Dr



Dr. Evelyn Sue

#211-1899 Willingdon Ave. Burnaby, BC V5C 5T1

(604) 294-3481 or (604) 294-3488

APPOINTMENT POLICY

At the start of your treatment, appointments will be lengthy to place the orthodontic appliances. It may be necessary to schedule these appointments during work or school hours. Once all of the appliances have been placed, then appointments are scheduled every four to six weeks, and are of a shorter duration.

If there is a broken band, wire or bracket, please call ahead so we will have adequate time to correct the problem. Breakage of appliances that result in pain will be considered an emergency and will be dealt with as quickly as possible. Consistent abuse and breakage of appliances will negatively affect treatment, prolong treatment time and may lead to additional cost. We will do our best to accommodate your schedule, but in fairness to other patients, you will not be seen on a walk-in basis.

If you are unable to keep your scheduled appointment, it is important to give our office as much notice as possible. Patients that arrive late may need to reschedule their appointments, in fairness to other patients who arrive at their scheduled times. Missed appointments will prolong treatment time and do not allow for careful monitoring of your progress.

Your understanding in these matters are greatly appreciated. If it sometimes seems that we are being inflexible and are unable to coordinate a particular appointment with your schedule, please remember that we are trying very hard to be on time and fair to all of our patients.

REGULAR DENTAL CARE AND ORAL HYGIENE

During your orthodontic treatment, regular visits to your general dentist should be continued. Semi-annual examinations, cleanings and fluoride are a must. The fee for orthodontic treatment does not include routine dental care, such as cleaning, restorative care, fluoride treatment, radiographs (x-rays) extractions or any surgery.

Oral hygiene is extremely important before and during the course of orthodontic treatment. Prior to treatment, your general dentist should perform a thorough check-up for cavities and periodontal disease. Any active cavities or periodontal disease should be eliminated before initiating treatment.

During treatment, orthodontic appliances tend to trap food particles, holding them against your teeth and gums. This can promote tooth decay, etching of your teeth (permanent marking from decalcification) and swollen, bleeding gums. These problems arise from poor brushing habits and could slow down tooth movement. The patient must take an active part in caring for their teeth; by visiting their general dentist regularly, following oral hygiene instructions, and by either avoiding or controlling snacks and sweets.

EXTRACTIONS

Some cases require extraction of permanent teeth to alleviate the crowding in the jaws or to compensate for any previously missing teeth. This may seem to contradict the efforts of the dental profession to save teeth, but this approach is only recommended in those cases where a non-extraction approach would lead to a less than optimal result. Extractions can be performed by your general dentist or an oral surgeon.

MISSING/LOST BRACKETS

In the case that you have a bracket that comes out of position and off the tooth, please save that bracket and call our office. It may be necessary to come in for an extra appointment to have that bracket rebonded, as it may be important to the movement of your teeth. If Dr. Sue has to provide a replacement bracket, a charge of $20.00 per bracket may apply.

RETAINERS

Teeth constantly change position, regardless of orthodontic treatment. After orthodontic treatment, teeth could move back to their original position. This is called a “relapse”, and is controlled by the use of retainers after active treatment is completed. Initially, the orthodontic retainer will be worn 24 hours a day. The duration of use will lessen gradually, over a period of years. The most common area to relapse is the lower front teeth, especially with patients with severe crowding problems prior to treatment. In some cases it may be necessary for the patient to wear the retainer for an indefinite period of time to prevent relapse. If the retainer is not used as directed, we cannot assume responsibility for undesirable tooth movement. An alternative bonded lingual retainer (bonded to the back of your teeth) may be an alternative for some patients. Retainers are included in the orthodontic treatment fee, but an additional charge will be assessed for replacement retainers.

TWO PHASE TREATMENT

We sometimes see young children who may still have their deciduous (baby) teeth, or patients with complicated problems, who must be treated in “phases”. Phase ONE treatment commonly involves an attempt to redirect a poor growth pattern at an early age or doing interceptive work that could contain the scope and difficulty of developing problems. Phase TWO treatment involves full braces and is usually necessary after phase ONE treatment. This second phase is used to adjust the positions of the adult teeth. Treatment fees are charged separately for each phase.

COOPERATION

Please remember that orthodontic treatment is not something that is “done to” a patient. The patient plays an active role in the treatment process. Successful treatment within a minimum period of time usually involves cooperative, motivated patients and parents. A lack of cooperation will prolong the treatment, and in many cases, make treatment goals impossible to achieve.

Patients and parents will be asked to cooperate in the following areas:

• Oral Hygiene

• Keeping appointments on time as scheduled

• Minimizing appliance breakage

• Wearing headgear and /or elastics as instructed

• Wearing retainers as instructed

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M O S A I C

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