At Designer Smiles by Benton, we do everything we can to ensure you have the top-notch experience we are known for. But we can’t do it without your help outside of the office! How to get the most out of treatment is to take an active role in your care and make purposeful, careful choices while in treatment.
For Fixed Braces
Though some of our tips will be universal (helpful no matter your treatment type), we want to start with our Damon metal, Damon clear braces, and Lightforce clear braces (which uses custom 3D-printed brackets.) These are our fixed braces, meaning Dr. Benton or Dr. Barry will bond them to your teeth using orthodontic glue.
Follow the diet.
One of the most important things to do when you have fixed braces is to follow the prescribed diet provided by our orthodontic team. Because fixed braces cannot be removed to eat, drink, or perform maintenance, you must be careful with what you consume. Food that is too hard, sticky, crunchy, or stringy can get stuck in the braces, dislocate them from the teeth, or damage your brackets and wires. Fortunately, broken braces are not an emergency for the most part and will not affect your teeth’s movement path. However, frequent or constant consumption of the wrong food can make your braces uncomfortable and oral hygiene frustrating, drastically reducing the quality of your experience and your motivation to complete treatment.
Go to your adjustment appointments.
Clear and metal braces use wires to move your teeth. Dr. John Benton or Dr. Barry Benton will adjust your braces every few weeks to encourage teeth progression. You must attend these sessions on time, every time, so your teeth can move across their path as quickly as possible. These appointments also allow our orthodontic team to monitor the condition of your braces and oral health so you can have a healthy, happy mouth during your time with us.
Specifically For Clear Aligners
At Designer Smiles, we are thrilled to offer Spark, Invisalign in-office, and Invisalign from home through our Boost program, which gives you the convenience of online orthodontics with the benefits of a local office nearby! Clear aligners are removable, transparent trays that discreetly straighten your teeth, meaning you can transform your smile without changing your diet or routine! Even still, the aligners don’t work on autopilot and need your assistance to achieve the best results!
Don’t forget to wear them.
Invisalign clear aligners use top-of-the-line technology for comfort and style, but it only works if you wear them! Forgetting or neglecting to wear them can prolong your overall treatment time and give your teeth space and time to regress (shift backward). Wear your trays for twenty-two hours daily.
Have extras.
If your clear aligners become broken (or lost), you must come to see us so we can make you a new tray. Until your new trays are made, you will need to keep your teeth from shifting backward and undoing the progress you’ve made so far. That’s where your previous trays come in! You should wear them until you get your replacement aligners to minimize the space teeth have to return to their original spots.
Stay on schedule.
Invisalign uses a series of trays, each slightly different than the last, to encourage teeth movement. Each set is worn for one to two weeks before you advance to the next. Follow the schedule that we carefully design for you. We promise that we have created the safest and quickest treatment program possible! Any attempts to speed up the process (skipping trays or switching early) will only have the opposite effect.
Use your protective case.
Always place your trays in their protective carrying case when you are not wearing your trays! The case makes them easier to keep up with and safeguards them from physical harm, such as being stepped on or chewed up by a pet.
For Fixed And Removable Braces
For some things, it does not matter if you fixed or removable appliances. The following tips will help you whether you have clear braces, metal braces, or clear aligners.
Dental Monitoring
At Designer Smiles, we understand that life is busy and unpredictable. We also understand that you have things to do outside of our office! That’s why we have teamed up with DentalMonitoring so that we can watch over your smile from a distance.
Once a week (or as often as requested by our orthodontists), you will use the Scanbox device to scan your mouth and then submit the results via your DentalMonitoring app on your phone!
This system will allow you to spend less time in the office but still get constantly updating personalized orthodontic care. For more information, click here to read our DentalMonitoring blog!
Maintain oral hygiene.
Unclean mouths can breed bacteria and plaque that can quickly develop into tooth decay and gum disease. These conditions can cause pain, infections, and even tooth loss! No matter your braces treatment, maintaining oral health is crucial to having a pleasant experience and achieving the best possible results.
Two easy ways to maintain your oral health are to brush and floss twice daily and attend your regular dental cleanings. Both keep your teeth squeaky clean, and the dental visits will allow your dentist to find and treat issues before they can cause damage to your smile!
Wear your retainer.
When your teeth are in their final positions, the mouth is still metaphorically “soft and squishy.” Your teeth also have excellent memories; as soon as your braces are not putting pressure on them, they will try to return to their original positions! It takes as little as one day for a noticeable, visible difference in teeth position. As the name suggests, your custom retainer will retain your teeth while the bones resolidify around the teeth.
Like aligners, improper care can damage them. We can always replace lost or broken retainers, but you don’t want to risk regression while you wait for a replacement! Follow the instructions provided to you closely.
Orthodontic results are meant to last a lifetime if you follow directions! Neglecting to wear or needing frequent replacements from improper care can cause you to restart treatment!
For More Information, Visit Designer Smiles By Benton!
You deserve a smile created just for you, and Designer Smiles by Benton can do just that! Our excellent team will create a personalized treatment plan to give you a one-of-a-kind functional, beautiful look.
To get started, contact our Oxford office and schedule a free consultation. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to stay up-to-date on our happenings and deals!