Information about your braces
Having had your braces fitted the care of your braces and teeth are very important to prevent any marks and the proper functioning of your appliances.
Between one and two appointments are necessary for the fitting of your brace normally.
We recommend you follow these simple instructions:
We would like you to contact us as soon as you know the dates of any necessary extractions (dates that any teeth are to be taken out) given to you by your dentist, so that we can plan the fitting of your brace.
We do get booked up, so as soon as you know the dates for the extractions, please let us know so that we may offer you appointments for the fitting of your brace.
If however you are not having any extractions (teeth taken out) then we still need to see you normally for one / two visits unless we have said otherwise.
1. The first appointment is a short 5-10 minute appointment to check that any necessary extractions have been carried out and that your mouth has healed (you need to allow 1 to 2 months for healing, after any necessary extractions, before this first appointment) and/or to check that you are ready for the fitting of your brace.
If necessary, elastic separators are normally fitted between your back teeth, at this first visit, to make space for the fitting of the braces at your second appointment.
2. You should also be given a second appointment, normally for the week following your first appointment. The two appointments run hand in hand and if one appointment cannot be kept for any reason, then both appointment must be rescheduled.
This second appointment is generally 30-45 minutes long and it is at this appointment that your brace will normally be fitted.
Instructions to note include :
+++ Avoid chewing with your front teeth and use less force when chewing as this will cause the brackets to shear off. +++
- a brace pack is available on the day costing £10. The brace packs contain all the necessary brushes and oral hygiene accessories to enable you to take proper care of your brace. This includes an inter-dental brush/brushes (for use underneath the wire between the teeth), a bottle of daily fluoride rinse (for use once a day to supplement the toothbrushing- try to use the rinse at times that the teeth have not been brushed to use as an extra fluoride application in the day), and a travel toothbrush. The hygiene pack also contains disclosing tablets (to show where any plaque remains), wax to relieve any sharp edges (remove for eating or cleaning), and a small mirror. Disclosing tablets may also be purchased from any main chemist eg. Boots.
- it is imperative that diet and oral hygiene is strictly controlled to minimise decay/marks on the enamel, gum disease and breakages of the appliance(s). If the brace is not cared for in the proper manner, the braces will be removed with continuation of treatment only then being available on a private basis as per NHS guidelines.
- foods to consider for the duration of the treatment, with the emphasis being on eating a soft food diet, include well cooked vegetables, fish, well-cooked pasta and rice dishes. If meat is being considered as an option, then attempts should be made to favour dishes such as stews and casseroles where the meat is thoroughly cooked and tender. If the dish being considered requires chewing, then efforts should be made to cut the food up into small pieces and to chew gently with the back teeth.
- foods to avoid include sweets, toffees, chocolates, chewing gums and fizzy drinks. Less obvious foods to avoid include toast, crisps, french bread / baguettes, biting into fruits such as apples, pizza crust and crusty bread.
-fruit juice and acidic / sweet foods can also mark the teeth and so do fizzy drinks (even fizzy water!).
There is less damage done if the fruit / juice is taken at the same time as an accompaniament to the food (eating less frequently during the day means there are less opportunities for marks to be made eg. 3 meals a day are better for the health of the teeth than 7 or 8 snack type meals)
Also if the teeth are left 30-40 mins before being brushed after having anything acidic (This allows the pH of the mouth to come back to neutral). Another way to avoid damage is to brush your teeth before you have anything acidic eg. Before breakfast! ie. Brush your teeth before your glass of orange juice for breakfast rather than after! As we have said – if you are going to brush your teeth after a glass of orange juice or a piece of fruit wait at least 30-40 minutes after drinking / eating before brushing!
Common sense precautions would include, for example, soaking your cereal in milk and breaking your bread up/ sandwiches into small pieces and choosing softer options wherever possible, for example, soft Danish white bread or “milk-roll” bread for sandwiches.
Following the above precautions will minimise potential problems which may arise.
For any breakages that may occur, for instance, a single attachment to a tooth (a “bracket”) which may have come loose, please ring us for re-attachment. It may be left until your next appointment, provided that no pain is being caused and there are no sharp edges irritating the mouth but please advise us by ringing the clinic. Again should there be any concerns at all, please contact us.
Directions to our North Shields clinic can be found using link for map to our North Shields clinic http://maps.google.co.uk/m?hl=en&q=NE29+0BE
ADDRESS: 3 NILE STREET, NORTH SHIELDS, TYNE AND WEAR, NE29 0BE telephone 0191 272 8800
(LOCATED ON THE FIRST FLOOR WITH OFFICE ENTRANCE OPPOSITE THE TAXI RANK AT NORTH SHIELDS METRO, BETWEEN PETER GRANT JEWELLERS AND PANSYS FLORIST NEXT DOOR TO HOULTS THE BUTCHERS AT THE BOTTOM OF NILE STREET).
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Directions to our Newcastle clinic can be found using link for map to our Newcastle clinic – We are located on the first floor.
Please see link for map http://maps.google.co.uk/m?q=NE1+6JQ&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=Newcastle+Upon+Tyne,+Tyne+And+Wear+NE16JQ&gl=uk&ei=x52KTbOjH5KwhAeEg4C8Dg&oi=nojs&ved=0CA4Q8gEwAA
ADDRESS: 16-18 HOOD STREET, NEWCASTLE, NE1 6JQ telephone 0191 230 3132
(LOCATED ON THE FIRST FLOOR WITH OFFICE ENTRANCE OPPOSITE NEWCASTLE BUILDING SOCIETY / BETWEEN THE “NORTHERN ROCK-VIRGIN” BUILDING SOCIETY AND MANPOWER)
