Prominent teeth may be associated with a lower jaw that is too small. Part of the treatment in these cases is to encourage the growth of the lower jaw.

A functional appliance is used to do this. This appliance makes the lower jaw bite in a forward position. Twin Blocks are also used to correct a number of irregular bites. It can be difficult to get used to initially and perseverance is very important. Also, speech may be difficult for the first few days. Reading a book out loud with the appliance in place can be helpful for improvement of speech. Functional appliances should be worn as near to 24 hours a day as possible. When fitted with a functional appliance you should use warm salt water rinses ( a cup of warm water with a teaspoon of salt) at least twice a day for the following few days to toughen up gums and prevent irritation.

The functional appliance should be removed briefly after eating while you brush your teeth and rinse the appliance under a tap to remove any food particles. We will give you more specific instructions on wearing on your Individual functional appliance in the office.

Fixed appliances are necessary in the vast majority of orthodontic treatments. They allow us to do very precise tooth movements and align the teeth in a good relationship to one another. These appliances are stuck to teeth and create extra areas where food may get trapped. Excellent oral hygiene is essential with fixed appliances and patients are given an Oral Hygiene Pack and shown an short DVD to help them in this area. For more information on why oral hygiene is so important during orthodontic treatment please visit ORAL HYGIENE

When fitted with a fixed appliances you should use warm salt water rinses ( some ward water with a teaspoon of salt) at least twice a day for the following few days to toughen up gums and prevent irritation.

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Molar teeth take up valuable space and cause a narrowing of the dental arch when they are in a bad position. Correcting this angulation gives us extra space useful in the correction of crowding and produces a wider arch giving a wider smile. Palatal bars are not removable. Patients should clean carefully around them. The imprint of the bar may appear on the tongue for a couple of days following fitting

When fitted with a palatal bar you should use warm salt water rinses ( some ward water with a teaspoon of salt) at least twice a day for the following few days to toughen up gums and prevent irritation.

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As teeth usually move , crowding of the front teeth often results. The lip bumper is an extremely useful appliance which prevents back teeth from moving forward and allows us to capture and gain extra space necessary to straighten irregular teeth. Your Lip Bumper should be worn full time. If there is any reason why you can not wear your lip bumper then please contact the surgery. Remember there is a lot of elasticity in our tissues and space gained over many months of lip bumper wear may be lost in just a few days if left out. It is not necessary to remove for cleaning but you should clean carefully above and below as instructed on fitting.

When fitted with a lip bumper you should use warm salt water rinses ( some warm water with a teaspoon of salt) at least twice a day for the following few days to toughen up gums and prevent irritation

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This is a removable appliance worn on the top arch full time. It should be removed after eating to brush teeth and clean food off the appliance. Initially speech and eating may be difficult but with perseverance after 2-3 days the appliance will feel like part of your mouth.

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The URA works in conjunction with your headgear to put a 24 hour force on your teeth ensuring that the back teeth move back and the from teeth do not move forward.

For many patients the wearing of headgear is essential to get the best possible orthodontic result. Headgear should be worn a minimum of 12 hours per day. The longer its worn the faster the movement will take place. Space gained by the headgear can be lost very quickly if it is not worn and you should contact the surgery immediately if there is any reason you can not wear it.

Nobody should interfere with the headgear when it is being worn. The safety strap must be worn as instructed. Please bring your headgear along to each orthodontic appointment.

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If you have been supplied with elastics then please make sure you always have a sufficient supply of them. If you run out CONTACT THE SURGERY. Make sure you take note of which country is named on the bag i.e.) USA, Japan, Spain . Alternatively you could need BUMMER elastics marked in green on a white bag.

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Teeth will always want to move after orthodontic treatment. In order to minimize change after orthodontics retainers are fitted immediately after appliances are removed.

Fixed retainers

A small wire can be bonded to the teeth for certain patients. This is a fixed retainer and is left in place indefinitely to prevent movement of the teeth. When you are attending your own dentist for your regular check ups they will check the fixed retainer and should refer you back to the surgery if your having problems. The fixed retainer must be kept spotlessly clean and Superfloss used to clean around the fixed retainer. Please contact the surgery ASAP if there is a problem with the fixed retainer

Removable retainers

There are various different types of removable retainers. Some incorporate wire and some are just plastic. When you are fitted with your retainer you will be given specific instructions on how to care for it, how often to wear it etc.

Remember: No part of the body stops absolutely still and teeth are no exception. If one does not want any chance what so ever then indefinite part time wear of retainers may be advised.

Wax /Gel

Orthodontic wax and a gel with a mild anesthetic are available for patients wearing orthodontic appliances and may help with minor discomforts. Wax should be placed over the brackets which are causing a problem after the area has been dried off well. This provides a barrier between the wire and adjacent gum.

Gel can be placed on sensitive tissue or mouth ulcers and sooths like Bonjela.

If you require any wax or gel please contact the surgery to request more.