Fixed brace

CARE OF YOUR FIXED BRACE

Congratulations! You are now the proud owner of a fixed brace. Please remember that your fixed brace is quite delicate. The following basic rules will ensure that you treatment progresses smoothly and help you deal with any problems as quickly as possible.

The first 3 to 5 days

• As the teeth begin to move, they may feel loose and quite tender. A soft diet is recommended and pain relief may be required.
• The metalwork may cause soreness of the lips and cheeks. To gain relief, over the offending bracket or wire by gently pressing a small wad of wax over it, after drying the brace with tissue. It is better to use as little was as you can. This way the skin of your lips and cheeks can het use to the brace.

Oral Hygiene

Regular and careful brushing of your brae is vital. Neglect will cause swelling of your gums, tooth decay and marking of the tooth around the bracket.

• Use a good quality toothbrush (e.g. Oral B, Wisdom, Sensodyne). Select a small head with soft or medium bristles. Change the brush every 2 months.
• Brush thoroughly at least twice a day, for about 2-3 minutes each time. You must brush your brace before you go to bed at night.
• Brush slowly and gently. Vigorous tooth brushing loosens the brackets resulting in unnecessary repairs.
• Clean all the surfaces of your teeth. In particular, clean the margins between the gums and teeth thoroughly as this is where most of the plaque and food debris collects.
• We advise the use of a fluoride mouthwash, last thing at night after your have brushed your teeth. Fluoride strengthens the enamel making is more resistant to decay.

Food and eating

• Reduce all forms of sugar in your diet. Eating sugary foods between meal times is particularly damaging.
• From now, cut all your food into small pieces. Biting directly into food with your front teeth may loosen or damage the brace.
• Avoid: Chewing gum, chocolates, toffees, cakes, fizzy drinks and any kind of hard, sticky, chewy foods. ‘Diet’ variety drinks are safe in moderation.

PLEASE TURN OVERLEAF

Repairs

If it all goes well, your treatment may take up to two years. Repeated breakages due to carelessness only prolong your treatment.

So Take Care- Don’t Be A Wrecker!!

If the brackets or bands come off, please ring and ask for a repair appointment.

Routine Dental Care

To ensure good dental health, it is important to visit your own dentist at regular intervals.

Fitting of your Fixed Brace

• The fitting may be carried out over 1 or 2 appointments.
• There is no pain involved with the fitting and injections are required, so please do not worry.
• At the first visit, small, blue, elastic ‘separators’ may be placed between your back teeth. Theses separators may fall out before your next visit, in which case throw them away. Please do not pull them out. If they cause you toothache, pain relief is advised.
• At the second visit, metal bands may be placed around some of your back teeth, then, metal brackets are stuck to each tooth with special glue. Finally, a wire is fastened across the teeth.
• Please arrive promptly for your appointments. Late arrivals disrupt the clinic and are unfair to the patients who arrive on time. If the clinic is full, late arrivals may be re-appointment.