Preparing for Your Removable Dental Appliance
Wearing your removable appliance
It is essential you wear your upper removable appliance (URA) full time (24 hrs a day) or until your orthodontist says otherwise.
Initially, you will experience a temporary increase in the amount of saliva in your mouth, this is normal and will reduce in time. It is also normal to experience some discomfort, paracetamol will help reduce this.
You may have some difficulty speaking normally at first. We recommend practice reading aloud, singing or simply talk to family and friends until your mouth is used to the appliance.
Clean your URA and teeth with a toothbrush and toothpaste after eating and drinking. In addition to regular cleaning, once or twice a week place your removable appliance in a glass of water for 15mins with a Polident tablet.
Under no circumstances should you adjust your plate yourself. If it becomes loose, please all us for an appointment and we’ll happily do it for you.
When to remove your appliance?
The appliance should be removed for cleaning, contact sports and water sports. When the URA is not in your mouth please store it in the container provided.
Regular check-ups
Generally, your orthodontist will check your URA at 4-8 weekly intervals. At these appointments, your progress and cleaning will be monitored and your appliance adjusted if necessary.
If your URA is lost or damaged, please contact us for an appointment as soon as possible. Please bring to this appointment, the models your URA was made on, as sometimes we can use them for repairs. Should you have any questions or concerns please contact us for advice.
The removable appliances process
1st Appointment – Records
Our therapist will take a series of digital photos, and impressions of your teeth, which we will use to manufacture your appliance. They will also get you to choose a colour for your plate. This appointment will take approximately 20 – 30 minutes.
2nd Appointment - Insert of Appliance, 14-21 days later
Your orthodontist will check the fit of the appliance. We will give instructions on what to expect for the first couple of weeks and how to care for your plate. This appointment will take approximately 20 – 30 minutes.
Subsequent appointments every 4-6 weeks
Your orthodontist will check your treatment progress, your brushing and will then adjust your appliance as necessary. This appointment will take approximately 10 minutes.
Personalised appliance
As you can see, we require a precise sequence of appointments to manufacture your appliance. Any changes to appointment times may cause disruption or delay in treatment. Please let us know immediately if you need to reschedule. If you have any further questions or would like to find out which appliance is right for you contact us for an appointment.
