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General Soreness:
You may experience some discomfort after your appliances are
placed. Non-aspirin pain relievers, such as Advil or Tylenol,
will generally help during these first few days, assuming no
patient allergies.
Loosening of Teeth:
Do not be alarmed if your teeth feel loose. Teeth must loosen
first so that they can be moved. Your teeth will become rigidly
fixed in their new positions after treatment is completed.
Athletics:
If you take part in athletics, it is important that you consult
us for special precautions. Mouthguards are indicated in almost
all circumstances. We can provide you with a mouthguard to use
during orthodontic treatment upon request.
Loose or Broken Appliances:
 If
a wire, brace or appliance becomes loose, don't become alarmed.
If a wire is poking, use a pencil eraser and carefully push
the wire under the brace to get it out of the way. If your lips
or cheeks are irritated, place wax on the area to reduce the
annoyance. If a wire comes out of a band, replace the wire by
putting it through the hole in the back band using tweezers.
Wires can also be clipped with wire or nail clippers. In any
circumstance, call the office! We may need you to schedule an
emergency appointment or lengthen your next appointment.
Emergency Appointments:
 As
a general rule, an emergency appointment is made when there
is a loose band, brace, or appliance, severe pain, a broken
wire or something sticking out that you can't take care of yourself.
If something doesn't seem right or you have questions you should
not hesitate to call. Most situations can be handled over the
phone. If you have a true emergency when the office is closed,
you may call Dr. Gill at 812-858-1922. Please remember this
is for emergency situations only.
Loose Brackets or Bands:
If a bracket comes loose, call our office as soon as possible
for advice. Sometimes it is important to re-attach the bracket
right away, but most of the time it is okay to wait until your
next appointment. Please call our office so we can evaluate
the problem and determine if there is enough time in your next
appointment to rebond the bracket or if you need to be seen
immediately.
Wire irritations:
 If
a wire on your braces is causing an irritation, try pushing
it away from the area being irritated by using the eraser end
of a pencil or a cotton swab. If the wire cannot be tucked away,
cover the end with a small piece of wax or sugarless gum. You
may also cut the wire with scissors or nail clippers. Call our
office for an appointment if you cannot solve the problem.
Lost separators:
It is quite common for some patients to lose at least one separator
during the process that prepares your mouth for braces. Please
call our office to determine if the separator needs to be replaced.
Discomfort Associated with Treatment:
Most orthodontic patients experience some discomfort the first
week after the braces are placed and after routine adjustments.
You can use non-aspirin pain reliever or ibuprofen to east this
discomfort and eat soft foods. If braces are causing soreness
in your jaw joints, try using a most heat compress or a warm
wash cloth to apply gentle pressure to alleviate the ache. This
discomfort should subside in several days. |
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