Tips for those wearing Orthodontic braces

For those wearing braces or other orthodontic appliances, keeping your teeth and gums clean may be a bit more difficult and tedious, but the resulting smile will be worth the effort. If you wear braces, here's some Do's and Don'ts for you to follow :

Braces Do's
a. After meal, brush your teeth. If you can't brush right away, rinse your mouth (and removable appliance) with water.
b. Floss every day. Your orthodontist can give you a floss threader if you're having difficulties.
c. Chew only sugarless gum.
d. Call your orthodontist if anything is loose or broken.

Braces Don'ts
a. Don't miss your orthodontic appointments. Missed or delayed appointments mean you'll have to wear your braces longer.
b. Don't eat hard, sticky or chewy foods, crunchy foods.
c. Don't chew on pens, pencils, ice, fingernails or anything that might break your braces.

Shiny clean teeth and fresh breath are good reasons for practicing good oral hygiene, but the most important reason is that keeping your gums and teeth clean and healthy will help you keep your teeth throughout your life. Although some diseases and conditions can make dental disease and tooth loss more likely, most of us have a great deal of control over whether we keep our teeth into old age. Wouldn't you rather be chewing with your own natural teeth?

How To Choose Your Orthodontist

Do you have a bite problem (malocclusion) that interferes when your eating or speaking ? Then you may want to consider orthodontic treatments. Nowadays, orthodontic treatments are not only for pre-teens and teens but for adults too. But then how do you go about choosing your orthodontist ? Here's the list that you may want to consider when choosing your orthodontist :

a. Determine the orthodontist’s level of experience and how long he/she has he been practicing ?

b. How extensive is the orthodontist’s practice?

c. If possible, ask for Before/After photos of previous patients. Do you like the results that you have seen ?

d. What is the orthodontist’s diagnosis and plan of treatment action for your teeth ? Did he/she explain it clearly to you? Did the orthodontist provide alternative treatments and explain this alternatives to you ? Would the treatment greatly affect your personal life or work ?

e. Remember that orthodontic treatments takes an average of two years with appointments typically every 6 to 8 weeks , so its really important that you establish a good rapport to the Orthodontist or the clinics staff. An orthodontist and staff who establish good rapport are better able to encourage and motivate patients to stick to a home regimen of scrupulous brushing and flossing, headband- and retainer-wearing, etc.

f. Is the orthodontist clinic conveniently located close to your home or office ?

g. In case of emergencies, what provisions does the orthodontist offer?

h. What are the payment options? Would you be able to pay through equal installment basis ? Alternatively, you can also go to dental schools to save treatment fees. If you are in Manila (Phillipines), UP Dental school in Manila accepts patients from outside and charge only a small portion of standard orthodontic fees. Your treatment will be overseen by a seasoned practitioner, typically a full professor who has specialized in orthodontics for many years.

i. Lastly, you must feel comfortable and convinced that you have chosen the best orthodontist for your case. No matter how expensive the treatment will be as long as you will get satisfied with the end result.


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Questions to ask your Orthodontist

1. What are the different types of braces and their pro’s and cons ?

2. what’s the best type for your case ? Will it be ceramic or metallic braces or a combination ? Ceramics on upper and metallic on lower ? (This will now depend on the budget that you will have.)

3. How much does it cost to have ceramics braces on the upper only ? upper and lower ? What about the cost for metallic braces ?

4. How much is the total cost ? Is it possible to show me the cost breakdown? Do you have any payment or installment plan?

5. Does the cost of my braces includes all kinds of treatment (ie. monthly cleaning, filling, etc) and also include the retainers after treatment is finished?

6. How long (how many months/years) will the total treatment take?

7. How often will I need to visit your clinic for adjustments? What do the adjustments entail?

8. Do you do self-ligating brackets? (sometimes these are a good alternatives like if using Damon-type brackets, extractions can be avoided).

9. Will I need to wear other appliances like headgear or jaw expander ? If so, how long will I need to wear it ? As for the headgerar how many hours per day? When, in the treatment process, would the appliance be introduced?

10. Will there be a need to extract any of my teeth ?

11. If there’s a bracket that was dislodged, could I just call and then drop in to get it re-attached , or do I need to make an appointment for that?

12. What type of retainers do you typically usually provide to your patients ?

Orthodontic Braces

Before spending your time and money to straighten your teeth, its important that you take a bit of research and get to know more about the treatment process. Find out the Do’s and Don’ts when wearing dental braces. Here are some points that you may want to know more :

1. Ask your friends or relatives to recommend a good orthodontist. Your regular dentist might be a good person to ask for recommendation.

2. Seek second opinions. Different Ortho’s have different approach or migh be using different systems/appliances in doing the procedure. If you don’t like what the 1^st Ortho says about the treatment approach, go to another Ortho and seek consultation about the treatment. Usually treatment are free or should be minimal fee. Its better to know ahead rather than regret later.

3. Determine how long would the treatment be. Treatment usually last for 2 years for braces braces on upper and lower teeth. It’s a long term commitment, so it’s really important that you like the Orthodontist who will treat you in order to have good relationship.

4. Be prepared. Some people would be very conscious with the braces on their teeth. Are you ready to have them in your mouth and deal with them 24/7 for 1 or 2 years. Tooth extractions maybe required, so be prepared if you have fear about extraction. Usually the 3^rd molar will be extracted.

5. Determine the cost of the treatment. Usually in Philippines, it would range from Php 80,000 up to Php 150,000 depending on the material use (ie. ceramic braces cost a lot more).

6. If you can not afford to have braces from a private clinic, search the dental schools in your area. Many times, they provide low-cost orthodontic care. University of the Philippines usually offer orthodontic treatment at a lower cost and usually handled by the orthodontists students under the watchful eye of their experienced professors, who are often orthodontists in private practice. Usually, the schools would evaluate your case.

7. Sometimes dental chains offer lower prices for orthodontic work, but you will be limited to their list of dentists.

8. Check your health plan (or your spouse health plans) to see if any of the treatment cost will be covered. Its good to have your health plans straighten out before you begin the orthodontic treatment.