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Orthodontics For All Ages
 Children and Early Treatments
The
American Association of Orthodontists recommends that
children should see an orthodontist no later than age
seven. Children are constantly growing, so catching
problems with jaw growth and tooth development early
allows us to capitalize on natural growth and jaw
development and normalize many growth issues as they
occur to create a straight and healthy smile. Problems
such as oversized or undersized jaws, crowding, thumb
and finger sucking, and crossbites may be corrected
early and prevent future issues as the teeth and jaw
relationships develop.
 Adolescents and Teens
When the permanent teeth erupt,
each patient should be monitored for orthodontic
treatment. Issues with tooth alignment, crowding,
spacing, jaw positions, and occlusion (bite), which can
cause dental problems in the future, are often more
easily treated while adolescents are still growing. In
fact, missing out on this important phase of growth may
mean that surgery or tooth extractions are more likely
later on.
Adult Orthodontics
 Orthodontic treatment can
be successful at any age, and adults especially
appreciate the benefits of a beautiful smile. For
adults, the appearance of braces may be a concern. Dr.
Jones is happy to offer esthetic alternatives to
conventional metal braces.
Adult orthodontic treatment
is similar to treatment in adolescents, but there are
some differences. Adults may have experienced some
breakdown or loss of their teeth and bone that supports
the teeth and may require gum and dental treatment in
conjunction with orthodontics. Also, more frequent
cleanings at the dentist's office are often required to
maintain healthy gums and teeth. During your orthodontic
consultation, Dr. Jones will explain the best procedures
and cleaning schedules to follow in order to make your
treatment comfortable and healthy.
Your
comfort during orthodontic treatment is very important
to us! We hope that your experience with braces will be
positive. Some soreness is to be expected, especially
during the first few days with your new braces. True
orthodontic emergencies are very rare, and most issues
can be resolved at home. If you are experiencing severe
pain or have a problem you aren't able to resolve at
home, call the office so that we can help you resolve
your problem or schedule an appointment to correct it.
When you call, it is important to describe the problem
and which part of your braces is causing it so we can
adequately alleviate the issue. Here are some common
issues and some ways to help relieve braces discomfort:
Pokey Wires
As teeth shift, the wires may also shift.
Most wires have either a dimple or some markings between
the front two teeth. If the wire shifts, the dimples or
markings will appear off center. By sliding the wire
back on-center the pokey wire may feel better. Use your
fingers or a tweezers to help slide the wire on-center.
If the poking persists, you may use some wax to cover
the end of the wire poking you. Wax is safe and
effective; don't be afraid to cover any and all
irritating areas with it. Wax sticks better when teeth
and braces are dry, so try swallowing and keeping the
area as dry as possible before applying the wax. As a
last resort, a pair of nail clippers can be used to clip
small poking wires.
If a wire that is wrapped around a
bracket becomes pokey, use an eraser or the dull end of
a spoon to tuck the poking wire close to the tooth to
relieve the problem.
If a wire comes out of one of the
brackets, try using tweezers to re-place the wire into
the bracket.
Loose Brackets or Bands
Most loose brackets
or bands are a result of eating foods on the do not eat
list we'll give you at your first appointment. That
being said, loose brackets do happen sometimes and are
not an emergency in most cases. If the bracket or band
that is loose comes off of the wire, save it and use wax
or cotton to cover any poking wires until we can see
you. If the loose bracket stays on the wire, leave it
there and use wax to keep it from becoming irritating.
Please call our office and let us know when a band or
bracket becomes loose.
Headgear or Rubber Bands are Sore
Headgear and rubber bands take several days to get used
to at first. Wear them as your orthodontist instructs.
They need to be worn as much as prescribed in order for
the soreness to go away. If headgear or elastics (rubber
bands) are still causing soreness after a week, they may
need to be adjusted, call our office for instructions.
Sore Teeth, Lips, and Cheeks
Soreness is normal for the
first few days after braces are placed or adjusted. Lips
and cheeks will become tougher over time, so take heart
Initially, you may need to take some pain-killers
(whichever you use for a headache works well for braces
pain). Warm salt-water rinses (one teaspoon in a cup of
warm water) help soothe sore areas. Ease your way into
eating. Soft foods chewed slowly will help you get used
to eating and reduce pain. Keep your cheeks and mouth
hydrated, drink plenty of water and use lip balm to
prevent cheek and lip irritation. Most importantly, use
wax! Wax will be your best friend as you get used to
your braces.
It is not unusual for teeth to get loose
when they are moved. This looseness is a normal part of
the process and the teeth will firm back up when the
orthodontic movement stops.
Foods to Avoid
- Sticky foods (gum, taffy, caramel)
- Chewy food (jerky, chewy bagels)
- Hard food (ice, croutons, nuts, hard candy, popcorn)
Foods to cut up
Apples, corn on the
cob, carrots, and other similar foods should be cut into
small pieces before you eat them. Eat them in small
bites to avoid problems with your braces.
Care for Your
Braces/Brushing
It is extremely important that you care
for your braces and appliances exactly as your
orthodontist and his staff demonstrate. Do not chew on
your fingernails, pens, pencils, or any other hard
objects, as this will often cause loose or broken
appliances. Braces that are broken or bent do not work
properly and this may mean that your orthodontic
treatment lasts longer and costs more money than if you
take proper care. Braces should be thoroughly brushed
three times each day. Teeth should be flossed in between
the braces at least once each day. Brush for four to
five minutes each time you brush. It takes patience, but
you can get your braces sparkling clean each time. Look
closely in the mirror when you are done. If you see any
food or white, fuzzy plaque, brush again. Your
orthodontist will show you the proper tools to clean
your braces thoroughly. These tools can be bought in any
grocery or drug store.
