Expander Instructions

To turn expander:

• Find a place in the house that is comfortable, where your son/daughter can lay on their back with their head tilted backward. (Looking up toward the ceiling).
  
  
• Sitting along side of them, have them open their mouths.
  
  
• Insert the key into the hole in the expander.
  
  
• Then turn the key toward the back of their throat.
  
  
• To complete the turn remove the key STRAIGHT down. Make sure that this is straight down because you do not want to reverse the turn.
  
  
• HINT: Be sure to turn the key all the way toward the back of the throat. That way, you will be able to properly fit the key in the next hole.
  
  
• If you are unable to keep your scheduled appointment, stop turning the expander.
  
  

Retainer Instructions

• Wear your retainers full time (meals and sleeping), unless otherwise instructed.
  
• Clean retainers thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush and toothpaste. Use warm but not hot water. Brushing retainers removes the plaque and eliminates odors. Efferdent or other orthodontic appliance cleaners can be used, but do not take the place of brushing.
  
• When retainers are not in your mouth, they should ALWAYS be in a retainer case. (Most appliances are lost in school lunch rooms or restaurants, and pets love to chew on them!)
  
• Initially, you may find it difficult to speak. Practice speaking, reading or singing out loud to get used to them faster. Your speech will normalize in a few days with retainer in place.
  
• Retainers are breakable, so treat them with care. If retainers are lost or broken, call us immediately.
  
• If you have any questions or concerns about your retainers, or your retainers need adjusting, please call us. Do not try to adjust them yourself.
  
• Always bring your retainers to your appointments.
  
• Retainer replacement is expensive... with proper care, they will last for years!
  
• Remove retainers when swimming.
  
• Keep retainers away from hot water, hot car dashboards, pockets, the washing machine and napkins.
  

Headgear Instructions

• Your headgear can move your teeth in ways that your braces cannot. Be sure to wear it as many hours as you are advised. Headgear should be worn during quiet time, while in the house and during sleeping hours.
  
• When you are wearing your headgear, it is very important that you do not play around or wear it while participating in sports; the facebow could become loose and poke you in the eye or cause injury to the inside of your mouth.
  
• To keep your headgear clean, brush the facebow with toothpaste every day and wipe the straps with a damp cloth. The strap can also be machine-washed.
  

Elastics (Rubber Bands) Instructions

• Unless otherwise instructed, elastics need to be worn 24 hours a day except when brushing your teeth. They need to be changed after each meal or 3-4 times a day.