This Blog was posted by Clearview Dental – Family Dentistry in Milton, On

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When will I get my braces off ?

A: Treatment time is estimated prior to the start of your orthodontic care. Outside influences often affect your time schedule. Growth and cooperation throughout treatment also determine the length of time your braces are on. For more information click here

Q: Can I chew gum? My friend Billy does and he has braces!

A: If your friend is a patient in our office, he/she should not be chewing gum, or any other hard, sticky, chewy or gooey food. Nor should you. These foods can not only damage your brackets but also can put small bends in your wires that can cause your teeth to move in the WRONG direction, thereby increasing your treatment length. Please, think before you eat. Say to yourself – SELF – is this food sticky, chewy or gooey? If yes – STAY AWAY !!!
Q: What happens if a bracket comes off or a wire breaks?

A: If you are uncomfortable, please call ASAP so that we can get you in for a MAKE COMFORTABLE (MC) visit. We may also schedule a REPAIR appointment in order to do the actual repair if it cannot be done at the MC appointment.

If you are NOT uncomfortable, please call ASAP so that we can schedule a repair visit or allow for more time at your next visit to repair the problem.

Q: I have a loose bracket. What should I do?

A: If you are uncomfortable, please call us immediately (use wax in the meantime) so we can make you comfortable. If the bracket comes off, bring it with you at your next appointment. If it is ON the wire, leave it on. REMEMBER, call the office to let us know about the loose bracket.

Q: A band is loose. What should I do?

A: Call the office for a repair appointment to re-band the tooth. Try to bring the band with you. You may need a spacer appointment if you lost the band a while ago.

Q: My appliance that is cemented in my mouth is “loose”. Help!!

A: Call the office for a repair appointment to re-cement the appliance. Don’t forget to bring the appliance if it has come completely out off your mouth.

Q: I had my braces (or appliance) removed recently and I lost my retainer last night. What should I do?

A: Please call the office immediately so that we can get you in for an impression for a new retainer (there will be a fee for replacement). It is very important to retain the new position of your teeth following orthodontic treatment. If you wait too long before you call, unwanted shifting may occur.

Q: I called the office to leave a message but your machine does not take messages. Why not?

A: Our phone system is programmed to give office hours only when the office is closed. If our office is closed, and you have an orthodontic emergency, our phone system will directly connect you to either the doctor’s emergency number or an on-call staff member.

FOR ALL EMERGENCIES:

If the office is closed, our phone system will directly connect you to either the doctor’s emergency number or an on-call staff member.

IF YOU DO NOT CALL TO LET US KNOW ABOUT A PROBLEM, WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DO A REPAIR AT YOUR NEXT REGULAR VISIT BECAUSE OF TIME CONSTRAINTS.

Q: My child’s school insists that students cannot leave during the day. Can I get all his appointments after school and before soccer practice?

A: The majority of our orthodontic patients are adolescents and are in school during the day from September through June. For this reason, we cannot guarantee that all your child’s orthodontic appointments will be between 3:00 and 5:00 pm (We’d be very busy!). However, because of the normal 8-10 week interval between appointments AND our evening and every other Saturday schedule, your child should not have to miss too much time during the school day throughout his treatment period.

Q: Do I have to wear elastics (“rubber bands”)?

A: Not all orthodontic patients “have” to wear elastics. However, elastics may be necessary to help us align the dental arches or help “close” the bite. Each patient is evaluated separately for their need to wear elastics.

Q: I missed an appointment, what is the policy for rescheduling?

A: Call the office as soon as possible to reschedule.

Please note – The rescheduled time may not be as convenient as the missed appointment time, as we book appointments every 7 – 9 weeks.

Remember – When you don’t show as scheduled, 2 people are hurt: YOU, because you don’t get the treatment you need as prescribed by the doctor; and another patient, who could have been scheduled for treatment if you had given proper notice.

Q: The doctor said I have a Class II malocclusion. What is that?

A: See the following link for a glossary of terms http://www.braces.org/knowmore/glossary/

If you have any suggestions for the Frequently Asked Questions section of this website, please mention them to us at your next visit.