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Should my dentist refer me to an orthodontist?     What is the correct age for the first orthodontic screening?     What happens at the initial examination?     What are the benefits of early treatment?     Will I need to have teeth extracted for braces?     How long does treatment last?     How often will appointments be scheduled?     Do braces hurt?     What should I do if spacers or separators are lost?     What happens if something is swallowed?     Can I return to school the same day that braces are fitted?     Can I play sports with braces?     Should I still see my family dentist?     Are there foods I cannot eat?     When is it too late for adults?     I have crowns and missing teeth. Can I wear braces?     Why an orthodontic SPECIALIST?     When to see an orthodontist.     Why orthodontic treatment?           Q: Do braces hurt? A: Once braces have been fitted, the patient will normally go through an initial phase of getting used to the appliances. We recommend that you eat soft foods for the first few days until you get used to the braces. Your lips, cheek, tongue and teeth may be sore for a few days. Some irritation to the cheeks and tongue is normal. Over-the-counter pain relief medications may be used. Placing Relief wax, which will be supplied to you, around the sore spots or sharp edges of the appliances. To use your wax, take a small piece about the size of a pea. Shape it into a ball with your fingers and apply the wax directly to the part of the braces causing the sore spot. Press it around the part and smooth it with your fingers. Wax is harmless and can be applied to your braces as often as is needed. NOTE: If you happen to run out of wax, sugar free gum can temporarily serve as a good alternative. Rinsing your mouth with a cup of warm water and teaspoon of salt can also be soothing. Once the patient is used to the appliances, treatment tends to be much more easily coped with. We will endeavour to make the treatment as comfortable as possible for you and keep you informed of what measures you can take to achieve this too. Some tightness will be felt in the initial period after braces have been fitted and occasionally after routine orthodontic visits as well when mild pain or soreness of the associated teeth may be felt from the forces placed on the teeth to move them.

Request an appointment Dr Mark Wertheimer 011 783 7171