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For Our Patients
Forms
If you would like to make your first visit to our office timely and efficient,
click here to download
patient forms which you can review and fill out before your arrival.
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Your New Role: Treatment Partner
Reading is Fundamental. Studies have shown that the new patient information you received during your first visit is 100% more effective if it is taken out of the bag, opened and read thoroughly! So, read all your information as soon as you get home. It contains all the details you'll need to take good care of your braces so your teeth will stay bright and beautiful while your new smile is under construction. After you've read it, keep it in a safe and handy place so you can refer to it when needed.
Express yourself. Let Dr. Nelson know of any special concerns you may have as soon as possible. It is important that you tell him as much about your health as possible so your treatment can be tailored to meet your needs. As soon as you become aware of any condition that may impact your health or treatment, let Dr. Nelson know. Examples include medical conditions, whether you are undergoing treatment by a doctor, allergies, medications you take regularly, including herbal and non-prescription remedies, changes in your health status, etc.
If at any time you have any questions or concerns about your treatment or how to wear or care for your appliances, just ask Dr. Nelson or a member of your treatment team on your next visit. You can also send us an e-mail or call. We'll be happy to answer all of your questions about your care!
Follow the map. One of the simplest things you can do to make sure your treatment is as quick and effective as possible is follow the instructions you receive from Dr. Nelson and the staff to the letter. Your treatment plan is the roadmap to get you to your new, improved smile quickly and efficiently. When you follow the plan, you keep yourself moving along the road to that brand new smile. The more closely you follow the plan, the quicker you'll reach your destination. It's that simple.
Your treatment plan is individualized, designed just for you and your appliances. The appliances you use, wearing times and methods, and special care instructions are specifically tailored to give you the best opportunity to meet your treatment goals within your treatment timeframe. By wearing your rubber bands and other appliances exactly as instructed for the required time, you do your part to help make sure your treatment is completed on time with the most beautiful results possible. Think of yourself as Dr. Nelson's partner in your treatment-what you do for yourself matters just a much as what he does for you in making your beautiful, new smile a reality.
Being there. Making all your appointments and arriving on time will help ensure your new smile is finished on time and as beautifully as possible. Remember that your appointment time has been set aside just for you and has been scheduled to ensure the best results from your treatment. If you are unable to keep an appointment due to an unexpected emergency, please call the office to let us know as soon as possible so that we can reschedule you without delay.
Missing or delaying appointments will lengthen the amount of time you must wear braces and may result in less than expected results and increased cost.
You are what you eat. When your teeth are sore, you will probably be more comfortable if you eat
soft foods. Even when your mouth is feeling fine, you must completely avoid hard, crunchy, tough, sticky
and sugary foods, including ice. These foods can break wires and loosen brackets, as well as increasing
the potential for tooth damage and decay. Damaging or breaking your braces could increase the time it
takes to complete your treatment and may result in increased costs.
Remember, always brush thoroughly after eating anything, especially sugary foods. And you don't have to brush all of your teeth, just the ones you want to keep!
Here are some examples of foods to avoid:
- Absolute No-No's (don't even think about it!):
- Popcorn, nuts, nut brittles
- Ice
- Lemons (the acid can damage tooth enamel)
- Corn-on-the-cob
- Corn chips, crisp tacos
- Taffy, caramels, gummy bears and sticky candies
- Lifesavers and other hard candies
- Bubble gum (all kinds, even sugar-free!)
- Pizza crusts (the hard outer edge)
- Maybe's (if you prepare it right):
- Thin raw carrot curls (made with a vegetable peeler, not sticks or whole carrots)
- Apple wedges (never bite into a whole apple)
- French bread (taken in small pieces and eaten very carefully)
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Caring for Your Teeth
- Practice good oral hygiene every day. To keep your teeth and gums healthy while your new smile is under construction, it is very important that you keep your teeth, gums and all parts of your braces absolutely clean. Your braces should always look as clean and shiny as the day you got them!
- Brush thoroughly with an ADA-approved fluoride toothpaste after every meal and snack, or as soon as you can after eating.
- Use a soft brush to avoid damaging your teeth or gums.
- Brush for three to five minutes each time using a circular motion, making sure your brush reaches and cleans above, below and between the brackets and wires, as well as the front, tops and insides of each of your teeth.
- Be sure to brush gently but thoroughly at the gum line with your toothbrush at an angle to clean and massage your gums. Gently brush your tongue too, to keep your mouth and breath feeling, tasting and smelling clean and fresh.
- Floss between all of your teeth and behind each of your back teeth, threading the floss under the wire using a floss threader or floss with a built-in threader.
- After cleaning, examine your teeth and braces in the mirror to make sure everything is thoroughly clean, shiny and looking good.
- Use a fluoride rinse every night. After thoroughly brushing, flossing and examining your teeth before going to bed, brush the fluoride rinse recommended by Dr. Nelson onto your teeth or swish it vigorously through your teeth and around your mouth. Do not eat or drink anything after you apply the fluoride treatment. Using the rinse every night will help keep your teeth strong, healthy and beautiful during treatment.
- Replace your toothbrush regularly. A worn tooth brush with frayed bristles won't clean your teeth effectively. Replace your toothbrush at the first sign of wear or every month, whichever is sooner.
- See your general dentist regularly. During your orthodontic treatment, you should continue to see your family dentist every six months or more frequently if recommended by your dentist, for regular check-ups and cleanings. Your orthodontist will keep your dentist apprised of your progress and any special concerns related to your braces. Your dentist will let the orthodontist know if there are concerns about your general dental health.
