Patient Information

At Strathcona Orthodontics we take oral hygiene very seriously. We want each and every patient to maintain excellent oral hygiene throughout their treatment. Our goal is that when treatment is completed your oral hygiene will match your beautiful new smile! It is important to continue seeing your dentist for regular check-ups and cleanings throughout your treatment.

Our dental assistants provide thorough individual instructions on how to properly brush and floss your teeth and maintain healthy gums while you have braces or appliances on your teeth. We recognize that it is just as important to educate parents of patients who are in treatment. Our Oral Health Protocol at Strathcona Orthodontics is ‘4 Strikes and They are Off'. 

Teeth are tender for about a week after the initial placement of the orthodontic appliances and also after each adjustment. Here are our suggestions that will help ease any discomfort.

• Wax acts like a Band-aid for your mouth.  By placing wax over the bracket it guards against further discomfort.  Be sure to dry the area off before you place the wax over the brackets - the wax sticks much better that way.  Use a large enough piece of wax to allow full coverage.
• Tantum Oral Rinse is a prescription mouth rinse which cleanses, disinfects and soothes irritated mouth tissue.  We suggest filling the prescription that we have provided, and using this rinse for the first day or two following the placement of the braces.  Follow the directions on the bottle.
• Ibuprofen (Advil) is the best pain reliever for sore teeth.  Follow the manufacturer’s directions regarding dosages and warnings.  If you are unable to take Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is the next best thing.
• Soft foods will be your best choice for the first few days, until your lips and teeth get used to the new braces.  Make sure that you are getting adequate nutrition including all the food groups so that you do not become run down.  Pudding, milkshakes, yogurt, scrambled eggs, pancakes and soups are all good choices for the first few days after your braces are put on.

We recognize that situations may occur that cause discomfort. Perhaps a wire will break, or you accidentally eat something that causes a problem. We have provided the information below to help you prevent those types of emergencies and also to answer some of the most common questions regarding these special situations.

Prevention

Occasionally your braces may break or begin to poke your gum tissue.  Simply being careful what you eat can prevent ninety-nine percent of all breakages. See 'Eating with braces' above.

Non urgent problems

Please call our office during regular office hours to see if we need to book an additional appointment, or to add time on to your next visit if you have one of the following:

• A loose or broken bracket
• A broken wire
• Lost spring or broken tube: please keep the piece that fell off (if you can) and bring it to the office when you come for your appointment
• Loose or missing hook: if you are attaching elastics to the hook, stop wearing your elastics on both sides.
• Lost elastics: you can call or drop by to pick up more elastics. If you cannot come to the office, we can mail them to you.

More urgent problems

Please call our office as soon as possible to schedule an emergency appointment if you experience one of the following situations:

• A loose band (silver ring around molar)
• Chain elastic broken or off
• Poking wire(s) can be a painful problem. This is generally caused by movement of the teeth, which is a good thing. The poking wire can cause severe discomfort, and should be attended to right away.  Use wax over the end of the wire until you have it clipped.  If you live outside of Edmonton, your general Dentist in your hometown may be able to clip the wire for you and save you a trip.

When we remove your braces we will begin the retention phase of your treatment. There is no guarantee that teeth, orthodontically treated or otherwise, will stay aligned without retention. For this reason; we recommend periodic retainer wear indefinitely. Compliance is truly a lifetime commitment!

Our in-office retention phase lasts a minimum of 18 months, and is individualized to meet each person's special requirements. Depending on your specific needs, your upper arch will either be fitted with a wrap-around retainer called a Hawley or a clear (invisible) retainer called a Trutain. You will have fun choosing a unique color for your retainer! Both are removable retainers and must be placed in their retainer case when not being worn as they are costly to replace.

A Lingual retaining wire will be bonded on the inside of your lower front teeth (this may also be used on the upper front teeth) to hold the teeth in their proper position. This is a great retainer as you do not have to worry about losing it or forgetting to put it in. The lingual wires will be worn indefinitely, provided that you maintain good oral hygiene to keep the wires clean.

In conjunction with orthodontics, there may be additional treatment recommended.  We strive to do our best to educate you and either offer these services or refer you to your dentist or other specialists as needed.

Appliances

At Strathcona Orthodontics we use a variety of revolutionary appliances that move your teeth and jaws. Whenever possible we try to avoid permanent tooth extractions and headgear.

Laser Therapy

Lasers are a very safe and effective solution to many orthodontic obstacles.  Laser Therapy treatment may be recommended if a patient has tissue overgrowth or bulky gum tissue. This can prevent proper bracket placement, or restrict good oral hygiene. We also offer laser treatment for canker sores (aphthuos ulcers). Compared to traditional soft tissue treatment options, laser therapy reduces bleeding, pain, swelling and scar formation. Also, the healing process is accelerated by reducing bacteria. We will discuss the fees with you should you require laser treatment.

Temporary Anchorage Devices (TADS)

Temporary Anchorage Devices (TADS) are miniscrews made from surgical grade titanium-alloy.  Using TADS allows difficult tooth movement to be achieved without the need for bulky appliances and in some cases prevents jaw surgery.  A topical anesthetic, followed by a local anesthetic is all that is required before the TADS are placed. Our doctors then use a small instrument to insert the miniscrew into the bone either on the palate or in between teeth; and then easily advance it into the final position.

 Wear your Damon Splint while sleeping unless you are instructed otherwise.

NEVER wrap your appliance in a napkin or tissue as it may be accidentally thrown in the trash.  ALWAYS store it in the case that is provided.

Clean your appliance daily by brushing it thoroughly with a toothbrush and toothpaste.

DO NOT soak the appliance in an alcohol based solution like mouthwash.  This will deteriorate the adhesive in the appliance.  You may soak it in Polident periodically.

NEVER leave your appliance within your pet’s reach.  They LOVE to chew orthodontic appliances.

Remember to bring your appliance with you to EVERY APPOINTMENT so the orthodontist can check and adjust it if necessary.

There is a fee to replace lost of damaged appliances. 

The Herbst Appliance is used in orthodontics to correct the front-to-back relationship of the upper and lower jaws. The rod and tube that is affectionately called 'The Shock Absorber' actually connects the upper and lower jaws. This does not interfere with opening and closing your mouth or with eating although you may find side to side movement is somewhat restricted.  This appliance is fully contained within your mouth and does not show.

The Mara appliance is also used in orthodontics to correct the front-to-back relationship of the upper and lower jaws.  This appliance is designed to gently guide the lower jaw forward when biting together.  It may take some time to adjust to the Mara appliance.  Because the Mara appliance is fully contained within your mouth, it is much easier to wear than headgear.