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Smiling Wide Orthodontics

Getting Started

Orthodontic treatment is not something that you can rush. There is no need as the treatment takes several months to complete. Whether your appointment is at our clinic in Bundaberg, Maryborough or Hervey Bay, we put together a customised treatment plan to help achieve the results you want.

PRE-TREATMENT

During your complimentary initial consultation, Drs Dever and Saxby will take clinical notes during a full discussion to work out the best treatment for you.

YOUR FIRST APPOINTMENT

At your first appointment following the initial complimentary specialist consultation, we will take any necessary x-rays and photographs as well as models of your teeth, which become our starting records. A full treatment plan will be explained in detail and tailored to the information provided by the records. Again, you will have ample opportunity to discuss the various options available for your best treatment outcome. Then, we will give you a copy of these x-rays and photos to keep and refer back to in order for you to see how far your treatment has come. This appointment will usually take 30 minutes.

FOR BRACES

For some of the specialised fixed appliances, we will place separators or spacers between some of your back teeth. These are small elastic o-rings that will enable us to fit a metal band comfortably around your back teeth. If a functional appliance is part of your treatment plan, for your next appointment, we will take a second and more precise mould of your teeth to allow individual construction of the functional appliance. Due to bite considerations, usually clear braces are placed on the upper teeth, with metal braces on the lower teeth.

FOR INVISALIGN

If you choose to get Invisalign, we will also take photographs and preliminary models just like getting braces. We will use these photographs and models as a starting point in determining your treatment plan. For your next appointment, we will take a second and more precise mould of your teeth, which will be sent away to the manufacturer of the Invisalign appliance to be constructed. This appointment is usually scheduled 2–3 weeks after the initial appointment when the records were taken.


This is how we get you started for the treatment. Contact Smiling Wide Orthodontics today to take the first step towards your perfect smile.

Getting Here

We have 3 practices for you to choose from across the Wide Bay region—Bundaberg, Maryborough and Hervey Bay.

BUNDABERG

Situated next to Sugarland Shopping town in Bundaberg West, the Bundaberg practice is open Monday-Friday.

MARYBOROUGH

Smiling Wide Orthodontics is right in the town's heart, corner of Ellena and Adelaide Streets and is open by appointment on Wednesday.

HERVEY BAY

Smiling Wide Orthodontics is located opposite McDonalds on Boat Harbour Drive in Hervey Bay and is open by appointment on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Contact Smiling Wide Orthodontics today for your complimentary consultation and take the first step towards your confident, new smile.

Running Late

We value your time, which is why we do our best to stop you from having to wait for us. We do our very best to keep on time all day.


If you run late for your appointment, please understand that we may need to reschedule your appointment—we will not charge you for late or missed appointments. A simple early phone call may also allow us to reschedule you later in the day to minimise your inconvenience for that flat tyre/battery issue!


If you want to speak to us about our treatments, please feel free to contact us for a consultation.

Oral Hygiene

Good oral hygiene between dentist visits is the secret to maintaining a healthy mouth and a healthy body. Preventing tooth decay and gum disease is the foundation to a lifetime of optimal dental health. However, during orthodontic treatment, the risk of developing gum disease and tooth decay increases, as it can be difficult to brush and floss properly.


You must keep to a rigorous cleaning regime to prevent bacterial plaque build-up that leads to tooth decay and inflammation of the gums. Here are some oral hygiene tips for you:

PREVENTING DECAY

When you have braces attached to your teeth, you will realise that cleaning or brushing your teeth is harder to do. Food particles can get caught between the braces and wires as well as your teeth, which can only be removed through careful brushing and flossing. If you don't clean your teeth thoroughly with orthodontic braces, you can get permanent stains or decalcification on the surface of your teeth.

DIET

Eating too much sugary food and drinking sugary or acidic drinks can contribute to plaque build-up. If you have braces, you will need to brush, floss and rinse after eating sugary food as it can get caught in your braces. This can significantly increase your chances of tooth decay.

BRUSHING/FLOSSING/RINSING/TOOTH MOUSSE

Although it is recommended that you should brush your teeth twice a day, we advise our patients going through orthodontic treatment to brush their teeth 3 times a day, immediately after each meal, including lunch. We also recommend that you visit your dentist at least every 6 months for a routine check-up, deep clean and fluoride application if necessary.


We suggest using a small head and soft-bristled toothbrush to clean around the braces. Moving the toothbrush backwards and forwards in small motions above and below the braces can help achieve proper cleaning. Flossing is also very important in oral hygiene as this can help remove food particles in hard to reach areas. A good antiseptic rinse is the final part.


