Appliance Care

Separators | Elastics | Retainer | Positioner | Palatal Expander | Expander Video

Separators

Separators are placed to make room for the placement of orthodontic bands. They will feel very tight at first, but this feeling will disappear in a very short while. Your bite may feel a bit different, but do not be concerned.

  1. Maintain as normal a diet as possible.
  2. Brush gently around teeth with separator.
  3. Do not floss between teeth where separators are present.
  4. Do not eat sticky foods.
  5. If separators between the back teeth come out, call our office.
  6. For comfort, we strongly advise you to take ibuprofen (Advil) immediately and then as directed for the next 24 hours. Tylenol is an analgesic option.
  7. If any undue trouble exists, call our office.

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Elastics

  1. Wear your elastics all the time unless instructed differently.
  2. Take your elastics off to brush your teeth and then put fresh ones on immediately thereafter.
  3. Carry elastics with you at all times. If one breaks, replace it immediately.
  4. Change your elastics at least twice a day.
  5. If you run out of elastics, call the office or come in and we will give you more.

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Retainer

The retainer is a removable appliance carefully designed to maintain teeth in their correct positions. It is important that it be worn according to instructions.

  1. Follow closely the instructions you have been given on how to take the retainer in and out of your mouth.
  2. Wear the retainer at all times (including meal times and sleeping hours) unless you have been specifically instructed otherwise. Remove your retainer when brushing your teeth.
  3. Clean your retainer by brushing with toothpaste. If you are wearing a lower fixed retainer, be extra careful to brush the wire and inside of the lower teeth.
  4. The plastic taste will disappear soon, and in a day or two, your speech will be completely normal with the appliance in place.
  5. Your new retainer may make your teeth sore for a day or two, especially after an adjustment. If you have a localized sore spot, call the office, so an adjustment can be made.
  6. Avoid flipping your retainer with your tongue. This can damage both your mouth and the retainer.
  7. Never wrap your retainer in a paper napkin or tissue; it may get thrown away accidentally. If the retainer must be stored for a short time period, use the heavy plastic case we have given you.
  8. Always bring your retainer to each appointment.
  9. Additional charges will be made for lost or broken retainers.

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Positioner

Your positioner is still an ACTIVE part of treatment. It makes any final adjustment in the alignment of your teeth and closes any spaces left after removal of all the bands by massaging teeth into place.

Your cooperation is essential – if you do not wear your positioner, your bands may have to be put back on.

It is made out of special elastic or rubber material especially for your mouth.

  1. Put it on either by placing it on your top front teeth and stretching it over the back teeth or by putting it over the top back teeth on one side and stretching it over the rest of your teeth. When the upper teeth are in place, bite the lower teeth into place.
  2. You must wear your positioner (6) six hours a day and all night. During the day, it must be worn a minimum of (20) twenty minutes at a time.
  3. During the day, you must force your teeth into the material by clenching your teeth together for 10 to 15 seconds, (count slowly to 10) then relax.
  4. Keep it clean by brushing it with your toothbrush and a little toothpaste.
  5. Your teeth may be sore for the first few days you wear it. If severe soreness occurs – call our office.
  6. When not in your mouth, keep your positioner in the hard case we gave you (Pets love to chew them).
  7. There will be a charge for replacement if lost or damaged.
  8. Bring your positioner and the record of the number of hours of wear with you on every office visit.

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Palatal Expander

If you receive a palatal expansion appliance, proper use and care of this appliance is essential to the completion of a beautiful smile. While using this appliance, there are some things every patient should know:

  1. Your speech will be affected for about a week.
  2. You will likely experience discomfort in the teeth and also in the area around the upper jaw. People often comment about discomfort or headache pain between the eyes. This is normal.
  3. You will develop a gap between your two front teeth.
  4. Keeping the appliance clean will require some extra effort. Swishing with warm water several times a day will help keep food from getting trapped in the roof of your mouth. Proper brushing is needed, and if available, the use of a water pik instrument will help keep things shiny and clean.

Activation:

  1. The appliance should be turned one time a day – we suggest right before bedtime.
  2. We will see you in two or three weeks to check the appliance and make any adjustments needed.
  3. It is important to complete the activation when it is started. Partial turns will make it very difficult to continue turning the appliance at home.

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Expander Video

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