I would like to clear up any confusion about the effect that broken braces have on your orthodontic treatment.  It... Slows... Your... Treatment...!

You may ask what this means to you?  It means that you will have your braces on longer.

I am sure that most of you realize that you are much more attractive now that you have braces on your teeth and you are probably thinking that you wish you could have them forever.  Well, there is a way to make this dream come true!  If you were to always have broken or loose bands and brackets when you come to see us every month, then you could still be around to break in the new orthodontist that takes over my practice when I retire (in twenty years).  Would that be sweet or what!

If you are one of the very few people in our office that would like to get their braces off as soon as possible (this probably only applies to four or five of you), then you should avoid putting things in your mouth that might break your braces.  This would usually be certain types of food or candy; however, you should also stop chewing on the ends of pencils and pens, or picking at your braces with your fingernails.  Not only could this break your braces, but you never know where they have been.  It amazes me that no one will admit to chewing on pens and yet there are thousands of mangled writing pens out there in the world.  Also stop opening bottles and cans with your teeth, talking at excessively rapid rates, and definitely no water skiing with the rope handle in your mouth.

If you do happen to have a bracket or band loose, then please call us in advance.  It requires more time to replace these appliances and most monthly visits are scheduled with enough time for adjustments only.  If we do not know about the breakage in advance to change our schedule, then you will probably be asked to come back for another visit to repair the damage.  This allows us to stay on time for our other patients.  If we do get behind it is usually due to an emergency, unexpected treatment required, or patients coming in late for visits.
 
Thank you for your help, and for reading this note to the very end.
Your favorite Orthodontist and Caring Staff.




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