Will braces interfere with playing musical instruments?

Braces and musical instruments generate many questions. Many patients at Haug Orthodontics are musicians. There have been a number of research studies related to orthodontics and musical instruments. Haug Orthodontics informs their instrument-playing patients that woodwind players may have slightly more difficulty than brass instrument players. Every musician seems to adapt very well to playing with braces after a week or two of practice. Some of them find that placing wax on the brackets is helpful during the initial adjustment period.

Will braces interfere with playing sports?

No, they will not. You may think that a child with braces on their teeth must avoid doing any of the more active sports, due to the notion that any kind of serious impact may be detrimental to the mouth and teeth. This is simply not true. At Haug Orthodontics, we treat wrestlers, hockey players, soccer players, cheerleaders, volleyball players, football, and players in all other types of sports. We do, however, always advise our patients to wear a mouthpiece or a mouth guard if they can.

Do braces hurt?

Surprisingly to most patients, it does not hurt to place the bands and brackets on your teeth. Once your braces are in place and connected with the archwires, it generally takes 12-24 hours to start feeling some discomfort (if any). The lighter, round wires are much more comfortable in the overall orthodontic experience. You may feel some soreness of your teeth for a couple of days after a new wire is installed. If you experience any discomfort, you may wish to eat softer foods like mashed potatoes, soup, macaroni and cheese, pudding for a couple of days. But none of this compares to the discomfort of having a smile that you cannot be proud to show.

What are diagnostic records?

In most cases, Dr. Haug will need diagnostic records such as x-rays, photographs, and a study model of the mouth and teeth to confirm the final diagnosis and treatment plan.  These records can be taken during the first visit.

Even without full records, Dr. Haug should still be able to answer the following questions at your first visit:

-Do I have any orthodontic problems?
-If so, what are they?
-What can be done to correct the problems?
-Will I need to have teeth removed?
-When should I start treatment?
-What kind of outcome can I expect?
-How long will I need to have treatment?
-How much will orthodontics cost me?
-What are my payment plans and insurance benefits?
-What if I chose not to have treatment done at this time?

What can I expect at my first visit to the orthodontist office?

At your first visit, you will receive:

-A thorough examination by Dr. Haug
-A detailed review of recommended treatment
-A summary of the treatment investment and payment options
-Everything you need to make an informed decision

The appointment will last approximately 1 hour.  In many instances, if treatment is needed, we can begin the same day!  Give us a call at 618.463.7002 or 618.654.8017 to schedule your appointment today!

Will it hurt to remove my braces?

It should not hurt to remove your braces.  The brackets are easy to remove.  The just twist off.  Sometimes, removing the bands at the back of your mouth might be uncomfortable.  If so, let the orthodontist know and the bands may be cut so that it does not hurt.

Why do my braces need tightened?

During orthodontic treatment, the orthodontist stretches your jaw and moves your teeth so that everything fits.  If the orthodontist would try to move your teeth all at once, it would hurt too much and might damage the roots of your teeth.  The orthodontist moves your teeth slowly to avoid hurting you too badly.  Every time your braces are "tightened", your teeth move a little bit.  Then the orthodontist waits for your teeth, jaw & gums to shift, before moving your teeth again.

I have been in braces for quite some time. Why do I have to wear rubberbands now?

When you are getting close to the end of your treatment and your teeth are all straight, the orthodontist is looking at how your teeth meet together when you bite down.  Your teeth should fit down together kind of like a puzzle.  So to close any spaces when biting down, the orthodontist may have you wear elastics (rubberbands) in a triangle.  To make sure the center of your teeth (midline) line up, the orthodontist may have you wear a diagonal elastic in the front.  To make sure your molars meet right, you may need to wear elastic on one or both sides of your mouth.  Your assistant will make sure you know how to putThese only work when a patient wears them 24/7.  This will determine how quickly you get your braces off... so JUST DO IT!  :)

Why do I have to wear retainers 24/7 after my braces come off?

Your teeth have been moved around for quite some time.  Now that your braces are off we need to keep your teeth in their new wonderful position!  Wearing your retainers all the time builds your bone strong and healthy so that your teeth stay in this new position.  Kind of like having a broken bone and wearing a cast so that your bone heals correctly.

Since I got my braces on last week, I've had some sores in my mouth. Why?

During the first week of treatment, you may notice sores or ulcerations inside your mouth.  This can happen because your lips and cheeks are not yet used to rubbing against your orthodontic braces.  Over time, your skin on the inside of your mouth will get tougher and you will not have sores anymore.  To provide some relief for your lips and cheeks rubbing against your rough braces, you can place a small pea-sized amount of wax or cotton on the area of the braces that is causing the sore or ulceration.  The sore should improve within a couple of days and completely heal within a week.  Rinsing with salt water can help speed the healing proess.  If the sore or ulceration does not improve or gets worse, call your orthodontist to have it examined.

How do I make a salt water rinse?

To make a salt water rinse, simply mix ½ teaspoon of table salt in one cup of warm water. Stir until the salt is completely dissolved. Then transfer approximately ¼ cup of solution to your mouth and gently swish for 30 seconds, being sure to force the water over any areas that feel particularly tender. Then spit the water into the sink. Repeat until the entire cup is gone.

Can I eat when I leave the office after getting my braces?

Yes, you can eat after getting your braces.  Although, it needs to be super-soft foods and no soda, or fruit juices with acid, the first 48 hours.  The "bonding" (or glue) takes about 48 hours to completely "cure," or "set-up."  After that refer to your Diet Chart for a list of foods to be avoided.

Dr. Haug told me to do warm and cold water rinses. Why and what does that do?

The warm and cold water rinses are needed when a patient is in thermal archwires.  They assist in activating the archwires.  The warm water rinse keeps the archwire in a perfect form, which is the track we want the teeth to follow, while the cold water rinse resets the archwire.  You will need to continue doing your rinses until you are out of thermal archwires.  A warm drink would count as your rinse on your warm day, while a cold drink would also count as a rinse on your cold day.  You would alternate warm and cold each day, 3-4 times a day.  One day is a warm water rinse, the following is a cold water rinse.  We suggest in the morning, after school and before bed.  Doing these rinses can help "boost" your treatment time forward, and you may also want to place a "Post-It" note on the bathroom mirror as a reminder to do the rinses.