Now that you have a functional brace you may have some questions you would like answered.
How much do I need to wear the appliance?
As near as possible to 24 hours per day. The patients who do best with this treatment are those who even learn to eat with it. Wear the appliance enough and the changes to your teeth and often you whole face will amaze you.
Will it be painful?
It can sometimes be sore for about 3-5 days
because of muscle stretching. This quickly
passes if the appliance is kept in. Take
some pain killers if needed. If there is
an obvious area where the brace is rubbing,
telephone the surgery for an appointment
as soon as possible.
How else might it affect me?
Your speech will be different. Practice speaking with the brace in place e.g. read out aloud at home on your own, and in this way your speech will return to normal within a couple of days .
You may also find yourself swallowing a lot to begin with. This is quite normal and will quickly pass.
Can I eat with the appliance in?
Yes. Those patients who do best are those who keep the appliance in to eat. Obviously, for certain very chewy food, it won’t be possible to keep the appliance in. It is a good idea to use a small rigid box to keep the appliance safe when it is not in your mouth.
What about sport?
There is no reason why the appliance cannot be kept in during sporting exercise. Obviously for contact sports such as rugby, it would be wise to remove the appliance.
What do I do about cleaning the appliance?
Take the appliance out after a meal and rinse it out under a tap. Take the appliance out in the morning and at nighttimes, brush your teeth and brush the appliance as well with tooth brush and tooth paste.
Can I remove the brace?
The brace you are now wearing is removable but should only be removed for cleaning,
unless you are otherwise advised. When it is not in your mouth it should
be in its protective box. Do not click the brace in and out all the time.
This will loosen the fit and can lead to damage. Failed and cancelled appointments
or repeated breakages of the brace will add to the overall treatment time.
How often will I need appointments?
We usually see you about every three months. The treatment should last a year at most.
Do I still need to see my regular dentist?
Yes. It will be important you still
have checkups with your regular
dentist throughout orthodontic treatment
so that your teeth can be checked
for decay.
What do I do if I play contact sports?
You should wear a gum shield instead of your functional appliance when you play contact sports. This will also be the case if you enjoy riding a bicycle, roller-skating or skateboarding. When not in your mouth the brace should be in a protective box.
What do I do if my brace breaks?
Ring up for an appointment as soon as is reasonably possible. Do not wait for your next routine appointment as the breakage may slow your treatment, or may result in damage to your teeth. If you repeatedly break your brace treatment may be stopped. |
