Taking Care Of Your Removable Appliances
Removable appliances are orthodontic devices which can be taken out by the patient for cleaning and which are designed to apply forces to the teeth by means of springs screws and other mechanical components.
To Use
It is optimal to use your appliances for a minimum of 14 hours per day, wearing them throughout the night and some part of the day. The longer you wear the appliances the faster the treatment will take and the sooner your appliances will be off.
To Clean
Just like brushing your teeth, it is important you clean your appliances every day and to remove them while eating.
To clean your appliances you can use RetainerBrite or liquid soap. Do not use toothpaste as this can be extremely abrasive on the appliance.
To Keep Safe
When you are not using your appliances, it is important that you keep them in the container provided to keep them safe.
Wrapping them in tissue, frequently causes them to be binned by accident.
Discomfort
It is very common to experience some discomfort initially whilst using your appliances.
If you have prolonged discomfort you can remove the appliance for 5-10 minutes and put them back in. If this occurs frequently, you may use paracetamol during the beginning while you get used to the appliance. Discomfort is generally only experienced in the first few days.
Speaking
It is recommended that you practice reading aloud whilst wearing the appliances so you can get used to speaking with the appliances in.
This will also help your mouth and jaws get used to the new position that they will be in.
Overcorrection
You may notice that your jaw may be even more forward rather than being in alignment.
This is because after using the appliances there will be some relapse, for this reason overcorrection is done to achieve an optimal result.