Life with Braces

• Length of treatment
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Oral emergencies
• The importance of oral hygiene
• Arch enemies
• Express yourself with colored elastics
• Express yourself with custom colored retainer designs

Because everyone´s teeth are unique, treatment times vary from person to person. Most patients wear their InVu braces from one to three years. The best way to get your braces off sooner is to follow your orthodontist´s instructions carefully.

This means:

• Attend all of your appointments
• Avoid hard/sticky foods or chewing on things that could damage your InVu braces
• Use safety equipment (like helmets and mouth guards) when playing contact sports
• Brush and floss regularly
• Wear elastics or appliances like headgear and retainers exactly as directed

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Getting braces can mean lots of questions. Some are serious, some are silly. Having the answers can help you feel better about your InVu braces.

• Why should I get braces?
• How much do braces cost?
• Are braces just for kids?
• Is there such thing as invisible braces?
• Will braces hurt?
• Can I play football (basketball, soccer, etc) while wearing braces?
• Can I still play an instrument if I have braces?
• What happens if I miss a couple of appointments?
• If I get braces, do I have to brush my teeth at school?
• Why do I need a retainer?
• Can two people with braces “lock” together when kissing?

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There are many reasons for deciding to get braces. Crowded teeth make people self-conscious and can have lasting psychological effects. Studies show that a healthy smile builds self-confidence and can even influence future success.

A non-corrected bite has medical implications as well. Injuries to the gums, bone, and joints of the jaw can occur. Improper chewing may lead to pain and even digestive difficulties. Severe malocclusions can sometimes cause speech problems.

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The cost of braces depends on the type of treatment you´ll need and other factors like whether you want metal or InVu ceramic braces.

Fortunately, many insurance plans offer orthodontic benefits. Most orthodontists have ways to help make your treatment affordable.

It helps to keep in mind that the investment you make in orthodontic care will last a lifetime.

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No! Anyone can have braces. While teeth are most easily moved in childhood, they can be adjusted at any age. In fact, more and more adults are making the choice to have orthodontic care. Improved treatment techniques and aesthetic products like InVu ceramic brackets have helped to make braces much more desirable to adult patients.

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Not exactly (think about it - if your braces were truly invisible, the orthodontist wouldn´t be able to see and install them in the first place!).

However, your braces will be virtually invisible if you choose InVu ceramic brackets. Their translucent color is designed to blend in with your teeth. Adding tooth-colored archwires and untinted elastics helps to make them even less noticeable.

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Your teeth and mouth will be sore for a few days after your InVu braces are placed or adjustments are made. Fortunately, this doesn´t last forever! Patients compare this feeling to a mild headache, and over-the-counter pain relief medication will make you feel more comfortable.

For the first few days, it´s best to eat soft foods and avoid activities where you could bump or aggravate your mouth.

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Absolutely! If there´s a chance of being hit in the mouth or falling on your face, a helmet and mouth guard will help to protect your InVu braces. If you´re not sure what kind of protection you need, ask your orthodontist.

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Sure! All it takes is getting used to the feel of braces. Most musicians have no trouble adjusting. Your music teacher can show you if you´re using your mouth correctly.

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Sometimes cancellations are unavoidable. But generally, it´s best to attend all your appointments as scheduled. Your appointments are scheduled at specific times so that the orthodontist can check to make sure your teeth are moving exactly as planned. Missing an appointment can make you have to wear your InVu braces longer.

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Braces create new places for food to hide, causing tooth decay and bad breath. For this reason, it´s best to brush after lunch, even if you´re at work or school. If you absolutely can´t brush, rinsing with water after a snack, a meal, or even a can of soda will help a great deal.

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A retainer makes sure that you don´t undo all the progress that braces have made in moving your teeth. Retainers help teeth stay in place while they are being anchored in the bone. They can also help make minor adjustment changes. If you don´t wear your retainer, there´s a chance that you may need to have braces put on again.

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It´s highly unlikely. After researching the topic carefully, we have found no evidence of people´s braces ever getting stuck together during a kiss. The story seems to be an urban legend.

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To put it simply - broken, loose, or ill-fitting braces and appliances can´t do their job. Anything that gets in the way of this work has the potential to lengthen your total treatment time.

If you have an oral emergency, call your orthodontist´s office right away. Often, the problem can be solved with a temporary solution or suggestion given over the phone. If not, you can set an appointment to have the problem fixed.

A loose or uncomfortable wire can be covered with a piece of orthodontic wax until you can get in to the office.

If you break or loosen a bracket or band, don´t panic - but do call your orthodontist. He or she may say it´s OK to leave until your next appointment, although in some cases you´ll need to come in sooner.

Don´t be afraid of getting in trouble - chances are, your orthodontist has seen it all. What´s most important is to fix the problem right away before it causes even more trouble down the road.

If a tooth gets knocked out, place it in a glass of milk until it can be replaced. Milk keeps the sensitive membrane on the tooth from drying out. But hurry - re-implantation is most successful if done within the first couple of hours.

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Not only is good oral hygiene vital to orthodontic success, but it will help to ensure that your smile lasts a lifetime. Get used to:

• Brushing your teeth after every meal
• Flossing daily as directed
• Massaging your gums gently with your toothbrush to keep them healthy
• Avoiding foods that can damage your braces or get stuck in your teeth

With braces, good oral hygiene is even more important than ever, because it´s easy for particles of food to get trapped in and around brackets and wires. This increases your chances of tooth decay and can cause bad breath.

Because your InVu brackets are translucent, bits of food will be easy to see. Not only that, but improper oral hygiene can cause the ligatures that hold the archwire onto your brackets discolor and look bad.

If circumstances prevent you from brushing, it can be helpful to rinse your mouth with water after drinking soda or eating a sugary snack.

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Now that your InVu braces are in place, it´s up to you to keep them in good working order.

Beware of the following:

• Gum - regular and sugarless
• Chewy candy like caramel, licorice, Starburst, and Now and Laters
• Hard, sticky candy like Jolly Ranchers
• Tough foods like beef jerky
• Crunchy foods like raw vegetables, hard bread and nuts!

Also, don´t bite on things like pens and pencils or ice. It only takes a moment to pop off a bracket or break a wire. Some estimates say that each untreated broken bracket can prolong treatment by a whole month! Before you put something in your mouth, ask yourself if it´s worth it.

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Why have boring braces? As long as you´ve got to wear them, you may as well dress them up! Colored elastics can customize your mouth for any occasion. Choose orange and black for Halloween or wear your school colors for Homecoming. Show your patriotism with a mouth full of red, white, and blue or cheer for your favorite sports team.

You can change colors at every visit - the only limit is your imagination!

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Once your InVu braces have been removed, chances are you´ll have to wear a retainer for a while. Express yourself by choosing from a variety of custom retainer designs!

Let your imagination run wild - there´s a rainbow of colors and styles to choose from, including glitter, neon, patterns and swirls, wiggly eyes, sports imprints, or other symbols. Check with your orthodontist to pick a retainer that´s as unique as you are!

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