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Patient Instructions
Elastics
Rubber bands apply forces to move your tooth that cannot be created by just adjusting
your braces. Therefore, the patient plays a very important role in the process
of correcting their bite when asked to wear rubber bands. If Dr. Monacell has
prescribed rubber bands as part of your orthodontic treatment, you must wear
them full time to get your braces off on schedule. We only want you to remove
them to brush your teeth. Also, you should change them at least once or twice
a day.
This is because they lose their stretch as they are left in your mouth during
the day. You will be given 2 packs at your appointment. Remember to keep an
extra pack with you at all times and keep one at home. If you start to get
low on rubber bands, call the office and let us know.
Don't wait until you run out!! Waiting until your next appointment time to let
us know can delay your treatment time. Call us and we will make arrangements
for you to get more rubber bands.
Headgear
Fortunately for most of our patients, headgear is not necessary. Dr. Monacell
has other ways to correct the bite, however, when there is a SEVERE SKELETAL
jaw discrepancy, headgear is recommended in an attempt to avoid the need for
jaw surgery. Headgear is used to slow down the growth of the upper jaw so that
the lower jaw can "catch up" in growth. Archwires will assist in bring the
top teeth back so that they will fit better with the lower teeth.
When putting your headgear on, the loops on the facebow point upwards. Put one side into the tube, then the other. Hook the strap to the facebow on 1 side, pull the cap around your head, then hold the facebow while hooking the last side.
Headgear needs to be worn a minimum of 16 hours a day in order to be effective. We realize that this is difficult to do, but it is necessary for the headgear to work properly. Your molar teeth may be sore for a few days. This is normal. As you wear the headgear more, you will notice that your teeth will be less sore. Headgear should be worn everyday!! If you are wearing it inconsistently, you will see no progress at all. Never attempt to adjust the headgear yourself. Please call us to set up an appointment.
Retainers
- Wear your retainers full time, unless otherwise instructed by Dr. Monacell.
- Clean your retainers once a day with Retainer Brite. You can purchase this at the CVS Pharmacy across from Lee-Davis high school on Route 360
(Mechanicsville Turnpike). You can also order Retainer Brite by calling 1-800-866-6884 or you can log on to the website at
www.retainerbrite.com.
- Always put your retainers in a case when they are out of your mouth. This will keep them from getting lost or broken.
- Always bring your retainers to your appointments.
- Retainers are breakable, so treat them with care. If they are lost or broken, call us immediately.
- Retainer replacement is expensive. If you take good care of them, they will last for years.
- Never use hot or boiling water to sterilize your retainers. Never put them in the dishwasher.
- Never leave your retainers in a hot car.
- If you have wire and acrylic retainers, eat with your retainers in! If you remove them to eat, they may get wrapped in a napkin and thrown away. If you have essix retainers (clear plastic) please remove them to eat. Also, if you are going to drink anything besides water, remove the essix retainers. Please remember to brush before you place them back in your mouth.
- If you are going swimming during the summer, you may keep your retainers in if you are going to the pool. If you are swimming at the river, lake or ocean, please remove them.
- You may find it difficult to speak at first. The more you practice speaking or reading, the easier it will become.
- Finally, if you notice any change in your teeth, or the way the retainers fit your teeth, wear your retainers full time and call us for an appointment. Do not wait until your next scheduled appointment.
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