Active Retainer
What does it do?
The small wires on the retainer move the teeth that are not lined correctly to where they should be.
How long will it take?
Everyone is a little different, but most people wear their retainers about a year.
How much should I wear it?
All the time! It should only be removed to brush it or rinse it off.
Can I take it off to eat?
Try not to! Most retainers are lost by people taking them off to eat and forgetting them in lunch bags, napkins, on cafeteria trays, etc.
Taking care of it
It must be kept very clean. Brush it with your toothbrush at least three times everyday. Rinse it off if you do not have a toothbrush with you. Do not take it out and leave it someplace, or in the pocket of your backpack because it will break. Remember not to start a habit of flipping your retainer up and down in your mouth.
It if hurts or breaks
Call the office so that we can arrange a special appointment to adjust or repair it. If you lose or break it beyond repair, there will be a replacement charge.
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Forward-Pull Headgear Appliance
What does it do?
It corrects your under bite by holding the growth of your lower jaw and encouraging the upper jaw to grow and catch up so that the jaws can fit better together.
How long does it take?
Usually most people wear the headgear for about a year. Sometimes it takes a little longer. Sometimes it needs to be worn again later during times of growth.
How much do I have to wear it?
It needs to be worn between 12-16 hours a day. It you wear it a lot it will work faster! The less you wear it, the longer the treatment will take. If you wear it very little, it won’t work at all.
When it should not be worn?
Take it out to eat, brush your teeth, and for active sports like soccer, football or swimming. Also remove it whenever you are rough housing with your friends!
Taking care of it
If you take it out put it in a safe place. It’s expensive to replace! It must be kept very clean so brush it with your toothbrush everyday. Don’t put it in your pocket or leave it in a lunch bag at school or on a cafeteria tray.
It if hurts, breaks or becomes lost?
Call the office so that we can arrange to have you in for a special appointment to adjust or repair it. It you lose it or break it beyond repair, there will be a replacement charge!
Your visits to the office
Please remember to bring your headgear to each appointment so that we can make sure that it is working and fitting properly by making the proper adjustments!
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Functional Appliance
What does it do?
It corrects your overbite by helping your lower jaw grow to fit your upper jaw.
How long will it take?
Usually most overbites can be fixed in about a year. Sometimes it takes a little longer.
How much do I have to wear it?
It needs to be worn almost all of the time. If you wear it a lot it will work faster! The less you wear it, the longer the treatment will take. If you wear it very little, it won’t work at all.
When it shouldn’t be worn
Take it out to eat, to brush your teeth and for active sports like soccer, football or swimming.
Taking care of it
If you take it out put it into the case we gave you. It’s expensive to replace! It must be kept very clean so brush it with your toothbrush three times every day. Don’t leave it in your lunch bag or on a cafeteria tray. Don’t put it in your pocket or backpack if it isn’t in the protective case.
If it hurts or breaks
Call the office so that we can arrange to have you in for a special appointment to adjust or repair it. If you lose it or break it beyond repair, there will be a replacement charge!
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Headgear
What does it do?
It corrects your overbite by holding the growth of your upper jaw and allowing the lower jaw to grow and catch up so that the jaws can fit better together.
How long does it take?
Usually most overbites can be fixed in about a year. Sometimes it takes a little longer.
How much do I have to wear it?
It needs to be worn between 12-16 hours a day. If you wear it a lot it will work faster! The less you wear it, the longer the treatment will take. If you wear it very little, it won’t work at all.
When it should not be worn?
Take it out to eat, brush your teeth, and for active sports like soccer, football, or swimming. Also remove it whenever you are rough housing with your friends!
Taking care of it
If you take it out, put it in a safe place. It’s expensive to replace! It must be kept very clean so brush it with your toothbrush everyday. Don’t put it in your pocket or leave it in a lunch bag at school or on a cafeteria tray.
If it hurts, breaks, or becomes lost?
Call the office so that we can arrange to have you in for a special appointment to adjust or repair it. If you lose it or break it beyond repair, there will be a replacement charge!
Your visits to the office
Please remember to bring your headgear to each appointment so that we can make sure that it is working and fitting properly by making the proper adjustments!
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Lingual Arch
What does it do?
The lingual arch can act as a space maintainer. This will allow enough space for the other permanent teeth to grow in after your primary (baby) teeth have been lost. Otherwise, sometimes the other permanent teeth can drift into the space meant for the new teeth to come.
