Orthodontic treatment can significantly improve a person’s quality of life. Dr. Jared Lee and his team do not take that responsibility lightly, and they do everything they can in-office to give you the best experience and results possible. However, we can’t do it without you! How to get the most out of your orthodontic treatment is to make conscious, beneficial decisions every day with the purpose of your new smile in mind.
Clear Aligners
We’re proud to offer Invisalign clear aligners to our patients! As the leading in-office brand, you can feel confident that you are getting the highest quality clear aligners available. Clear aligners are removable, transparent trays that discreetly straighten your teeth. Each aligner is tailor-made for you using a detailed scan of your teeth and gums, so you can have efficient, comfortable treatment. With Invisalign, you can complete care in as little as six months if you follow the advice below!
Wear them
We don’t mean to state the obvious, but the best tip we can give you is to wear your clear aligners! Forgetting or neglecting to wear them can prolong your overall treatment duration by allowing your teeth space and time to regress (shift backward). It takes as little as one day to notice a difference, so wear your trays for twenty-two hours daily.
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 have carefully designed for you. We promise Dr. Lee has created the safest and quickest treatment program possible! Trying to advance to the next set early or skipping over a set will cause unnecessary discomfort and could distort the aligners. Any attempts to speed up the process will only have the opposite effect of prolonging treatment.
Have extras
One reason we see patients altering their schedule from home is because of lost or broken trays (find out how to prevent this below). It’s okay; it happens! Fortunately, we can always replace broken or damaged trays, but it might take time. In the meantime, you will need something to wear! To keep your teeth from regressing, wear your old aligners to minimize the unwanted shifting of your teeth without risking your overall treatment program. Remember not to move to the next tray ahead of schedule without Dr. Lee’s approval.
Use your protective case
If you’re not careful, your aligners’ removability, transparency, and thinness can make them easy to lose and break. Trays can be stepped on, chewed up by pets, left behind, and hard to find. They can also become very dirty or unsanitary when out of the mouth! To best protect your Invisalign aligners, always put them in their protective carrying case when you’re not wearing them! The case makes them easier to keep up with and safeguards them from physical harm, giving you one less thing to worry about every day.
Fixed Braces
Unlike removable braces, the patient cannot remove fixed braces because we glue clear and metal braces to the teeth. These braces use brackets, wires, and colorful ligatures to move the teeth into a perfect alignment. Their durability makes them great for all bite needs ranging from mild to complex. Despite their resilience, there are still a few things to remember during your treatment.
Follow the diet
Because fixed braces cannot be removed to eat, drink, or perform maintenance, you must be careful with what you consume. Hard, sticky, crunchy, or stringy food can get stuck in the braces, dislocate them from the teeth, or damage your brackets and wires. 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 or make beneficial decisions.
Don’t use whitening products
The glue we use to attach the brackets to your teeth is airtight and strong. Your braces won’t budge! If you use whitening products, you will only whiten half of your teeth. While it might look beautiful now, your teeth will be two different colors when your braces come off, leaving you disappointed and upset. Wait until treatment has ended to use any sort of whitening product. We promise you’ll be glad you did!
Fixed And Removable Braces
The following tips will help you whether you have clear braces, metal braces, or clear aligners.
Maintain oral hygiene
Another way to avoid irregular spotting on the teeth is to maintain proper oral hygiene. Improperly cleaned mouths can develop bacteria and plaque on the teeth and gums, creating white spots, tooth decay, gum disease, bad breath, and more. These conditions can cause pain, infections, and even tooth loss! Oral health complications can delay or prolong treatment and affect the cosmetic appearance of your smile. Brush and floss twice daily and attend regular dental cleanings to keep the mouth healthy and pretty before, during, and after treatment to achieve and maintain the smile of your dreams.
Wear your retainer
After you finish the braces phase, Dr. Lee will provide a custom-made retainer to hold your teeth in place as the mouth adapts to its new layout. These can also be fixed or removable. If removable, wear it as directed to keep the teeth from regressing! Neglecting or forgetting to wear your retainer could result in retreatment.
Visit Dr. Jared Lee For More Information!
For personalized advice or to get answers to your orthodontic questions, contact Dr. Lee and his team at his Santa Paula or Oxnard locations or click here to schedule a free consultation!