What freebies did you get from your dentist?

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Featheryy1221
Posts: 474
Joined: Sun Sep 01, 2013 8:12 am

Re: What freebies did you get from your dentist?

#16 Post by Featheryy1221 »

I probably wouldn't use the waterpik in public only because you get enough weird looks when you're just brushing your teeth in public bathrooms. lol. When you're at lunch just try to drink water after every bite, or every other. If you cut up your food, instead of biting with your teeth, you won't have too much that gets stuck and if it does, it's usually on the back teeth. Then you can just pop into the bathroom afterwards and brush and use the 'Christmas tree' brushes. :) That should be enough. If you are traveling for work, it's not a big deal if you don't use the waterpik, just leave it at home and use it there. :)
Like others, I too stressed the week before getting braces, because I had read a lot of people that had really hard times the first couple weeks. Honestly though, for me it wasn't bad at all. I think I worked it up way to much in my head. It's different for every person though. It's weird when you see them on your teeth for the first time, you'll grow to get over it. There are days I'm over having braces and just want to see my result (because I'm impatient) and days I don't mind them. For the most part I don't notice them, unless I'm thinking about them or if I've just gotten an adjustment. No one has made any negative comment about them, strangers don't comment, my friends and family only comment to say that my teeth look great already.
Don't stress too much. Or do, and then you may be like me and you'll think, "This was what I was worried about?" lol. :lol:

As for freebies: I got wax, sample of floss, a ton of floss threaders, a couple 'Christmas tree' brushes, a hour glass sand thing (to help kids know how long to brush there teeth, which is useless to me as my electric toothbrush 'warns' me when it's been 2 minutes and I brush past that time anyway), a mirror, travel toothbrush, a t-shirt with their name on it and a thermal mug with their logo on it (I threw both of those out. lol).

Some people are lucky and get a waterpik from their ortho and other nice gifts. I must admit, I'm jealous. :(
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Estimated treatment time: 18 months. (6 months- expander, 1 year- braces)
Bonded Rapid Palatal Expander: 10/1/13 - 3/31/14
Upper and Lower Metal Braces: 4/22/14 - 7/14/15
Total treatment time: 21 months

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djspeece
Posts: 2105
Joined: Mon Oct 29, 2012 9:36 am
Location: North Canton, Ohio USA

Re: What freebies did you get from your dentist?

#17 Post by djspeece »

nuna wrote:Lorsa,

Wow a whole week off work? Lucky you! I got my appointment for 9am and need to be back at work at lunch time... It will be a long day for me:(

Thank you so much for your post and detailed description of your routine. It is very helpful and it gives me hope that I will manage with that braces business.
I like your positive attitude and it was a pleasure to read all your comments.


Everyone keep recommending the waterpik so I might get the big one instead of a portable version. Ideally I would get something portable but reviews are very mixed and I don't want to waist money on something that wont perform.
I can believe how much 'accessories' one need when braces are installed! I wait and see what I get from the ortho and then order the rest online/get in boots. I am off on holidays in few days so hopefully will stop obsessing about 'Project Braces' for 8 days:)

Dan, I am exactly the same! Made a decision about getting braces and within one week I had all appointment and said 'yes'. Now after all research I started to released what I got myself into! I agree that after some time I will stop making a big deal about braces and probably less people will notice than I think.
So you are nearly at the end of brace journey. Are you happy with the results so far?
I didn't have a lot of cosmetic issues, fortunately. But the results so far have been good. A couple of gaps have closed, my teeth are now standing straighter, and I think the overall structure and order is improved. My bite is improving, although now with molars moving it is a bit of a puzzle some days. Initially I had to have a crown extracted, leaving a gap in the lower left premolar area. I could have gotten an implant for about the same amount of money, but my general dentist recommended braces to correct other little issues and to hopefully prevent issues down the road.
Dan

Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional. -- Buddist saying

lorsa
Posts: 49
Joined: Tue Jun 17, 2014 8:58 pm
Location: Western Canada

Re: What freebies did you get from your dentist?