The active lingual arch can also be adjusted to create space. Although the bands around the molar teeth are cemented into place, the lingual arch wire can be removed by us to be activated. However, you will not be able to remove it yourself.
Will it hurt?
During the first day or two you may experience some soreness of your back molar teeth and sometimes the front incisor teeth. This is especially true when we are using it to create space. It will feel like pressure and may hurt to chew. This is normal and to be expected. At first, you may want to eat a soft diet which may include yogurt, noodles, rice, scrambled eggs and ice cream! At least until the soreness goes away. Sometimes the tenderness requires taking Tylenol or Advil or what you might take for a headache.
How do I take care of my lingual arch?
You must clean very carefully around the bands that are connected to the molar teeth. This includes brushing the inside and especially around the gums. The bands are a food trap and can cause gum infections or cavities to form if not cleaned well and regularly. Also, please try to clean the wire on the tongue side to prevent the same kind of problems with the gums and to keep cavities from forming.
How long will I need to wear it?
This varies. We will need to check you regularly to monitor the growth of the new teeth and to be sure that the lingual arch is maintained and cleaned properly. We will also need to adjust it from time to time. It is usually removed after all of the permanent teeth have emerged.
Can I take it out?
No. Only we can remove the arch wire when we need to adjust it. If anything becomes loose and moves around your teeth, please call us as soon as possible to make an appointment so we can repair the problem.
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Quad-Helix Expander
What does it do?
The quad-helix expander is cemented into place and is activated at each visit by adjusting the wires attached to the appliance. This activation will spread your palate to make your upper jaw wider. This way, space can be created and will help the upper jaw and teeth fit more properly with your lower jaw and teeth.
How long will it take?
The actual expansion will occur during your initial visits. Usually, the activation period will last from 4-8 months, depending on how much room we need to make. After the activation period, there will be a 3-4 month healing phase while the jaw settles into its new position.
Will it hurt?
Your teeth will feel tender during the first few days. You may want to take pain medicine that you normally would take for a headache, ex. Tylenol or Advil. Every time we activate the quad helix, you may feel some pressure above your nose or between your eyes and around your teeth. You may even notice a space develop between your front teeth. This is normal and is actually a good sign, which shows us that the expander is working!
Taking care of it
It must be kept very clean. Brush it carefully with your toothbrush after all meals and floss once each day. Please avoid sticky foods or candy and gum. Also, please do not eat hard things such as ice or corn nuts. These foods may break the appliance.
If it hurts or breaks?
Call the office so that we can arrange a special appointment to adjust or repair it. If you break it beyond repair, there will be a replacement charge.
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Rapid Palatal Expander (RPE) or Hyrax
What does it do?
The hyrax (rapid palatal expander or RPE) is cemented into place and activated by turning a “key.” This activation will spread your palate to make your upper jaw wider. This way, space can be created and will help the upper jaw fit more properly with your lower jaw.
How long will it take?
The actual expansion will occur each time you turn your RPE with the key. Usually, the turning (activation) period will last from four to eight weeks, depending on how much room we need to make. After the activation period, there will be a three-month healing phase while the jaw settles into its new position.
Will it hurt?
Your teeth will feel tender during the first few days. You may want to take pain medicine that you normally would take for a headache, ex. Tylenol or Advil. Every time you turn the key and activate the hyrax, you may feel some pressure above your nose or between your eyes. You may even notice a space develop between your front teeth. This is normal and is actually a good sign which shows us that the hyrax is working!
Taking care of it
It must be kept very clean. Brush it carefully with your toothbrush after all meals and floss once each day. Please avoid sticky foods or candy and gum. Also, please do not eat hard things such as ice or corn nuts. These foods may break the appliance.
If it hurts or breaks?
Call the office so that we can arrange a special appointment to adjust or repair it. If you break it beyond repair, there will be a replacement charge.
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Retainer
What does it do?
It stabilizes your teeth in their new position until the supporting structures and the muscles of your face and tongue adapt to the new teeth position.
How much should I wear it?
It should be worn all the time, and only be removed to brush it or rinse it off.
How long will it take?
Everyone is a little different, but most retainers are worn about the same amount of time that the braces were on. We will be talking to you about tapering off the number of hours you wear it as your retention treatment progresses.
Can I take it off to eat?
Try not to. Most retainers are lost by people taking them off to eat and forgetting them in lunch bags, napkins, on cafeteria trays, etc...
