FAQ
You’ve Got Questions - We’ve Got Answers
WHY DO I HAVE TO AVOID CERTAIN FOODS WHILE I HAVE BRACES?
Although the brackets are cemented onto your teeth, the force of your teeth biting down on certain foods can be strong enough that it will break a bracket off of the tooth. If this happens once or twice during your treatment, it is not likely to extend the length of time for your treatment. However, if brackets are regularly coming off, it could lengthen the time that you have braces.
We ask that you avoid popcorn and gum throughout the full treatment with braces. We also ask that you avoid chewy or sticky foods that could also cause a bracket to come off. Hard foods, such as apples or carrots, can still be eaten but we ask that you cut them into small pieces and chew them with your back teeth (molars).
A BRACKET CAME OFF AND IS LOOSE ON THE WIRE, WHAT SHOULD I DO?
We ask that you call our office when this happens, even if you have an appointment coming up shortly. It takes quite a bit longer to put a bracket back on than your regularly scheduled adjustment and we need to add time to your appointment, where possible.
WHAT IS ORTHODONTIC WAX USED FOR?
Orthodontic wax has many different functions. In order to use the wax, take a small ball and warm it up between your fingers to make it more pliable. Then dry off the surface that you wish to place the wax on (swallow a few times and use gauze or a tissue).
At the beginning of your treatment, you may find that some of the brackets are rubbing against the tissues in your mouth and causing some soreness. In this case, you can put the wax onto the brackets in that area to help give your mouth time to heal and get used to the braces.
At some point during your treatment, we may be closing some spaces between your teeth. When this happens, the wire may require adjustment and cause discomfort at the back of your mouth. We ask that you call us when this happens so we can fit you into the same day or next business day to trim the wire. In the meantime, you can use the wax and place it at the back on the wire where it is poking.
Lastly, if a bracket comes off and is loose on the wire, you can push the loose bracket to a neighbouring bracket and use the wax to stick them together.
If orthodontic wax is not available, then silicone ear plug wax may be available at your local pharmacy and works very well.
If at any point you do have any sores develop in your mouth, we also highly recommend doing a warm salt water rinse to prevent any infection.
CAN I GET A SAME-DAY APPOINTMENT?
Yes. If you are in active orthodontic treatment and an emergency has come up, we will do our best to fit you into our schedule for the same or next business day. However, as we see each of our active orthodontic patients every 5-8 weeks, typically our schedule is fully booked 5 weeks in advance, with exceptions if there have been cancellations.
POST-ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT: WHAT HAPPENS IF MY RETAINERS BREAK?
The mouth has a lot going on; overtime it's possible that your permanent wires or removable retainer may need touch-ups or replacement. We recommend continuing to see your family dentist for cleanings and check-ups. They will also let you know if your permanent wires need to be checked.
For permanent wires, there is the potential that these wires may break or become loose. Please give us a call to schedule in an appointment for Dr. McSweeny to assess your situation further.
For removable retainers, if at any point your retainer stops fitting properly, we recommend that you wear it more regularly until it begins to feel comfortable again. If the retainer does not fit at all, please contact us to discuss your options further.
WILL MY INSURANCE COVER MY VISIT?
Each insurance coverage is different. Please inform us if you have insurance coverage and we will provide you with a predetermination form to submit to your insurance company, prior to commencing treatment. Your insurance company will then let you know what your coverage is for orthodontic treatment. We will provide you with insurance forms if your insurance company requires them.
HOW CAN I MAKE A PAYMENT?
We accept cash, debit, Visa, MasterCard, or cheques. If you would prefer, you can leave post-dated cheques or visa on file to be charged on a date selected by you.
HOW IS THE ORTHODONTIC FEE CHARGED?
We appreciate that the total orthodontic fee can look daunting at first. However, to help make it easier to pay, we break the total cost down into an initial fee to be paid when the treatment commences and monthly instalments that are charged over the course of your treatment. Please be aware that as your appointments will typically be every 5-8 weeks, there may be more than one monthly instalment due, if you have decided to pay only at your appointments.
It is likely that you will finish the payments prior to the end of your treatment. All additional appointments and retention (permanent wires on the back of your teeth and a removable retainer) are included in the total treatment fee.
WHY IS A FLUORIDE TREATMENT BEING RECOMMENDED?
Unfortunately, fluoride has received a bad reputation. However, it is a very helpful tool for strengthening the enamel on your teeth. In some cases, especially if there have been issues with your oral health, we recommend a topical Fluoride treatment at no additional cost, prior to the bonding of braces or an appliance.
Please contact us further if you haven't found the answer to your question.
We will endeavour to regularly update our website with additional information.