TREATMENT
Compliance
The success of the treatment depends very much on the degree of
co-operation received from the patient. The following points should be noted.

1. Oral Hygiene (ie brushing) must be maintained to a high standard throughout treatment to prevent staining and discolouration of the teeth, decay around the braces and the onset of periodontal or gum disease.

2. Elastic Wear. You may be required to wear elastic bands to move the teeth. If they are not worn as directed, there will be no further progress; treatment time will be increased and it may be necessary to adopt an alternative treatment plan involving extractions.

3. Food. Hard foods may break the braces causing sharp wires to poke into the lips, cheeks and gums. Hard sweets are the worst offenders and should be avoided.

4. Retainers. If the retainer is not worn, the teeth will move and the treatment with braces may need to be redone.