orthodontic treatment – what are the … information leaflet no: 2 orthodontic treatment – what...
TRANSCRIPT
PatientInformationLeafletNo:2
ORTHODONTICTREATMENT–WHATARETHERISKS?
Ifyouarethinkingofhavingorthodontictreatment,youwillneedtoknowaboutthebenefitsandrisks.Youmaywanttoasksomequestionsbeforeyoudecidewhethertogoahead.What is orthodontic treatment? Orthodontic treatment usually involves wearing braces. Orthodontictreatmentmay involve theextractionof teeth,butonlywhennecessary. Yourorthodontistwill advise youduringtreatmentplanning.What are thepossiblebenefits of orthodontic treatment? There aremanybenefits of havingorthodontictreatmentsuchas:
• Improveappearanceoftheteethandface• Improvedhealthofteethandgums• Improvedbite,makingiteasiertoeat
Whatarethepossiblerisksoforthodontictreatment?Patientsshouldfinishtheirorthodontictreatmentwithhealthyteethandgums.Unfortunately,somepatientsdoexperienceproblemsduringorthodontictreatment.Your orthodontist will talk to you about the common risks of treatment and about those that mightparticularlyaffectyou.
MOSTPROBLEMSAREPREVENTABLEIFYOUTAKECAREOFYOURTEETHANDGUMSWill I end upwithmarks onmy teeth? Your teeth will be damaged unless you keep them clean and aresensibleaboutwhatyoueatanddrink.
MAKESURETHISDOESN’THAPPENTOYOURTEETH!
Itisimportanttobrushyourteethwellaminimumoftwiceaday,withfluoridetoothpaste.Ifyoudonotkeepyour teeth andbraces clean, you risk endingupwithpermanentwhiteor brownmarkson your teeth.Thepictureaboveshowsthis.Rinsingwithfluoridemouth-washatbedtimeaftertoothbrushing,willalsohelptokeepyourteethhealthy. Ifyouhavetoomanysweets,sugaryfoods,fruitdrinksorfizzydrinksyoualsoriskendingupwithmarksonyourteeth.Themoreoftenyouhavesugaryfoodsordrinks,themorelikelyyouaretodamageyourteeth,soavoidsweetthingsbetweenmeals.Willmygumsbedamaged?Mostpatientsexperiencealittlerednessandswellingofthegumswhilstwearingabrace.Theproblemusuallydisappearsoncethebraceisremoved.However,ifyoudonotbrushyourteethandbraceproperly,yourgumsmaybecomeveryswollenduringtreatment,causinglastingdamage.
| Email: [email protected] | Website: http://belurorthodontics.co.uk
Does itmatter if I have injuredmy teeth in the past?Please tell your orthodontist if you have previouslyknockedordamagedafronttooth.Ifthishashappenedtoyou,thenthereisariskthatyourtoothmayneedfurthertreatmentwhileyouarewearingabrace.Onesignofthis isthatthetoothmaybecomedarkerovertime.Ifanytreatmentisneeded,thiswillusuallybecarriedoutbyyourregulardentist.
Willtherootsofmyteethbedamaged?Allbraceworkcausesminorchangestotherootsoftheteeth.Thisisnotusuallyaproblem. Occasionally,changestotherootscanbemoreserious. It isoftenpossibletotell ifsomeoneisatrisk,butnotalways.Ifyouareatparticularriskyourorthodontistwilltalktoyouaboutthis.
Willmyteethbepainful?Yourteetharelikelytobesoreforabout3-5daysafterthebraceisfittedandeachtime it isadjusted. Ifnecessary,painkillers suchas theonesyouwouldnormally take foraheadachemayhelp. Pleasefollowtheinstructionsonthepacket. Ifyourbracerubsyourlipsorcheek,youcanbegivenaproducttohelpwiththis. Ifyouareexperiencingextremepainpleasecall01189775121togetadvicefromyourorthodontist.
Isthereachancethatmytreatmentwon’tbesuccessful?Yourorthodontictreatmentshouldbesuccessfulifyou are committed to your treatment, look after your teeth and braces well, followyour orthodontist’sinstructionsandensurethatyouattendedyourregularappointmentstohavethebraceadjusted.
Willmyteethmoveaftertreatment?Youwillbeaskedtowearretainersafteractivetreatment. Retainersaredesignedtoholdtheteethintheirnewstraightposition.Itisveryimportantthatyouwearyourretainersas instructed. How long you will need to wear them depends on how your teeth originally looked. Yourorthodontistwilldiscussthiswithyouattheendofactivetreatment.
Youcanexpectyourteethtomovealittleonceyoustopwearingretainers. Changesinthepositionofyourteethcancontinuethroughoutlifeandareapartofthenormalageingprocess.Tomaintaintheteethinthepositiontheywereinwhenyourbraceswereremoved,itisadvisedthatyouwearyourretainersonceaweekonalongtermbasis.
Arethereanyotherrisks? Therearesomerareriskswhichonlyaffectafewpeople. Ifthereisaparticularriskinvolvedinyourtreatment,yourorthodontistwilltalktoyouaboutthis.
If you have any more questions that you would like to ask, please write them down and talk to yourorthodontistatyournextappointment.Itisimportantthatyoufullyunderstandwhatisinvolvedinhavingtreatmentbeforeyoudecidetogoahead.