They day has come for you to get your braces on. You may be feeling mixed emotions and some anxiety surrounding this appointment. Here at Veil & Wild Orthodontics we strive to make this appointment as stress free as possible. The good news, getting your braces on is completely PAIN FREE!
When you arrive for your appointment you will check in at the front desk and one of our assistants will call you back to the clinic. You get to relax in one of our comfy chairs and your assistant will review the entire appointment with you. The first step is to clean your teeth of any debris or plaque. The assistant will you a special polishing tool similar to a cleaning at the regular dentist. We then condition the teeth with a two step system. The first conditioner we use is a blue soap and we will rinse that off with water and air. The second conditioner is clear and goes on with a fun little mini paint brush. Similar to painting a nail polish on your finger nails. Next, we place individual brackets (braces) on each tooth. The doctor (either Dr. Veil or Dr. Wild) will come over and adjust the position of the brackets on the teeth. Once the position has been finalized by the doctor, an assistant will use a special light that sets the glue very quickly. The glue is the adhesive that bonds the brackets (braces) to the tooth surface. Each bracket requires 10 seconds of light activation. You now officially have your braces on! Next, patients pick color ties that will hold the wire into the braces. These colors will be switched out each adjustment appointment. You can choose as many colors as you would like.
Now that you have your braces on, you may be wondering how to care for them. At Veil & Wild Orthodontics we take oral hygiene very seriously and are always checking to make sure you are taking proper care of your teeth at each appointment. The assistant will review how to brush and floss your teeth with braces on and it is very important you pay attention to this part. Feel free to ask your assistant any questions you may have. It is also important to keep up on your regular dental cleanings every 6 months. Your hygienist will be able to clean around your braces with ease. Commonly missed areas are near the gum line, below the brackets on the lower teeth and above the brackets on the upper teeth. It is very important to locate the toothbrush along the gum line during brushing. If neglected the gum tissue will become enlarged and inflamed. Pressure with the tooth brush should remain light when brushing. Too much pressure and the gum tissue will bleed and become painful. A light massaging pressure in the right spots is all that is needed. Electric toothbrushes are encourage with braces. Any head type is ok. It does not need to be a braces specific head. Electric toothbrushes make it easier for patients, especially kids, as it requires less dexterity to locate and angle the tooth brush underneath and around the braces.
You can expect to feel some mild to moderate discomfort within 24-48 hours after getting your braces on. The discomfort usually lasts a day or so, but can sometimes last up to a week. Your assistant will review that you can take some Tylenol/Ibuprofen to alleviate the discomfort. The good news is, following the initial discomfort of the braces, your teeth won’t feel that way ever again! When you come in for your braces adjustment appointments your teeth will sometimes feel tighter, but rarely are they as uncomfortable as the first week. Soft tissue irritation of the lips and cheeks is also very common during the first few days and weeks. The lips and cheeks have to adjust to the new texture of the braces and wires. During this time it is helpful to use wax on the braces to prevent sores inside the mouth. The assistant will show you how place wax on the braces. Wax is also helpful for pokey wires that may occur throughout treatment.
There are certain foods you will need to stay away from with braces on. Your assistant will review the list with you. The brackets (braces) are temporarily adhered to the teeth but the bond strength is not strong enough to resist the forces of certain hard, sticky, or chewy foods. If brackets are frequently coming loose or unattached from the teeth is can slow down the progress of treatment and extend your time in brace. So chewy and sticky foods are NOT permitted with braces (ie. Laffy taffy, caramels, skittles, gummy bears, sweedish fish etc). You also need to be careful biting into certain crunchy or hard such as apples and bagels. You will also need to limit your consumption of sodas and sugary beverages to keep your teeth cavity free. Make sure to bring up any food related questions you may have to your assistant and she will let you know if that food is off limits or not with your braces on.
What happens next? Now that your braces are on you will visit our office every 6-8 weeks for adjustment appointments that can last anywhere from 20-40 minutes. Most visits you will not experience discomfort like the first visit. HANG IN THERE! We promise you will get used to them and it will be well worth it. If you ever have any concerns or questions don’t hesitate to contact our office. We are here to help!
Welcome to our office. We are so happy to include you in our family of patients!
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