Excellent orthodontic treatment results can only be achieved with a cooperative team effort: patients/parents, staff, and orthodontist all working together. Damaged appliances can increase the length of your treatment process, so be sure to take care of all your appliances. Your teeth and jaw can only move into their correct positions if you consistently wear the rubber bands, retainer, or other appliances prescribed by your doctor. For best results, a patient should:

Keep regularly scheduled appointments.
Practice good oral hygiene.
Wear rubber bands, retainers, and other appliances as instructed.
Eat a well balanced diet and avoid hard, sticky foods.
Maintain proper care of braces, with no broken/loose bands or brackets. There may be a charge per broken/loose band or bracket if there is an excessive number of breakages.
Dr. Kent and the staff can encourage you to do these things at your office visits, but it is the patient’s responsibility to follow these directions.