Topics for Patient Newletter???

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#1 Post by **drrick** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 8:41 am

Hello All,

I am thinking of putting out an e-mail newsletter for patients and am just curious as to the topics patients would like the read about.

This would be primarily geared toward those who have not yet started treatment. (I already give the patients who have started treatment plenty of information on a regular basis)

So if I may ask what topics would you have liked to have read about before making your decision about getting braces with your doctor.

Any guidance is greatly appreciated.

#2 Post by **CassieB** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 10:09 am

I think the one thing I was not prepared for was that my teeth would get loose! Was a wee bit frightening but I did some research on my own and it became very apparent WHY they were loose! They are being moved after all.....

#3 Post by **Snowglobe32** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 2:28 pm

Hello,

What was really helpful to me while making the decision to get the braces was basic information I read from this webpage.

I think it is helpful to start with the basics, what exactly do braces do, what type of appliances are available with examples on real people, not people with superwhite teeth and straight smiles.

-Take patients through the whole process of what happens when they are put on (no one told me my teeth wouldn't look as white as they did before due to the bonding material) or that my mouth would be help open with those plastic things.

-What happens during an adjustment...haven't had one yet but still unsure what is going to happen.

Tell them sometimes it is not painful at all. I might just be a special case but I had literally no pain whatsoever the first week. Other than a few tender teeth and a slight lisp, I was horrified that this was going to hurt a lot and it didn't. Maybe because I am an adult and not a child the pain tolerance is different.

I was prepared for physical pain but I think what people really need to be prepared for is the emotional journey this will take one through...Before they go on, I think you get excited to get them, the anticipation builds up and then on the first day you think, why the heck did I do this? Why do I feel so ugly? Why does it feel like my teeth are now sticking out 5 feet from my face? Why do these braces feel so heavy? (Personally, I like to describe it as a really tight hug, when the braces go on your teeth it feels like someone is giving you a tight hug). I think you need to be prepared that your mouth won't look the same at first, but then you get used to it and you start seeing changes (it has been 10 days and I have major movement already) and they really just become apart of you and it isn't a big deal anymore.

Also, mention the increased amount of saliva that occurs in your mouth once the braces are on. I went from wet mouth to dry mouth almost instantly all the time. Take a drink, salivia goes away, mouth turns dry, then wet again. Repeat process. Explain that you might talk funny for a few days but that goes away also.

I have had my braces for less than two weeks, but this is the stuff that stasnds out right now. I am sure I will have more to add.

Hope this was helpful.

#4 Post by **drrick** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 7:55 am

Thank youso much for the feedback.
Any other suggestions?

#5 Post by Ilovemyteeth**** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 8:52 am

basically anything could think of, when I got braces for the second time. I thought I was going to have the metal permentaly on for the rest of my life cause I didn't know how they take off the brackets. Braces are a mystery to the brace wear especially if they are new to it.

#6 Post by **Laura1985** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 10:05 am

How about patient testimonies. You could feature different types of braces, and then have those patients talk about their experience with braces and what having braces has done for them.

Also, maybe a section about fearful patients and run through fears about braces and dental work, and then work to ease their fears.

#7 Post by **CassieB** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 2:07 pm

I like the idea of patient testimonies. I know I had some flickering days of regret and uncertainty. It's not fun and games for adults! Reassurance from former (and current) patients is an awesome idea!

#8 Post by **Quirky Girl** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 3:46 pm

I think that a section on what to expect and how to prepare would be great. You could suggest that newbies invest in a water pic and get a dental cleaning before getting braces. You could also suggest that they switch to a mouthwash that does not contain alcohol (I wish my ortho had suggested this to me, it would have save me a lot of discomfort). You could also mention this website so that they know that they are not alone, there are other adults with braces out there going through the same experience.

#9 Post by **starzz** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 5:37 pm

First, this is a great idea. Dr. Rick, you mention info you regularly give to your patients currently in treatment. Is there a way to share this with this board?