Tooth mousse used on a regular basis will markedly reduce the chance of any enamel decalcification occurring during treatment. This is especially recommended if oral hygiene levels are not maintained throughout treatment.


If you need more information regarding proper oral hygiene, please feel free to contact us.

FOODS TO AVOID

Although some patients are able to eat or drink almost anything while in braces and have no ill effects, there are certain dietary habits that are known to cause damage to orthodontic appliances as well as increasing the risk of dental disease.


Our aim is to achieve treatment goals with as few disturbances as possible and to minimise the side effects of poor diet choices. Remember, teeth move their best in a healthy environment and in individuals with excellent overall health. Be sure you have a well-balanced diet.

POTENTIAL HARM TO YOUR TEETH & GUMS

Foods and drinks your dentist has suggested may cause dental cavities should be restricted while wearing braces. You should avoid sticky foods because of the increased risk of dental decay and appliance breakage. These foods stick to your braces and remain on your teeth for long periods of time.


If you have food or drinks that are high in sugar content, we advise having them with regular meals or at one given time of day. Please make sure that you immediately brush and rinse your teeth afterwards. Between-meal snacks should be confined to foods without refined sugar and should be followed by vigorous rinsing if a toothbrush is not available.


The following foods and drinks can be particularly harmful to your teeth while wearing braces:

  • Toffee
  • Sticky lollies
  • Sugar on cereal or icing on cakes
  • Minties, Redskins etc
  • Syrup & honey on pancakes & waffles
  • Lemons (citric acid in juice can dissolve tooth enamel if eaten too frequently)

POTENTIAL HARM TO YOUR BRACES

Braces have been attached to your teeth with an adhesive that will normally withstand the forces of eating. However, braces can be dislodged, and wires bent or broken while eating certain foods. Hard foods, such as nuts, hard candy, corn chips and even crisp taco shells can harm your braces and should be avoided. Chewing ice cubes can also be very destructive to your appliances. Some foods such as whole apples, raw carrots or celery are healthy snacks but must be cut to avoid damaging your braces.


Chewy foods such as caramels and even thick bread crusts and pizza bases can bend and distort wires, causing treatment delays and extra visits for repairs. Popcorn can cause harm in multiple ways. The husks from the popcorn can become lodged between the braces and cause irritation to the gum tissue. Unpopped kernels can shear or break off brackets as well as bend or dislodge wires. Please inspect your braces when eating certain foods that may become caught on the braces or beneath the gums.


Remember, if you have any questions about dietary restrictions or good food choices, please ask!

Emergency Care

True orthodontic emergencies are very rare, but when they do occur we are available to you. As a general rule, you should call the staff at Smiling Wide Orthodontics when you experience severe pain or when you have a painful appliance problem that you can't take care of yourself. We'll be able to schedule an appointment to resolve the problem. For urgent emergencies out of office hours, either email through the enquiry form section of this site or call the out of hours phone number on the back of your appointment card.


You might be surprised to learn that you may be able to temporarily solve many problems yourself until you schedule an appointment with our office. When working with your appliances, you need to know the names of the parts of your appliance, so you are able to identify what part is broken or out of place. After alleviating your discomfort, it is very important that you still call our office as soon as possible to schedule a time to repair the problem. Allowing your appliance to remain damaged for an extended period of time may result in disruptions to your treatment plan.

How Do I Fix…

poking-wire

POKING WIRE

Using a pencil eraser, push the poking wire down or place wax on it to alleviate the discomfort.

loose-wire

LOOSE WIRE

Using a tweezer, try to put your wire back into place. If doing this and using wax doesn't help, as a last resort, use a small fingernail clipper to clip the wire behind the last tooth to which it is securely fastened. If your discomfort continues, place wax on it.

headgear-fit

LOOSE BRACKET OR BAND

If your bracket or band is still attached to the wire, you should leave it in place and put wax on it. If the wire comes out entirely, wrap the bracket with a tissue.

Loose-appliance

LOOSE APPLIANCE

If your appliance is poking you, place wax on the offending part of the appliance.

general-soreness-2
general-soreness

GENERAL SORENESS

When you get your braces on, you may feel general soreness in your mouth and teeth may be tender for 3 to 5 days. This can be relieved by rinsing your mouth with a warm saltwater mouthwash. Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in half a cup of water and rinse your mouth out.


Your lips, cheeks and tongue may also become irritated for 1 to 2 weeks as they toughen and become accustomed to the surface of the braces. You can put wax on the braces to lessen this. We'll show you how!

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