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Tooth cleaning
Brush with a toothbrush and toothpaste
very firmly around the brackets under the wire and where the
tooth meets the gum. If you have a removable brace clean this
one at the same time as you clean your teeth. If your gums bleed
please brush them even more.
Healthy gums do not bleed.
After brush rinsing (e.g. Fluorigard) hardens the surface enamel
and reduces the activity of Plaque.
Brushing is the only way to remove Plaque. Mouthwashes are only
an aid.
In order to check that you have been successful with your brushing
use disclosing tablets to stain any remaining Plaque.
If you are unable to keep your teeth clean there is a high chance
of permanent marking.
Re-
booking appointments
Appointments will be four to ten weekly
intervals during treatment this means that some school time
will be missed.
We are usually booked for 4-6 weeks and if your Orthodontist
is undergoing a postgraduate course or on annual leave this
time may be longer. Therefore if you need to re-arrange an appointment
expect a delay of 4 - 6 weeks. An early notification would be
appreciated.
Popular appointment time are inevitably at 9.00 and 4.00 therefore
if you have to have these times your overall treatment duration
may well increase.
We do not allow advance booking of appointments unless there
are exceptional circumstances.
Parents
attending with patients
After the initial consultation there is
no need for the patient to be accompanied.
Retention
at the end of treatment
I
hope that you will be pleased with the result. It is important
to realise that teeth are not static. That is they will not
stay in the position they were at the end of treatment unless
you retain them permanently.
Certain initial tooth positions are more likely to return than
others. These are rotated teeth, very protruding teeth, deep
bites and crowded lower teeth.
Your facial shape changes with age and the teeth alter their
position slightly to accommodate these changes. For example
the most common change with age is lower incisor crowding; this
is especially so in people who have inherited a crowded mouth
even if teeth have been extracted. The only way to guarantee
no change is to wear the retainers at least once a week. Be
reassured. Significant change is unlikely, however, if you want
to keep things exactly as they are, keep wearing the retainers!
You
may be treated by a dentist under supervision of your orthodontist
at any point during treatment.
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