5 Things Patients Tell Us and Why We’re Not Mad About It
We’ve heard a lot of things in the orthodontic chair over the years, and honestly, we love it! We understand that kids, teens and even adults “forget” or lose things, which is why we’re here to help. Braces, aligners and retainers can take time to get used to. Sometimes, all the rules don’t seem to make much sense (especially to kids). However, by understanding why what you do matters, it can help you remember to follow our instructions. This way, you can reveal a beautiful, healthy smile at the end of your treatment.
Why Orthodontic Compliance Matters
Orthodontic compliance means following all of your orthodontist’s instructions. Remember, wearing your rubber bands, aligners or taking proper care of your braces is the key to success. For example, if you wear an aligner, you should keep it in for 20 to 22 hours a day. Skipping days can make treatment take much longer.
When wearing braces, you should avoid certain types of foods. If you break a bracket while chewing on sticky candy, not only will you need to head to the orthodontist’s office, but your braces will have to stay on longer. Sticking to your orthodontist’s instructions can help you stay on schedule with your treatment.
We’ve Heard It All: Most Common Orthodontic Excuses (And Why They Matter)
Nobody’s perfect. As much as we may try to do the right thing, sometimes life gets in the way. We understand that slip-ups happen from time to time. Here’s the top excuses we hear in the orthodontic chair, what we’re thinking when we hear them and why what you do next matters.
1. “I forgot to wear my rubber bands…”
We may have heard this line a time or two (hundred, really). Rubber bands are usually the most important part of fixing your bite. If you forget about them for a day, it’s probably okay. However, if you forget them for a week, you’ll slow your progress, and treatment will take longer. So, while an occasional forgetful moment happens, just get back on track as soon as you can.
2. “I only ate one chip… and it just happened to break my bracket.”
C’mon now. As we all know, it’s nearly impossible to eat just one potato chip. But if you truly did eat just one, well, that chip must have been very determined! More often than not, though, popcorn and hard candy are usually involved in a bracket break. We know that no one is perfect, so if you’ve got a break, just come on in. We’ll fix you right up and keep moving forward with your treatment.
3. “I lost my aligner… again.”
Did you lose your Invisalign aligner only to remember wrapping it in your napkin at lunch and tossing it in the trash? This scenario is super common. In fact, every orthodontist has likely considered putting a tracking device on aligners. A good rule of thumb is that if you aren’t using your aligner, keep it in your case.
Aligner compliance is important. Aligners need to be worn consistently to be effective, and losing trays disrupts this progress. If you’ve lost your aligner, call us ASAP. We can help you figure out the next steps.
4. “I swear I’ve been wearing my retainer…”
We can usually tell. Just saying. Teeth have a “memory,” and they love to shift back into their original places. A retainer prevents this from happening. But if you’re only wearing your retainer on Saturdays, it won’t work, and you’ll undo any progress you’ve made. You’ll notice that your retainer also feels tighter if you haven’t worn it in a while. If you’ve gone a while without wearing your retainer, just schedule a visit with us so we can make sure everything looks okay.
5. “It doesn’t hurt, so I thought it was fine.”
Ah, yes, here’s the old “no pain, no problem” theory. We often think that pain is the only clue that something’s wrong. But pain isn’t the only indicator of tooth movement. In some cases, your aligner or brace may be seated incorrectly. So while it’s not necessarily moving (and therefore, not hurting), it also isn’t doing the job of fixing your teeth. Remember, orthodontics is about long-term alignment, not just discomfort. This is why it’s important to never skip your checkups. By catching these issues early, we can correct them early too.
Here’s the Good News
So the truth is, we’ve just about heard it all. And we get it. Life is busy, and kids are kids. Adults are super busy, too. But here’s the good news. You don’t need to be perfect when it comes to taking care of your teeth. You just have to stay consistent about it.
Think of your orthodontist as your coach. While they can give you all of the best gear in the world, you actually have to participate and play the game to “win.” When you follow your orthodontist’s instructions, you can expect:
- Faster results – When you follow instructions, you’re more likely to get your braces off faster (and who doesn’t want that?).
- Fewer emergencies – Not snacking on hard food means less frequent (and uncomfortable) emergency appointments to fix broken brackets or wires.
- A perfect bite – Wearing your rubber bands as instructed ensures that your top and bottom teeth line up correctly, which prevents jaw pain later on.
- A dazzling smile – Wearing your retainer means all that hard work you did won’t go to waste. However, if you don’t wear it, your teeth will eventually move back.
Remember, small habits over time lead to big results, especially when it comes to your smile. Staying consistent with your braces or aligners is what will keep you on track with your treatment and prevent delays in your results.
As your orthodontist, I’m not standing by waiting to catch you doing something wrong. I’m here to help you finish your orthodontic treatment strong. If something breaks, gets lost or just feels out of place, reach out and let us know. We’ll help you get back on track, no judgment!
FAQs
Why is orthodontic compliance important?
Orthodontic compliance is essential because your braces and aligners can’t do their job without you! Follow the plan, and things move faster. And you’ll get better results!
Do aligners really need to be worn 22 hours a day?
Wearing aligners for 20 to 22 hours a day is very important for effective tooth movement. Not following this guidance can delay or compromise results.
What happens if you skip wearing rubber bands?
Skipping your rubber bands can slow down or even reverse your progress. These elastics are doing some serious work behind the scenes. They help correct your bite. When you don’t wear them consistently, your teeth will decide to stay right where they are (treatment takes longer)!
What happens if you don’t wear your retainer?
This can cause your teeth to shift back to their original position! Even skipping a few days can cause teeth to start to move, and not in the direction you want!