Taking care of it
It must be kept very clean! Brush it with your toothbrush at least three times everyday. Rinse it off if you don’t have a brush with you. Don’t take it off and leave it someplace. Don’t put it into your pocket or back pack because it will get broken.
It if hurts or breaks
Call the office so we can arrange a special appointment to adjust or repair it. If you lose it or break it beyond repair, there will be a replacement charge!
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Sagittal, Schwarz or cross bite appliance, Gelb splint
General Instructions
Patients and parents will get better return on their dental investments by being aware of how to best use and care for the orthodontic appliance. The appliance is delicate and must be handled with care when out of the mouth. The appliance may have to be worn for several months. Breakage will mean added expense and increased treatment.
It is very typical and normal that there will be some slight difficulty with speech during the first several days of wear. Practice speaking to help get accustomed to the appliance. When eating during those first few days, you are advised to eat soft foods such as eggs, cereals, and soups instead of chewy meats or hard crusted breads. Eating and speaking will improve as you wear the appliance according to the directions of the doctor. Soreness of the teeth is common during the first days of wear but should soon disappear. If tenderness of the teeth continues beyond three days, phone the doctor for an emergency appointment.
Clean your appliance by holding it in the palm of your hand and placing it under running water. Gently scrub the appliance with a toothbrush and toothpaste. Replace the appliance immediately after rinsing. This procedure should be followed after every meal and when teeth are brushed. Remove the appliance before brushing teeth and gums after each meal.
Cooperation with these instructions will mean progress and improvement. With your cooperation the best results can be achieved in the least amount of time. Teamwork among the patient, parent, and the doctor is essential for optimal results. If there are any questions about these instructions or about the use of the appliance, contact the doctor or ask for more information at your next appointment.
The appliance must be worn at all times, including while you eat and sleep. The only exceptions to this are to remove the appliance to clean it after each meal and when you are engaged in sports activities. The appliance should be rinsed after breakfast, lunch, and snacks, but should be scrubbed thoroughly after the evening meal, before you go to bed, and when you get up in the morning. It is highly beneficial to brush the roof of your mouth and tongue. The cleaning instructions offered in the general instructions are recommended for the care of the appliance.
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Separators
What do they do?
Separators are also called spacers. They are tiny rubber bands that fit in-between your back teeth. Their job is to “separate” or make space between your teeth so that we can fit braces (bands) around these teeth at your next appointment.
Will they hurt?
The separators are actually going to begin moving your teeth apart. You will feel some pressure. It feels the same as if you ever had food, especially meat, caught between your teeth. Sometimes it may hurt to chew. This is normal. At first, you may want to eat softer foods until the tenderness goes away. Sometimes it may be necessary to take an Advil or Tylenol (or what you would normally take for a headache) if the pressure is too much for you.
What if my separators fall out on their own?
We will show you how many we have placed and where they are. It is a good idea to count them once a day to be sure they have not been lost. If you do lose one, please call our office and we can decide if we should replace them. Sometimes it is important to have them replaced soon and sometimes, when the appointment is not far away, it is alright to wait.
How do I take care of my separators?
Please avoid any sticky food, candy or gum with the separators in place. Do not use floss where the separators are located. But please continue to floss the rest of your teeth!
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Trutain Retainer
What does it do?
It stabilizes your teeth in their new position until the supporting structures and muscles of your face and tongue adapt to the new tooth positions.
How much should I wear it?
All of the time except to eat and when drinking anything hot, like coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. It should be removed when brushing your teeth as well.
How long will it take?
Everyone is different, but most retainers are worn full-time for the first few months, then nights only for about two more years. After that, we suggest you continue to wear them on a less frequent basis. We will be talking to you about tapering off the number of hours you wear them as your retention treatment progresses. However, we recommend that in order to keep your teeth from moving, the retainers should be worn over the long-term.
Can I take it off to eat?
Yes! Most retainers are lost by people taking them off to eat and forgetting them in lunch bags, napkins, on cafeteria trays, etc. So be careful and put them in their case. And remember not to drink anything hot with them in or they will change shape.
Taking care of it
It must be kept very clean! Brush your retainer with a Q-tip and soap and water at least three times a day. Rinse it off if you don’t have a Q-tip with you. Don’t take it off and leave it someplace. Don’t put it into your pocket or backpack because it will get broken. You may also try cleaning it with baking soda and vinegar to help remove the tarter build up, which is a natural occurrence.
It if hurts or breaks
Call the office so we can arrange a special appointment to adjust or repair it. If you lose it or break it beyond repair, there will be a replacement charge!
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