Patient Information

You might be surprised to learn that you may be able to temporarily solve many problems yourself until you schedule an appointment with our office. When working with your appliances, you need to know the names of the parts of your appliances so you are able to identify what part is broken or out of place. After alleviating your discomfort, it is very important that you still call our office to see if it is necessary to schedule a time to repair the problem. Allowing your appliance to remain damaged for an extended period of time may result in disruptions in your treatment.

The following solutions may help you relieve your discomfort:

Poking Wire
Using a pencil eraser, push the poking wire down or place wax on it to alleviate the discomfort.

Loose Bracket or Band
If your bracket or band is still attached to the wire, you should leave it in place and put wax on it. If the wire comes out entirely, wrap the bracket with a tissue.

Loose Wire
Using tweezers, try to place your wire back into place. If doing this and using wax doesn’t help, as a last resort use a small fingernail clipper to clip the wire behind the last tooth to which it is securely fastened. If your discomfort continues, place wax on it.

Loose Appliance
If your appliance is poking you, place wax on the sharp part of your appliance. A small amount of orthodontic wax makes an excellent protector between metal and mouth. Simply pinch off a small, pea-sized ball and place it completely covering the area of the braces causing irritation.

General Soreness
When you get your braces on, you may feel general soreness in your mouth and teeth may be tender to biting pressures for three to five days. This is normal. It can be relieved by rinsing your mouth with a warm salt water mouthwash. Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in 8 ounces of warm water and rinse your mouth vigorously. Placing Orabase on the affected area may help. If the tenderness is severe, take aspirin or whatever you normally take for headache or similar pain.

The lips, cheeks, and tongue may also become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and become accustomed to the surface of the braces. You can put wax on the braces to lessen this. We’ll show you how!

Brushing and flossing your teeth properly is essential with or without braces. With braces, caring for your teeth by thoroughly cleaning them becomes so much more important so as to prevent gingivitis, bleeding or swollen gums, cavities and decalcifications (white spots) from forming by the time brace are removed. A soft-bristled tooth brush and 3 full minutes per comprehensive brushing is what is necessary after every meal or snack.
After appliances are placed we will go over home care and brushing in detail to be certain that patients and parents are equipped to care for their mouths properly during the course of treatment.

This is what decalcification looks like. Straight teeth never looked so bad. Don’t let this happen to you!

Retainers help your teeth maintain their new, corrected position instead of shifting around after the braces are removed.

Therefore, they are MANDATORY!

 Wear  :  You must wear your retainers full-time (day and night) for the
first 6 months after the braces are removed. They should only be removed
when eating and brushing After 6 months, you should always wear it during
the night. To ensure your teeth remain in good alignment,
wearing retainers is a lifelong necessity.
Don’t lose the Retainer  : When your retainer is not in your mouth, it
should ALWAYS be in its case.  Never, for example, wrap your retainer in a
napkin while you’re eating or put it on a bathroom sink, otherwise it will soon
end up in the trash can. The rule is : Either it’s in your mouth or in your box and
in your pocket or book bag/purse. A replacement retainer can cost anywhere
from $300 to $500

Don’t eat while wearing a retainer : You should not drink hot liquids
with your retainers in place.

Cleaning  : After eating, you should rinse your mouth well with water
before replacing you retainers. Clean the retainer properly at least once a day,
with a toothbrush. No toothpaste is needed. An anti-bacterial soak is helpful
with products such as “Retainer-brite”. Never put them in hot water.
Retainers are breakable  : Treat yours with care. With proper care,
your retainer will last for years. Do not bite on them while inserting them. If
your retainer gets lost or broken, call us immediately.
If you have any questions or concerns about retainers, please contact our
office.

While wearing braces, it is important to wear a special athletic mouth-guard made to fit over and protect your teeth. These mouth guards come in a variety of colors and are available in-office upon request.

We accept all major insurances, including Medicaid. Our office is committed to helping you make the most of your insurance coverage to minimize your out-of-pocket expense during orthodontic care. Many insurance policies include a lifetime orthodontic benefit that is distinct from regular dental insurance. Insurance policies vary. We will review your insurance and work with you every step of the way. Before we begin treatment, we will help file your claims and ease the process.

To help us with your insurance filing, please complete any insurance or financial questions on our questionnaire. Please remember that orthodontic insurance is a benefit for you or your child. If, during the course of treatment, your benefits change, the financially responsible party is accountable for all charges.

We, at Superlative Smiles are always enthusiastic in welcoming new patients. Your initial appointment will consist of a comprehensive examination and a discussion of potential corrective options. This brief visit will give us insight into your unique orthodontic needs. Because we value your time, we may expedite treatment and reserve time following the initial exam to take diagnostic records. These records include X-rays, photos and impressions of your teeth, which are necessary for planning the most appropriate and individualized treatment to best fit your orthodontic needs.

We will then discuss treatment options, time frames, and financial arrangements. We believe that patients and parents should leave the office with a clear understanding of their specific needs, what the appropriate selected treatment will involve, and what its duration will be. Additionally, of course, we will always answer any questions that you may have.

Please assist us by providing the following at the time of your first visit:

• Any panoramic X-ray taken within the past calendar year.
• If you have orthodontic insurance, please bring your insurance card. By providing this information at the very first visit, we will be able to give you an estimate of your costs more quickly.