What is decalcification?

I would say we are overdue for an update!  Madison has been doing really great with her braces.  She is now about 10 months into treatment.  She has been really good about brushing and keeping everything nice and clean, which is so important.  Luckily, she has been well-educated on decalcification (those white spots you can get on your teeth if your hygiene is taking a backseat)!

Example of decalcification seen after brace removal

Anyone is at risk for decalcification, as it is caused by plaque build-up due to poor oral hygiene.  This is a sign of early tooth decay.  How can it be prevented?  By using the tools (toothbrush and floss) and following the hygiene instructions provided to you that first day you get your braces on. When brushing and flossing, pay special attention to the areas right around the brackets and wires, and be sure to get up into that gumline. It is also helpful to stay away from sugary soda and other foods high in sugar acids.  We can also provide you with Prevident toothpaste to be used once a day.  Prevident is a fluoride toothpaste available by prescription only or through our office, which helps prevent and reverse white spot lesions. For more information about Prevident ask one of our team members at your next visit or check out their website at http://www.colgateprofessional.com/products/colgate-prevident-5000-booster-plus-rx-only/overview  Madison has been using Prevident at her bedtime brushing since Day 1.

On another note, we did have one issue pop up recently... It was time for Madison's orthodontic adjustment.  We did not realize that she had a Middle School band audition coming up on the following Tuesday!  Her adjustment was done on Saturday, so she was a bit sore that weekend...which means, she wasn't too keen on practicing her clarinet with her sore teeth. But with a little bit of Ibuprofen and some softer foods, she was ready to go.... and she said the audition went very well! She also uses her Acceledent device to assist with any soreness. ( Did you miss the post about Acceledent....get it here.  http://forcierortho.blogspot.com/2014/11/what-is-acceledent.html )

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Bonding day!

Finally...we have put this off long enough!  Madison had her braces put on a week ago, Sunday!  Yes, Sunday, because that's what happens when your Dad is your orthodontist.  Madison had 3 band performances the week before, and although the braces would likely have little affect on it, Darren decided it was best to ease her anxiety and wait until those were over.  He is a smart guy...there's a good chance I wouldn't have thought about that.  But it has been about 6 weeks since her extractions so it was time to get a move on!

   The before shot..

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Her teeth have shifted a bit since the extractions, just from having the extra room.  Darren calls it "drifto-dontics."  The body really is an amazing thing.  Normally, orthodontists put in spacers a week before banding (putting the metal bands around the molars) but this wasn't necessary since she had teeth removed.  So, bands were fitted and cemented, and they were on their way!  Brayden and I headed outside to pull some weeds (because that's what a wife of an orthodontist does when you own your own business).   I'm sure Madison didn't really want little bro hanging around during the process anyway.

I checked on her off and on during the bonding process (placing the brackets on the teeth and 'curing' them with a special light). She was doing great!  The worst part for her was probably the lip retractors, stretching the lips away from the teeth to keep them nice and dry.  I took a pic, but was told I CANNOT PUT IT ON FACEBOOK OR THE BLOG! Sorry...it's a great pic though!   

After about 30 minutes, give or take, as I was not actually keeping track, all the brackets were on and it was time to put the arch wire in.  Then came the best part for every kid...picking the colors for the elastic ties that go around each bracket!  She chose to alternate pink and aqua...awesome combo. With that, she was done!  We were given a bag of goodies (special flossers, toothpaste, wax) and instructions for how to keep your braces clean.  She also got a fancy shmancy electric toothbrush, which will make brushing her teeth a breeze! And let me tell you, this is the iPhone of toothbrushes!  

After a stop at Starbucks for a frappe (the tween girls' favorite drink stop, just ask Instagram...), we headed home.  She started to feel some soreness a couple of hours later, so I gave her some Tylenol.  Dinner was a little difficult and she mostly stuck to pasta salad and the toppings off the flatbread pizza I made.   

Bedtime came and it was time to pull out the brushing instructions...glad I had them, since we didn't get the +20 minute cleaning instructions from Shannon (one of our wonderful dental assistants) as is normally done at the office on bonding day!  We got the proxy brush out to clean under the wires and between brackets. Would have been more helpful to use the brush holder I did not know about until after-the-fact!  Oh well, you learn from your mistakes, right?!  The electric toothbrush had to charge up so we just used her regular toothbrush...but can't wait to see this awesome toothbrush in action!  

    The after shots...are we having too much fun? Nah!

    Madison and her favorite orthodontist!