I'm coming from the perspective of someone braced a second time. I survived braces as a teen and thought it wouldn't be such a big deal to have them a second time. Well I was wrong in several ways! I've had far more pain, discomfort, and general annoyance / aggravation due the the braces this time as an adult.

Then there's the psychological issues. Wearing braces again made me feel like I'd been in a time machine gone back to high school. (I'm glad I got clear brackets on top "social six" so at least I don't have a repeat of full metal mouth.) They make you look younger too. Occasionally I've been talked down to or given poor customer service, like some adults assume I'm 17 or maybe 20? I've over 30! The last time I got that pre-braces was when I was in college. (I also always get carded since getting braced.) It is great to look young, but I am an adult and appreciate being treated as one and not like a kid.

Further there's issues about what kind of results can be achieved and the suspense of waiting to see what happens. In my case I've been dealing with the frustration of a treatment that is taking way longer than estimated, for no good reason. I'm compliant. I do understand there's variability between patients and the orthos predict as best they can the estimated treatment length. (For the record I'm happy with my ortho and what he's doing.) But when you sign up for 16-18 months of torture and are looking at 30+ months instead, it's getting old. It's like I bought the special for "buy one adjustment, get one extra adjustment free," LOL.

General Advice:
Like all things, flossing in braces gets easier. Drink lots of water. Use lip balm generously. You can (eventually) eat anything if you cut it up and eat carefully. Ibuprofen is good, and Naproxen is better.

#10 Post by **drrick** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 8:04 am

Wow these are great.

Keep the ides coming!!!

#11 Post by **alibracket** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 10:02 am

I think someone mentioned it before but maybe a patient of the month/quarter where you highlight a specific person

Soft food recipes submitted by other patients, Other patient submitted stuff like artwork and bad bracket poetry. I love bad poetry- advice column

Myths vs Facts

How to keep your teeth clean- recommended products

Explanation of time between adjustments.

Word Puzzles (stuff to do in the waiting room), Jokes

Pictorial 'How we change wires' or 'whats in the glue'

Articles:
Cosmetic surgery options like gum contouring or bonding
Retainers pros cons of each type
what to do when you move while in treatment

thats all i can think of for now...

#12 Post by **blueeyedboy** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 5:40 pm

drrick wrote:Thank youso much for the feedback.
Any other suggestions?

Tell them about the different types of wires that might be used, what their different characteristics are (in layman's terms, of course), what types of movements to expect (e.g., rotations, lateral movements, vertical movements, etc.). Tell them that sometime's they are uncomfortable; sometimes even painful - but most of the time you don't really notice them and when you do, it's usually short-lived and easily handled with over-the-counter meds. Tell them about elastics, the different configurations they might expect and what they do.

#13 Post by **rolo** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 1:42 am

Tips on how to keep braces clean... and it would be great if you can post a link to these on this site!

If you want your patients to wear retainers long-term, mention this, staff at my surgery tell me they that not everyone realises long term retainers are a must for straight teeth, and failed orthodontics is not a good advert! I suggested they put it in their pre-treatment info..probably best to mention before debracing day!?!

Also payment options, some people think the only option is to pay all up front and don't realise you can do monthly direct debit etc.

Info about staff and qualifications is good, so patients can direct any queries to the right person. The ortho therapist (assisants in USA?) was great in answering my pretreatment queries, I spoke to her before my initial consultation, and got her name and qualifications from a practice leaflet. She really sold the treatment to me. If info re her training wasn't in the leaflet, I might not have realised she was a lot more qualified than an dental nurse and asked her advice.

#14 Post by **drrick** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 8:30 am

great stuff guys!!!

#15 Post by **tacoma braced** » Sat Oct 17, 2009 8:00 am

I would like to know of upcoming office closures, also when office is open but provider is not there.
I would also like to know more about the committment an office has to keep me safe. do all your staff have flu shots? cleaning equiptment on site or off site?
do your staff have any special, additional credentials.

Also a topic of the month. the steps of brace , arch molding, teeth rotations, bite alignment, etc,
a spotlight on different staff, how long inthe office, how long doing this job,