#18 Post by lorsa »

Hey Nuna and Dan, I think we are all 3 alike! I too made the decision almost immediately after my appointment, then later started researching and wondering if I was ready...but it was too late to change my mind. In truth, as the date got closer, my dentist was w-a-a-y more excited about my upcoming bracing than I was! (Lucky you Dan, to be near the end!)

And I was just lucky to get them on during a week when I wasn't working. Damons are custom-fitted to your mouth/teeth, so they take approximately 6 weeks to manufacture after taking your mouth measurements. So it just happened that they were ready for installation during a week I had already booked off from work, otherwise I would have had to go right back to work afterwards too. That might be better for you Nuna, since you'll have something to take your mind off them for the first few hours.

As for freebies, I received pretty much the same things as Featheryy1221, except I didn't get a mug or t-shirt (I would have chucked them in the trash straightaway too :) ). I bought the Waterpik after coming to this chatboard and seeing it recommended by a lot of people.

Now that I have the braces, I am happy I got them. It might be a nuisance for a year or two, but I know it is something good I am doing for myself. And like Featheryy says, "No one has made any negative comment about them". And if someone ever did, I would just assume they are envious, ha ha! :D

TheProfessor
Posts: 441
Joined: Thu Jun 19, 2014 9:03 pm

Re: What freebies did you get from your dentist?

#19 Post by TheProfessor »

I got a little bag with a braces toothbrush, a travel toothbrush, Christmas tree brush, floss threaders, dental mirror, wax, and two of those hourglass things :). They also offered me a T-shirt, but I said no thank you.

I was also obsessed and tried to plan everything before my braces went on. It took me a couple of months to get to where I don't think about my teeth all the time! I'm ok eating in public with people I know, but professional meals can be tough! I'm headed to Portugal on Friday for a week- long conference. Lots of lunches and dinners with new people. I'm hoping they serve something besides sandwiches and apples for lunch, otherwise I'll be a very hungry girl....

I have the portable Waterpick Plus--I'm regretting not buying the regular one! It loses it's charge fast and gets very weak even on the high setting. I wouldn't recommend it!
Braces installed on March 25, 2014: Damon clears on top and metal on bottom.
I had braces for 25 months!

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nuna
Posts: 22
Joined: Sun Jul 06, 2014 5:27 am
Location: UK

Re: What freebies did you get from your dentist?

#20 Post by nuna »

Dan, After reading your post I think I need to educate myself on orthodontics terminology! English is not my first language and I had to google some of the words you used:)

Lorsa, Haha love your attitude:)

TheProfessor, what is the deal with tshirts? are ortho's looking for way of free advertisement? Thanks for sharing your opinion on the portable waterpik. Now I am sure I will go for a normal sized one and will just floss when I am away.
Hope your conference goes well. I bet the weather will be lovely so plenty of sunshine and chance to get a nice tan for you. The food in Portugal is great so it would be a shame if they did sandwiches for lunch.

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djspeece
Posts: 2105
Joined: Mon Oct 29, 2012 9:36 am
Location: North Canton, Ohio USA

Re: What freebies did you get from your dentist?

#21 Post by djspeece »

nuna wrote:Dan, After reading your post I think I need to educate myself on orthodontics terminology! English is not my first language and I had to google some of the words you used:)

Lorsa, Haha love your attitude:)

TheProfessor, what is the deal with tshirts? are ortho's looking for way of free advertisement? Thanks for sharing your opinion on the portable waterpik. Now I am sure I will go for a normal sized one and will just floss when I am away.
Hope your conference goes well. I bet the weather will be lovely so plenty of sunshine and chance to get a nice tan for you. The food in Portugal is great so it would be a shame if they did sandwiches for lunch.
Sorry for any confusion nuna, but I never would have guessed that English is not your first language! I tend to use slang (e.g., "do-dads") and other somewhat archaic or old-fashioned words that would confuse some readers.
Dan

Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional. -- Buddist saying

nuna
Posts: 22
Joined: Sun Jul 06, 2014 5:27 am
Location: UK

Re: What freebies did you get from your dentist?

#22 Post by nuna »

Dan, no worries. I need to work on my vocabulary! I have never socially discussed dental topics before so I got some work to do:) I am ok with do-dads like words but it is professional words such as tooth names and types of orthodontic conditions what I am rubbish to understand. Well, again, more research needed :D

asylumgreen
Posts: 29
Joined: Mon May 12, 2014 8:16 pm

Re: What freebies did you get from your dentist?