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Handling Minor Problems
Soreness or Discomfort. From time to time you may experience soreness or discomfort from your braces, especially after an adjustment. This discomfort is expected and should resolve itself in three to five days. In the meantime, rising your mouth with warm salt water or taking the over the counter pain reliever you normally use for headaches or one recommended by your orthodontist should give you immediate relief. If you have allergies to over the counter pain relievers or other medications, let the orthodontist know and he can recommend an alternative pain reliever for you.
Loose Wires. If one of your wires comes loose and causes you discomfort or irritation, use a pencil eraser, the handle of a spoon or other blunt object to bend the loose end out of your way or cut it with a fingernail clipper while firmly holding onto the loose end to avoid swallowing it. Do not put anything sharp or pointed into your mouth. Pressing a generous piece of dental wax directly onto the part of your braces that is causing the discomfort will prevent further irritation. If something is sticking out and you cannot adjust it so that it is no longer causing you discomfort, please call our office as soon as possible and we'll be happy to assist you. Don't forget to bring any loose parts with you to your next appointment to avoid possible charges for replacement parts.
Loose Brackets. If a bracket becomes loose, please call our office to schedule an appointment to have it repaired. While repair of a loose bracket can usually wait until your next scheduled appointment, you should still let us know that the repair is needed as soon as possible, but no later than 24 hours before your appointment, so that we can adjust your appointment time to accommodate the repair. If you do not let us know that a repair is needed, we may have to schedule a separate repair appointment for you at another time. Don't forget to bring any loose parts with you to your next appointment to avoid possible charges for replacement parts.
Loose Bands. If one of the metal rings around your back teeth becomes loose or breaks, please contact our office as soon as possible to schedule an appointment to repair it. Don't forget to bring any loose parts with you to your next appointment to avoid possible charges for replacement parts.
Spacers. The placement of spacers can cause temporary soreness which should subside within a few days. Rinsing with warm salt water and continuing to chew as normally as possible will help reduce discomfort. If you lose a spacer, call so we can determine whether a replacement is needed before your next appointment.
Trauma to the mouth. In case of a severe or life-threatening injury, call 911 or proceed to the nearest emergency facility without delay. Either you or the emergency physician should contact Dr. Nelson when convenient to discuss your injury and any further treatment that may be needed. For less severe trauma to the mouth, please contact our office or your family dentist as soon as you can-within 30 minutes of the accident if at all possible--for assistance. Do not try to move or reposition displaced or dislodged teeth. Doing so can cause further damage.
Allergies. Although extremely rare, it is possible for some people to have an allergic reaction to the materials used in orthodontics. If you have known allergies, be sure to let Dr. Nelson know during your first visit. If you experience a severe allergic reaction, seek medical help without delay. If the situation is not an emergency, contact your family doctor or our office for assistance.
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Appointments
Appointment times. Patients are seen by appointment only. Long appointments must be scheduled for the mid-morning hours to enable us to schedule as many short appointments as possible for the afternoon hours. While it is impossible to see all of our patients after school, we will do our best to rotate appointments to minimize the number of times each patient must be checked out of school.
When repairs are needed. If you have a loose or broken appliance, you will need to call to let us know that the repair is needed so we can adjust the length of your appointment to accommodate the repair. Let us know as soon as possible, but no later than 24 hours before your appointment. If you do not provide the required notice, we may have to schedule a separate repair appointment for you at another time.
Rescheduling. Remember that your appointment time has been set aside just for you and has been scheduled to ensure the best results from your treatment. If you are unable to keep an appointment due to an unexpected emergency, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can reschedule you without delay.
Missing or delaying appointments will lengthen the amount of time you must wear braces and may result in less than expected results and increased cost. Please note that we may not be able to accommodate special time requests for rescheduled appointments.
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Retainers
After the active phase of your orthodontic treatment is complete, you will receive an appliance called a "retainer." The retainer holds your teeth in place until your bone, root membrane, gums, tongue and lips have fully adjusted to your new smile and are fully prepared to make sure it stays as beautiful as the day your braces are removed.
Retainers are not optional appliances. Wearing your retainers as instructed is essential to the success of your treatment. Without your retainers, the investment you and your orthodontist have made in your new smile over the long months of active treatment will be lost. Teeth have an amazing memory, and without the benefit of retention, will drift back to their former position. Nobody wants that to happen! After you've worked so hard for that beautiful smile, take the little extra effort required to keep it that way.
Retainer reminders:
- Retainers are seldom lost or broken while in the mouth. While lost or broken retainers can be replaced and should be as soon as possible, they can interfere in the stabilization process and cause additional expense.
- Wear your retainer as instructed, including when you sleep, every day, for as long as instructed. If you're not sure when or how long you have to wear it, please call and ask.
- Maintain your good brushing and flossing habits. At each brushing, also gently brush your retainer inside and out with tooth paste and rinse it well with clear water.
- While your retainer may initially make saying some words challenging, this should completely clear up in as little as a few days with continuous wear. Remember, practice makes perfect!
- Don't store your retainer in your pocket or wrapped in a napkin while you eat. These are sure ways to break or lose your retainer in the garbage. (YUCK!)
- Don't leave your retainer in reach of curious children or pets.
- Don't wear anyone else's retainer or an old retainer after getting a new or adjusted one. Only your latest retainer will do the job for you.
- When you must take your retainer out, store it in the box provided by our office. Make sure your contact information is written clearly on the box in permanent marker so it can be returned if found.
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