If a separator falls out and you know where it came out, use dental floss in that space. If floss passes easily between the teeth and only a couple of days remain before the banding, it is okay. If the space is tight, call for an appointment for us to replace the separator.
Separators and new wires cause the teeth to be sensitive to pressure. Chewing on the Thera- Bite (rubber wafer) for fifteen minutes immediately after placement helps minimize tenderness. Ibuprofen, aspirin, or Tylenol are also useful. The tenderness should end in two or three days. Warm salt water (one teaspoon of table salt in a half a glass of hot water) "swished" in the mouth also helps.
The brackets and bands are rough at first and may cause the soft tissues to become sore. Usually the tissues toughen, but in the meanwhile, soft wax placed over the offending hardware will smooth it out. Also, warm salt water helps. Over-the-counter ointments like Zilactin help healing. We will also place rubber covers over the hardware to avoid this irritation.
Sometimes archwires bow out into the cheeks and irritate the soft tissue. A ball of cotton over the wire, at least during sleep, relieves the cheek from this pressure. Occasionally loops in the archwire irritate the lips or gums, and this requires us to adjust the wire. Salt water will help until you can get in to see us. You will receive a starter kit when you get your braces on. The kit includes everything you need to insure that your first days of braces are comfortable.
We are happy to provide a mouth guard to protect against sport injuries. They are also useful to wear during sleep to prevent damage from tooth grinding. If you have an accident, your lips may be cut and the braces may be partly loosened. If you are concerned, please call the office during business hours or page the doctor after office hours.
Loosening of the teeth is common throughout treatment. This is normal and should not upset you. The teeth will again become rigidly fixed following removal of the appliances. Teeth must loosen first so they can move to their new positions.
We have special appointment times available at specific times each day. Each day at our morning meeting, a specific time is allocated for special appointments. If you feel you have a need for this type of appointment, you will be asked to come during this time only. As a general rule, a special appointment may be made when there is pain, a loose band, a broken archwire, or something sticking out that you can't take care of. It's important to learn the names of the parts of the appliances. It will help when you call the office to be able to identify what is broken or out of place.
Roncone Orthodontics | 221 Main Street, Suite 100, Vista, CA 92084 | Phone: (760) 758-0630 | Fax: (760) 758-5466
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