Banding/Bonding
Extreme care of bands and brackets is necessary. They must be kept extra clean. Appliances can be damaged by eating hard candy, chewing on ice, or biting into very bard or sticky foods.
Elastics
Rubber bands will be required to guide the teeth into an ideal bite. Not wearing elastics as instructed will delay completion of treatment.
Estimated Treatment Time
Cooperation of patient and parent is essential in order to complete treatment in the estimated treatment time. Broken braces, missed appointments and failure to wear elastics can result in extended treatment time.
Retainers
Following the active phase of orthodontics, the patient enters a critical phase of treatment, which is retention. The retention period is to maintain the teeth in the corrected position. For many patients, wearing their retainers throughout their lifetime will be necessary to keep the teeth straight.
Family Dentist
We require that the patient's teeth be cleaned and that all cavities be filled before orthodontic treatment begins. We recommend that the patient continue to see the family dentist every six months for cleaning and cavity checks during the entire orthodontic treatment. Good brushing is absolutely necessary during orthodontic treatment. Failure to do so can cause serious dental problems.
Insurance
If your insurance policy offers orthodontic coverage, we will help you determine the coverage available to you and make arrangements based on the amount of estimated insurance. We are happy to help in any way in filing your claims and handling insurance on your behalf.
In Case of Emergency
Should you have an emergency after hours or on weekends, dial 281 "4 BRACES", press 25, then leave a detailed message. This will automatically page Dr. Buck or the assistant on call. Someone is always available to assist you!