Mouth Guards
Athletes should
wear mouth guard when they play sports. We recommend the
Shock Doctor Braces guard. If you are hit in the mouth
during sports or activities, check your braces and
appliances for looseness or damage. If something is
loose or damaged call our office. Use wax and pain
reliever as necessary until we can schedule you an
appointment.
Expanders
When turning the expander, make
sure the key is in the hole and that it is turned toward
the arrow (toward the back of the mouth). If you are
unable to keep your scheduled appointment, stop turning
the expander.
Elastics (Rubber Bands)
Wear rubber bands
as instructed because the rubber bands work far more
efficiently if they are worn as prescribed (most of the
time this means 24 hours/day 7 days/week). Forgetting or
neglecting to wear your rubber bands, even for one day,
will allow the teeth to drift back to their previous
positions. This will extend your treatment time
significantly. Rubber bands can be worn while you eat.
This takes some time to get used to, but helps your
teeth move faster. During the first few days of using
the elastics your teeth will be sore, but as soon as the
teeth get used to the new pressure, the soreness will
disappear. As long as you continue to wear your
elastics, the teeth will not be sore again. However, if
you don’t wear your elastics all day, every day, you may
experience the one to two days of soreness again. Make
sure you have enough elastics before you leave the
office. Take as many packs as you need. If you run out
or lose them, come in and pick some up or call our
office and we will mail some to you.
Your First Visit
At your first visit to the
orthodontist, we will perform a diagnostic exam. We will
take a panoramic x-ray of your teeth and Dr. Jones will
take a close look at your teeth and make some
measurements. Every part of the first visit is very
comfortable and does not hurt at all. We will discuss
what we see with your teeth and let you know if
orthodontic treatment is right for you. If treatment is
recommended, we will give you an estimate of the cost
and the length of treatment. We can then schedule you
for a set of diagnostic records to determine the best
course of treatment.
Complete diagnostic records
typically include a set of models of the teeth, photos
of the patient's face and teeth, and X-rays. This
information is used to develop a custom treatment plan
for each patient. These records are also helpful in
tracking the progress of treatment as the teeth move
under orthodontic care. Once the records are taken and
have been thoroughly examined, you will be ready for
your braces or orthodontic appliances.
Regular Appointments
The appointment when you get your
appliances (braces, expanders, etc.) usually takes from
one to two hours. You'll then see us at regular
intervals 4 to 8 weeks apart for an adjustment, which
takes 20 to 40 minutes. Patients are seen by appointment
only. We make every effort to be on time for our
patients, and ask that you extend the same courtesy to
us. If you cannot keep an appointment, please notify us
immediately.
Retainers
- Your teeth are guaranteed to
shift over time if your retainers are not worn as
prescribed.
- Retainers should be worn for your lifetime;
if they are, you can keep your teeth straight and
beautiful!
- Wear your retainers full time, until the
doctor instructs otherwise. Initially, you may find it
difficult to speak. Practice speaking, reading, or
singing aloud to get used to them faster.
- Take your
retainers out when eating... and always put retainers in
their case! (Most appliances are lost in school
lunchrooms or at restaurants when they are left on a
tray, wrapped in a napkin, and thrown away.)
- Remove retainers when swimming.
- Keep retainers away from hot
water, hot car dashboards, pockets, the washing machine,
and pets (they love to chew on retainers!)
- Clean retainers thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush. Use
warm but not hot water. Brushing retainers removes the
plaque and eliminates odors. Efferdent or other
orthodontic appliance cleaners can be used but these do
not take the place of brushing. Ask Dr. Jones about
purchasing an inexpensive ultrasonic retainer cleaner to
help keep your retainers clean.
- Retainers are breakable,
so treat them with care. If retainers are lost or broken
call us immediately to prevent shifting of your teeth.
- If you notice that your permanent retainer has become
loose from one of your teeth, call us so that it can be
repaired. If it is left loose, your teeth can shift.
- If you have any questions or concerns about your retainers,
or your retainers need adjusting, do not try to adjust
them yourself- call us!
- Always bring your retainers to
your appointments.
Retainer replacement is
expensive…with proper care they will last for years!
Cost
The cost of treatment
depends on the severity of the patient's problem. You
will be able to discuss fees and payment options before
treatment begins. We have payment plans to suit
different budgets. We also accept assignment from most
insurance plans, and file the necessary papers to the
insurance company. We work hard to make orthodontics
affordable.
Fees
In an effort to keep orthodontic fees
down while maintaining the highest level of professional
care, we have established this financial policy: If full
payment is made at the onset of treatment, we will offer
a courtesy discount. (If you have insurance, we will
offer a discount for payment of your portion of the fee
that will not be covered by insurance.) To fit your
individual needs, financial arrangements can be made to
extend your payments over a period of months. For your
convenience, we accept payment by VISA and MASTERCARD.
In cases of serious delinquency, treatment will be
discontinued, although we will make every effort to
accommodate patients with temporary difficulties.
Insurance
If you have insurance, we will help you to
determine the coverage you have available. We ask that
you assign your insurance benefit to us. We will help in
every way we can in filing your claim and handling
insurance questions from our office on your behalf.
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