If you like, before your first appointment with us, you can print your forms, fill them out, and have them ready before you arrive! If you have any questions, please call our office.
These are common questions we hear - from preparation for your braces, to care during treatment, and even common terms. Don't see the answer to your question? Feel free to reach out to our office. We'd love to assist you.
Braces are the gadgets orthodontists use to move teeth. They consist of several components, each of which serves a specific purpose. Braces usually include not only the brackets you see on the teeth, but also the wires that run from one bracket to the next.
Braces are for almost anyone. To qualify for braces, you must be willing to cooperate with treatment. This means that you must be an excellent tooth-brusher. Also, if your teeth need a certain type of movement using rubber bands, you must be able and willing to insert and remove the rubber bands daily.
Braces frequently cause some discomfort. This can usually be alleviated with an over-the-counter medication such as ibuprofen. The discomfort typically lasts for 2-3 days after an appointment. Some people have no pain at all.
Dr. Sarah Jacobson is our orthodontist at both the Washington Court House and Wilmington locations.
Dr. Jacobson strongly discourages any of her patients from using any tobacco product. Tobacco is known to cause cancer, gum disease, cavities, and poor wound healing.Furthermore, do NOT vape!
Most of your favorite meals are fine to enjoy with your braces. However, any foods that are hard, crunchy, or sticky are off-limits. Crunchy fresh vegetables and fruits are to be sliced into smaller pieces before enjoying. Pizza is fine, but a hard crust is to be avoided. Ask your orthodontist, Dr. Jacobson, about any specific food questions you may have.
Occasionally a bracket may come off of a tooth, or a wire may start poking and irritating your cheek. If this happens, please call us right away. We are happy to fix things up such that you can be comfortable. To prevent these things from happening, remember to be careful with what you eat, and do not pick at or play with your braces.
Patients with braces should brush after every meal and snack. Care must be taken to brush thoroughly at the gum line, where plaque accumulates.
Some patients, but not all, get bands on some of their teeth. Bands look like metal rings. They go around the molar tooth, and are held in place with special dental glue. Generally, bands serve the same purpose as other brackets
Sometimes we call these "turbos". These serve two purposes: protect the bottom braces from being bitten off, and protect the top teeth from being damaged by the bottom braces. They're usually blue, they're usually on the bottom back teeth, and they can feel annoying at first. Not to worry, you'll get used to them
Bonding is the term dentists and orthodontists use when they are gluing something to a tooth. The term bonding is more specific and denotes a particular chemistry unique to the dental profession. Bonding is often completed with the use of a special light.
Brackets are the braces that you see on the front teeth. They are custom-made to the doctor’s specifications. Brackets are bonded (kind of like glue) to the front of the teeth.
Dentistry uses all types of cements, for various purposes. They all function to glue something to a tooth.
There are many different types of retainers. They all serve the same purpose – to keep teeth in place after the braces are removed. Everybody’s teeth have a tendency to move throughout life. The retainer shown in this picture is removable – that is to say, the patient removes the retainer to eat.
Separators are also sometimes called spacers. Some patients get them before their braces. Separators are used to slightly move teeth just enough to be able to place bands on the teeth.
