Frequently Asked Questions
Useful information
Below are some Q&A’s that we hope may help give you answers to any questions you may have. We have tried to keep things basic and cover as much as we can, but again if you are concerned please call us on 01633 264545 or email staff@newportortho.co.uk Please do not come to the practice without an arranged appointment as you cannot be seen.
As always, please remember to:
- KEEP YOUR BRACE AND TEETH VERY CLEAN
- AVOID SUGARY DRINKS
- AVOID EATING HARD OR STICK FOODS
And for those who have finished their treatment:
- KEEP YOUR RETAINERS SAFE!
Frequently Asked Questions
Problems with my brackets
One/some of my brackets have come loose, do they need to be reattached?
No. If the bracket is on the wire, leave it. After brushing your teeth, you can place some wax on it which may stop it from moving around on the wire. If the bracket has come off the wire, this is also ok to leave.
My clear elastic chain has come loose, what shall I do?
This elastic chain is ok to leave if it’s not causing any irritations. If the chain is flapping around then you can trim it away and we can re-attach this when we next see you.
Will my teeth move if I do not have these fixed?
This is a possibility, but it is not a major concern and we can re-bond/re-attach them at a later stage.
Problems with my wires
If you have recently had your braces fitted, the wire will be relatively flexible and you can try using your thumb nail, back of your toothbrush or the back of a teaspoon to gently push the wire back around.
If you have recently had your appliance fitted the wire will be relatively flexible and you might be able to make the wire comfortable by tucking it under the hook of your very back brackets. You may need to place some wax in the area to keep it in place.
It may be necessary to trim your wire, however, so that we can advise you further, we would ask you to follow the instructions above by taking pictures of the area of concern and email them to us. One of our orthodontists will then advise you on what to do next. If your brace has been on for some time you are likely to be in a strong wire which in this case it will not be possible for you to trim at home but it is more likely that the wire will just sit alongside the teeth.
It is not advisable to try to pull the wire out of your brackets. If it is not causing you any discomfort then it is ok to leave. If you have any concerns, then please email a photo using the guide and one of our orthodontists can advise you from there.
Problems with my elastics
Yes. Continue to wear your elastics as we have asked you to do so until you run out. At this stage, we will not be providing more elastics until we can assess you in person. But don’t worry, we can assess and continue these where necessary when we see you next.
At this stage we will not be re-attaching any brackets so stop wearing the elastics completely. If you are supposed to be wearing elastics on both right and the left sides, do not wear just on the one side, you will need to stop completely.
Again, at this stage we will not be providing more elastics until we can assess you in person. But don’t worry we can assess and continue these where necessary when we see you next.
Problems with my removable retainers
Please email the practice with your details and we will try to advise. Where we can, we will try to work with our lab to supply new retainers. If we have a scan or recent moulds of your teeth we may be able to make new retainers and ask the laboratory to send these directly to you. If we can do this there will be an extra charge for delivery on top of the standard retainer replacement charge. We will advise and invoice any charges via email before any order is placed. *PLEASE NOTE, this service will only be available if the laboratory is still fully functioning during this period. We may ask for pictures of your current retainers and/or teeth so that we can try to review the fit.
If it is not possible to remake your retainers, we may advise you, if possible, to wear the current retainer until we can see you. If there is a piece that is too loose, cracked or split, this could be a choking hazard and would not be advised.
If it is not possible to get a new replacement retainer AND you have lost or broken your current one, the British Orthodontic Society (BOS) suggest that you could consider ordering online a ‘boil in the bag’ (heat mouldable) gumshield to use and wear at night to reduce the risk of relapse (unwanted tooth movement). It should be noted that these appliances aren’t specifically designed to hold teeth in position so the manufacturer cannot be held responsible for any relapse.
Problems with my fixed (bonded) retainer
You will need to ensure that you are wearing your removable retainers for a minimum of 10/12 hours per day. If you are wearing your removable retainers there shouldn’t be any movement.
In this instance, we may advise to push the wire of your bonded retainer back down towards your tooth as much as possible. You could do this with your fingertip or tweezers and apply your Orthodontic wax to the area to cover any sharp points. It may also be necessary to cut the exposed unbonded wire using tweezers and nail clippers/scissors but please email the practice for advice on how to do this. As said above, you will now need to wear your removable retainers, if possible, to reduce the chance of movement.
I was due to have my braces removed and now that has been postponed
No. If you are looking after the brace and ensuring that your oral hygiene is of a high standard, then there is not an issue with the brace remaining on for a while longer.
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REMOVE YOUR FIXED BRACE. It is very irresponsible for you to attempt the removal of your brace. If you try this, you may damage the teeth in the process. We will contact you to arrange to remove your brace when the practice are able.
Delayed appointments
Delaying an appointment would not have a negative effect on your teeth; the specific high-tech wires that we use are designed to continue to apply light continuous pressure so will work as expected. The only detrimental effects would be poor oral hygiene which can damage the enamel. Please keep up with good oral hygiene (good toothbrushing and interdental cleaning).
Useful Links
https://www.bos.org.uk/News-and-Events/COVID19-BOS-Advice – British Orthodontic Society Website Guidance for COVID-19
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-g_JDGR-HA&feature=youtu.be – YouTube, Virtual consultation guidance for orthodontic patients
