What happens when you first have braces?
When you first have your braces put on, you may notice that as your teeth begin to move, they’re likely to be a little tender, and eating softer foods will help to minimize any discomfort you feel.
Why are braces so tender?
When wires and bands are first placed, your mouth will probably be tender because the bone around the roots of your teeth is starting to change which allows the teeth to move. Over time your teeth will shift, and you’ll be more comfortable.
What to do if you lose your retainer?
If you lose your retainer, or it no longer fits, please call our office. There will be a charge to replace damaged or lost retainers. Please bring your retainers to your appointments. Please ask us about our retainer for life program. If you have any questions, please call our office at 616-842-8820.
How long does it take to adjust a brace?
The appointment to place your appliances (braces, expanders, etc.) will usually take between 1 to 1.5 hours. You will then see us every 5 to 6 weeks for an adjustment. Your regular adjustment appointments usually take 15 to 30 minutes.
Can you call an orthodontic office for an emergency?
True orthodontic emergencies are rare. If something comes loose, don’t be alarmed; this happens occasionally. As a general rule, you should call our office when you experience pain or have something wrong with an appliance that you can not take care of yourself. We will be able to schedule an appointment to resolve the problem.
Can you drink water while wearing braces?
Drinking sugary beverages while in braces can contribute to this process, so make sure to rinse with water or brush after drinking sports drinks, milk, flavored water, energy drinks, or soda. This opens in a new window. This opens in a new window.
Do retainers work if you have braces?
Retainers are designed to hold your teeth in their corrected position throughout your lifetime. Unfortunately, our teeth continue to move over time whether you had braces or not, and if you want to continue to benefit from your beautiful smile it needs to be held that way. Luckily as the bone structure around the roots of the teeth firm up, the amount per day you will need to wear the retainers will reduce. Eventually, wearing your retainers one night per week is usually adequate to prevent the slow movement from the the bite forces.
Convenient and secure services with Ortho Sesame
We value you as our patient and appreciate your commitment to continued oral health. We understand the importance of providing you with online convenience for managing your patient information, which is why we are excited to partner with Sesame Communications in our effort to stay connected. Using our convenient online services is easy.
Email and Text Message Reminders
Customize how you receive appointment reminders with email, text messaging, and/or voicemail. You can also download a reminder for your calendar so you don't forget your next appointment. After you log in to your account profile, you can confirm appointments online, eliminating reminders altogether.
Financial Pages
Just like our appointment reminders, you can customize how you receive financial reminders through email or voicemail. After you log in to your account profile, you can review and print your financial ledgers without having to call our office.
Online Bill Pay
After you log in to your account profile, review and pay your bills online directly through our website. All online payments are protected in a secure server via SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) so your credit card information is encrypted as you enter it.
View Images
Access and review your dental images and X-rays online from the comfort of your own home.
Share Your Smile with Family and Friends
If applicable, share your Invisalign® ClinCheck® via email and Facebook; show your family and friends how easily they can improve their smiles, too!
Post-Appointment Feedback
After your appointment, we'll send you a link to an online survey where you can let us know how we're doing (and what could use some improvement).
