Blog

For a successful orthodontic treatment, collaboration between the dentist and the patient is essential. Appointments should be attended regularly, typically every 4–6 weeks. If you are unable to attend an appointment, please inform the clinic by phone at least 2 days in advance and schedule a new appointment at the earliest convenient time for the dentist. When attending your appointments, remember to bring the appointment card provided at the beginning of your treatment.

During treatment, proper oral hygiene is compulsory. It is important to brush the teeth after every meal, preferably using an orthodontic toothbrush with firm pressure. In addition, oral hygiene aids such as interdental brushes, mouthwash, and electric or rechargeable toothbrushes can be used. Otherwise, permanent discoloration and dental caries may develop, and bleeding or swelling may occur in the gums.

It is common for patients to experience mild pain during the initial phase of treatment. In such cases, pain relievers recommended by your orthodontist may be used. (Aspirin and its derivatives are not recommended as they slow down tooth movement during treatment.)

During the adaptation period to the appliances, irritation of the tongue, lips, and cheeks may occur. In such cases, you may use the orthodontic wax provided by your orthodontist at the beginning of treatment.

During treatment, special care should be taken regarding the consumption of certain foods:

• Hard and sticky foods such as nuts, peanuts, mixed nuts, walnuts, chips, chocolate, green plums, chewing gum, and Turkish delight should be avoided.
• Hard fruits and vegetables such as apples, pears, and carrots should be cut into small pieces or grated and consumed carefully.
• Hard dough-based foods such as cookies, toasted bread, bagel, toast and bread crusts should be avoided; relatively softer foods like hamburgers and pizzas should be cut into small pieces and eaten carefully.
• Foods containing pits, such as olives, apricots, and cherries, should be consumed only after the pits have been removed.
• Generally, all meat dishes should be consumed in small bites using a fork and knife.
• Carbonated drinks such as cola, Fanta, Sprite, and soda should be consumed no more than a few times monthly and only with a straw.
• Consumption of green plums and popcorn should be avoided.

Extraoral appliances such as headgear, chin cups, face masks, and intraoral elastics used in treatment must be worn precisely, adhering to the recommended duration and method. Failure to comply may result in prolonged treatment time or prevent the treatment from achieving the desired outcome.

When any intraoral appliance causes pain, detaches, or breaks, inform your orthodontist. Do not discard any broken pieces. In cases where a visit is necessary outside of routine appointments, the clinic should be contacted to schedule an appointment.

Efficient treatment is generally not possible when conditions such as aphthous ulcers or cold sores are present in the mouth. If such conditions develop prior to your scheduled appointment, please notify your orthodontist without delay.