#23 Post by asylumgreen »

I got some kind of rinse, a proxabrush, a longer stick type of proxabrush with a little bag of attachments, some floss threaders, a pack of wax and a special toothbrush for braces. I didn't care for the floss threaders - I prefer these little picks I bought that are like regular floss picks except with a thinner plastic part so they can fit under the braces wire. I got the Plackers brand ones and they've worked pretty well - although my teeth at the very front are too close together for those to fit, so I bought threader floss (individual pieces of floss with a stiff end that can be threaded under the wire) to use on those teeth.

TheProfessor
Posts: 441
Joined: Thu Jun 19, 2014 9:03 pm

Re: What freebies did you get from your dentist?

#24 Post by TheProfessor »

Yes, the t-shirt thing is weird-- but free advertising for the ortho. There is a rewards system at my ortho and you get extra points if you wear the tshirt to adjustments. I haven't noticed any of the kids wearing their shirts to appointments. Now they are doing a photo contest- you are supposed to send in pictures of you wearing the tshirt on vacation. Now I wish I had one to wear in Portugal :jokerlaugh:
Braces installed on March 25, 2014: Damon clears on top and metal on bottom.
I had braces for 25 months!

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nuna
Posts: 22
Joined: Sun Jul 06, 2014 5:27 am
Location: UK

Re: What freebies did you get from your dentist?

#25 Post by nuna »

asylumgreen I have seen these flossing picks which fit behind braces online. I will order some just as I hate normal string floss.

TheProfessor, haha cant believe dentist got such a well organised advertising campaign:) How s food in Portugal? Hope you got some nice food choices at lunch time:)

AlexO890
Posts: 74
Joined: Sat Jul 12, 2014 6:18 pm
Location: United States

Re: What freebies did you get from your dentist?

#26 Post by AlexO890 »

The freebies I got from my last dentist appointment were floss, toothpaste, a toothbrush, and a referral to the orthodontist.

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pjade1
Posts: 213
Joined: Fri Jun 06, 2014 7:46 pm
Location: Washington state

Re: What freebies did you get from your dentist?

#27 Post by pjade1 »

I got a red clear plastic zip up case with an ortho toothbrush/proxabrush on other end, two different kinds of floss threaders, floss, a couple of containers of wax, a few travel proxabrushes toothpaste, dental mirror, sand timer, travel ortho toothbrush, coupon for $2 off Act 2 floride rinse, a travel cup with the orthos name on it filled with a packet of chocolate instant breakfast mix, 2 mini peanut butter cups, another ortho travel tooth brush and more wax. They even showed me how to use all the products before I left.
07/14/14 - 4 spacers put in
07/25/14 - braces top and bottom put in minus 2 molar bands that they couldn't fit
9/11/14 - 2 spacers put in between the bottom back molars
9/19/14 - last 2 bottom molar bands in and all hooked up, new wire, started elastics too
10/14/14 - new square wire change and thick elastics
04/24/17 - braces removed!!! :BigGrin:
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kiligeorge
Posts: 33
Joined: Tue Jul 08, 2014 1:02 pm

Re: What freebies did you get from your dentist?

#28 Post by kiligeorge »

I just got my braces on and I got a ton of freebies. For braces/dental care I was given a travel bag with a full size toothbrush, a travel toothbrush, floss, a mirror tool, wax, a wire brush, and a bunch of toothpicks.

I also got a coupon to the local smoothie place.

TreadLightly
Posts: 24
Joined: Sun Aug 03, 2014 9:06 am

Re: What freebies did you get from your dentist?

#29 Post by TreadLightly »

I think every Dentist offers their own kind of freebies. You just have to be able to identify what they constitute as a freebie.

Do they find themselves pushing one product because this company pays them too?
Do they not hand you products per say but give good financial flexibility with payments?

My dentist never gave 'freebies' per say but was always willing to work with me even if I was a little short on the payment side. I have been with the same dentist though for over 6 years so I'm sure he's gotten a fair amount from me.

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