Instructions for Orthodontic Patients
Below is a resource to help our patients who are in active orthodontic treatment.
Clear Aligners (Invisalign & Suresmile)
- Continue to wear and change your aligners as prescribed.
- If you have run out of aligners, do NOT stop wearing them. Switch to nighttime wear (10 hours a day) to hold like a retainer.
- If you lose or break the last aligner, call us ASAP so we can order a replacement.
- Continue using the elastics as prescribed. If you run out let us know so that we can mail you more.
- Brush your teeth and clean your aligners.
Braces
- Be careful with eating (no sticky or hard foods) so as not to break any brackets off during this time.
- If you have a poking wire, trim it using a nail clipper or apply wax for temporary relief.
- If you have a bracket that breaks – it is OK! We will fix it at your next appointment. Put wax on it to prevent the bracket from sliding around.
- Brush your teeth and use floss threaders to keep your gums healthy.
Retainers (Hawley, Essix, or Bonded)
- Continue to wear your retainers as prescribed. Full time for the first 3 months. Second 3 months 12 hours. Bedtime for lifetime after that.
- If you lose or break your retainer let us know ASAP.
- If you have a bonded retainer that has come off, save it. You can place some wax around any irritating areas.
- Make sure to brush your teeth and keep the retainers clean.
Expanders
- Finish doing the last prescribed turns and STOP. Do not do any additional turns at this time.
- We will be contacting you shortly to check in and have you send us photos of your bite that we can review remotely for the time being.
- Make sure to brush your teeth and keep the appliance clean.
Twin Blocks
- Continue to wear your appliance full-time as much as possible.
- If you were doing turns on the top piece, STOP currently.
- We will be contacting you shortly to check in & have you send us photos of your bite that we can review remotely.
- If you lose or break the appliance let us know ASAP.
- Make sure to brush your teeth and keep the appliance clean.
Carriere Smile Bars
- Continue to use elastics as prescribed. If you run out let us know so that we can mail you more.
- Keep the lower clear retainer in while wearing your elastics.
- We will be contacting you shortly to check-in and have you send us photos of your bite that we can review remotely for the time being.
- Make sure you continue to brush your teeth and clean your retainer.
We are also available for emergency visits.
For more information, please call Desert Orthodontics at 575-521-0900.