The process of getting your braces is simple. We bond the brackets on with Orthodontic Composite and place a wire.

You may not feel any pain for the first hour or two but after you may feel the soreness of your teeth.

We recommend eating softer foods and drinking ice-cold seltzer water to relieve any possible pain.

This soreness/pain should only last 2-3 days.

There may be a chance that a bracket or wire is causing irritation to your cheek. To help heal and stop the irritation you may use wax or sugarless gum on the bracket that may be causing that irritation.

If you think you have a broken bracket or wire feel free to give us a call to repair any issues you may be having.

You will be coming in every 5 weeks to change your o-tie colors and get an adjustment done.

There may be 1-2 visits within the treatment where the patient will have to come in for a longer appointment to adjust the position of brackets for better alignment.

Keeping your teeth clean should be your number one priority with or without braces on.

You should be keeping up with your regular general dentist appointment every 6 months.

You should be brushing with a soft bristle brush twice a day and flossing every day. If you have trouble with flossing we recommend you invest in a ‘Waterpik’.

Because you have appliances on your teeth it may be a little more difficult to clean your teeth well.

When cleaning you want to make sure you are brushing at an angle and in circular motions all across your teeth evenly.

You should see no ‘fuzzy’ areas which may be a build-up of plaque on the teeth.

If poor oral hygiene care is not taken care of throughout the treatment there may be a chance that you will be left with ‘white spots’ after we remove the braces.

If it comes to a point where the hygiene is too severe we may have to remove the appliances altogether.

Elastics may be given to you during your duration of treatment with us.

They are most commonly given when we are in need of aligning a patient’s bite.

This can include an overjet (upper teeth are forward), overbite (upper teeth are covering too much of the lower teeth), and a reverse overjet (the lower teeth are covering the front teeth).

When and if you are given elastics compliance with wearing them is an important part of treatment.

You are to wear the elastics 22/23 hours a day. Unless otherwise told by the doctor. Take them off only when you are brushing your teeth. You may try and eat with them on but if you are not able to you may remove them.

Wearing them for only 12 hours a day will not do much to the alignment of your bite. You are just giving your teeth the same amount of time it takes to reverse back to your original bite.

Not wearing your elastics as directed by the doctor may prolong your treatment time. It can prolong it up to 1 year!

If you ever run out of elastics feel free to stop by the office and ask for a new bag.

Q: Does it hurt getting the braces on?

At the bonding appointment the doctor will place the brackets on the teeth using composite. Cheek retractors are used for moisture control, but the entire procedure is painless. The wires are then engaged to the brackets by the o-tie colors. The patient may begin to experience soreness a few hours after their bonding, and will need to eat soft foods for several days. Eating immediately after the bonding is allowed.

Q: What am I not allowed to eat?

In order to prevent breaking any brackets, patients must avoid eating hard foods. Very sticky foods like taffy can also cause the o-ties or wires to move. Refer to the braces instructions here.

Q: How often are braces adjustments?

We typically schedule the adjustment appointments every 4-5 weeks, depending on what the doctor feels is needed. We have patients come in sooner for emergency visits if anything is bothering them.

Q: Do I still need to see my general dentist?

Yes! While we provide orthodontic treatment we do ask that you continue to see your general dentist every 6 months for checkups and cleanings.