• Do not use your front teeth to bite through anything.
• No hard sweets (toffies, candies), pop corn and sticky foods
• Sports – use a mouthguard. Contact receptionist – we can make it here
• Breaking of brackets – a repair fee of will be charged per bracket

DO NOT EAT:

• Sweets, toffees or chewing gum
• Hard crusted bread or bread rolls
• Mielies as in corn on the cob
• Any food with a high sugar content
• Don’t eat off a bone e.g., Chops. Cut the meat off into small pieces before eating it.
• Do not eat tough meat, ice
• DON’T DRINK –Lemon juice or any drinks with a high sugar or acid content

BE CAREFUL! –Cut apples into wedges and cut raw carrots, celery etc. Into small pieces before eating.

EMERGENCIES

LOOSE BRANDS, BRACKETS /BENT WIRES /BROKEN APPLIANCES

• If your appliances are broken or bent, your teeth will not move,In fact they will move where we dont want them to move
• And this will mean wearing your braces longer.
• Make an appointment to see us immediately
• Bring all bits &pieces of broken appliances with you

WIRES THAT HURT

If catching your lips or cheeks on the brace is painful, apply a small piece of cotton wool and ‘snag’ it onto the wire to let the sore heal .Alternatively , place a small blob of wax, which you can get from us, onto the offending wire or bracket.

LOST APPLIANCES

Make an appointment to see us immediately.

RETENTION

At the completion of active treatment-which normally lasts for about 2 years you will begin the period of retention. To retain teeth means to hold them in their new positions until the tissues,i.e. the bones ,the elastic attachment around the root, the gums, the tongue and the lips have adapted themselves to the new tooth positions. without retention, teeth will move from their new positions.

PROFESSIONAL FEES

Your treatment is in your own interest. Poor co-operation and compliance will only extend treatment time and cost. It is therefore important that you understand these instructions.

Please contact us if clarification of this instruction or additional information is required.

Always keep a positive attitude, stay motivated, remember the value and benefit of your commitment to treatment.
And the journey will become easy, proactive and beneficial to your growth and development.

You are worth it ……invest in yourself now and reap the rewards later.