Does you Ortho office do cleaning on your teeth...

[GeenBug]

when you go in for adjustments?

Or do you have to get your cleanings done separately?

[bbsadmin]

Usually you get cleanings from your regular dentist, not from your orthodontist.

[Crazy4Snow]

My dentist and ortho's office are next to each other so it's quite convenient for me. I just had my first cleaning a couple of weeks ago. I went to ortho and they removed the ligs and wires and sent me next door for my cleaning (and thankfully I got an A+++ on my cleaning). Then the dentist sent me back next door to my ortho and they put new wires and ligs on. Very simple.

[Snowglobe32]

when you go in for adjustments?

Or do you have to get your cleanings done separately?

The ortho's office does not clean your teeth.
At adjustments, when the wires have been taken out, you are able to brush and floss.

[SueAsh5]

My ortho said I could come to his main office for cleanings sometimes. This would be separate from adjustments. His main office is not where I get adjustments as he travels to another clinic for those. No idea whether this would be an extra charge or not but it sounds wonderful to have someone else clean my teeth. My normal dentist will also clean my teeth at my 6-month checks but I believe just around the braces. I live in Spain so it´s likely different here.

Snowglobe32 - do you mean that at each adjustment they remove the wires and you can go brush and floss? I didn´t realize this. Now I am excited for the adjustments even though I know I might have pain later, but to get to normally floss would be great!

[Snowglobe32]

I should clarify my earlier comment: At most adjustments there is a possibility they will replace the wires with stronger ones so while you are wireless, they usually have you brush your teeth. Not everyone gets new wires (different strength) at adjustments though. Sometimes when you go back, whether it is in 6 or 8 weeks, the wires are not ready to be replaced.

I once went 4 months with the same wire. If you aren't doing SureSmile (when your wires are custom made by a robot) then the ortho is just using a standard wire so why not ask them to replace the wire? They may not want to depending on how well the wire is working and your treatment plan but it doesn't hurt to ask. I do remember when they finally took the wire I had been wearing for 4 months out, it wasn't very pretty. Because of this, I don't think it is very hygeinic to wear the same wire for more than 2 months.

[BraceFace2o1o]

Normally your Dentist or hygienist does your cleanings.

I actually paid my Ortho to clean my teeth thoroughly last year as he qualified as a Dentist before he trained to be a full time Ortho. I only did this because my NHS Dentist does not do a great clean and I kind of feel it's a waste of money. I tried to get it done at another practice that has a hygienist (my Dental practice doesn't have a hygienist, never has) and they said I would have to come in for a consult first (I would have to pay for that) and be put on their list, so I didn't bother... I didn't want to go through all that for a cleaning!

do you mean that at each adjustment they remove the wires and you can go brush and floss? I didn´t realize this. Now I am excited for the adjustments even though I know I might have pain later, but to get to normally floss would be great!

I don't think this is the case for everyone. Well it isn't for me anyway lol. I've been in braces a year now and when I go to my appointments for adjustments, they are just that... changing my wires, ligs etc and then I'm out again. My Ortho always spends a good 20-30 minutes or sometimes more with each patient so I think if he then had everyone flossing and brushing too he wouldn't get through many patients/appointments a day.

[Snowglobe32]

Chrystal-

I am shocked that they don't have you at least brush your teeth after they take the wires out.

Is this the normal practice at other offices? The next time you get a wire out, take a look in the mirror...with as much as we brush, floss and waterpik, stuff still gets stuck behind on the teeth and the brackets.

I have self ligitating brackets and after the wires are out, they leave the doors open so I can brush. My ortho said gunk can build up under the doors.

I feel lucky to know that they make us brush our teeth. They have a brushing station that has toothbrushes, paste, mouthwash and floss.

You should at least ask to brush...I am sure they won't mind.

[catgyrl]

My ortho also doesn't offer me the opportunity to brush my teeth after getting the wires, ligs, chains off. I guess he figures brushing should be done BEFORE we get there. I agree, though, that no matter how well you brush, there is "stuff" left behind. I've seen him hold up my wire and kinda wipe it off with his fingers. But he also only spends about 10 minutes with each patient, and they're scheduled very close together. The only ones I've seen at the sink are (1) the people getting braces for the first time, (2) people learning how to put in their elastics, and (3) the naughty ones who don't brush at all before getting there.

[Snowglobe32]

Cathy,

I am also shocked that you don't say, "Hey- hold on... going to go brush my teeth first!"

I think you should try it at your next appointment. You can say, "Instead of 5 questions, can I go brush my teeth?" Tell him, brushing before doesn't help...you need all of those germ catchers out of your mouth so you can brush.


I also read somewhere that every patient should have a paper bib...I have never had one of those at the ortho's office...but I would gladly forgo the bib so I can brush my teeth.

Come on everyone-- Demand to brush your teeth! Imagine how great it would feel! Let's start a revolution!

[catgyrl]

Cathy,

I am also shocked that you don't say, "Hey- hold on... going to go brush my teeth first!"

Snowglobe32 - you know me all too well! "Queen of the Questions"! I gotta keep that guy on his toes, right? I know he's a big stickler for clean teeth. He will hound a little 7-year-old with "Why didn't you brush your teeth? Weren't you our Best Brusher last month? I don't understand..." and then go out and tell her mom. I think if he had a problem with my hygiene, he would not hesitate to tell me.

I do get a paper bib. Well... I think it's actually a paper towel, and I'm not really sure what it's supposed to be used for, other than to cover up the cleavage that sometimes appears when I lie down in the chair. Can't have him looking at that, now, can we?

[Bracer215]

Interesting thread. The first two adjustments I did not brush and floss and was not asked if I wanted to. My coworker said she always brushes at an adjustment. So next time I went to the ortho I asked if I could and they said of course and they had a whole drawer full of special toothbrushes with some kind of toothpaste (dried) on them. Plus a whole drawer full of dental floss. So now I brush and floss at every adjustment. Even if I keep the same wire I have them take it out so I can brush. They always change the ligs so it really is not big deal to take the wire out.

[DrJasonKTam]

It is a time and schedule thing. Many orthodontists leave 10-15 minutes for adjustments. Therefore, there isn't time to complete everything and allow you to brush/floss after the wires go out and before they go back in.

Oral hygiene is one of my biggest priorities in our office. We leave 30 minutes for each adjustment and allow our patients to brush and floss after the wires come out at each visit. I'm not naive enough to think that all of our patients are flossing daily with the floss threaders .

This is probably one of the questions that should be asked at the initial consultation. Figure out how long each regular visit is and if there is the opportunity to brush.

As for the bibs... We owe it to our patients to make sure everything stays clean, but it also helps provide some modesty for women who may otherwise feel somewhat exposed laying back in the chair. EVERY patient of mine gets one and my staff know I will not come over to the chair without one on.

[Snowglobe32]

Last night, I took my powerchain off so I could clean and brush really good...well, with all the brushing, flossing, mouthwashing and waterpiking that I do...there was still buildup on the wire (which is covered by the powerchain) and on the side of the brackets. I have only been wearing the powerchain for 4 weeks. Normally, I take the pc off every week or so to clean really well, but this pc looked like it would give me trouble...

My point is, that it is very important to ask the ortho to let you brush when wires are out. I am still shocked that this doesn't occur. Next time, when they take your wires out, ask to see a mirror, there may be buildup around the brackets that you can not get to when the wires are in.

[drgnchsr36]

Nope. I get my teeth cleaned at my dentist. It would be nice if they were at the same location, alas...they're not. It's a day of dentistry when it's teeth cleaning day!