Dr. King Answers: How Will My Daughter’s Negligence Affect Her Outcome?

Patients need to comply with all
orthodontic treatment instructions
-- e.g., the wearing of rubber bands.

Q: My daughter is not wearing her rubber bands, as she has been told. How will this affect her treatment?

A: I often say that successful orthodontic care is a team effort. The doctor, staff, parents and patients are all members of the team, and work together to create a healthy and beautiful smile.

My staff and I are very responsible, as are the parents, but the most important member of the team is the patient. Patients must brush and floss regularly to prevent white spots and tooth decay. Plus, patients are responsible for wearing elastics/rubber bands and other appliances, like retainers, as instructed by the doctor.

Poor compliance with rubber bands will certainly lead to a less-than-ideal outcome. Although rubber bands are the tried-and-true, most effective corrector of the bite, if they are not worn, the correction cannot occur.

I do understand that teenage patients are often very busy with social, academic, athletic and other endeavors. So, at King Orthodontics, we try very hard to educate, motivate and empower our patients to achieve great results!
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SOURCE: Wikimedia Commons [image]