{"id":5,"date":"2018-09-30T14:50:00","date_gmt":"2018-09-30T14:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.strubleortho.com\/blog\/?p=5"},"modified":"2026-03-26T11:17:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T11:17:10","slug":"new-patient-information-hub","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.strubleortho.com\/blog\/2018\/09\/new-patient-information-hub\/","title":{"rendered":"The Hub: New Patient Information"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Welcome to Struble Orthodontics!<\/h2>\n

We want to thank you for selecting our practice for your orthodontic treatment. This will be your\n orthodontic \u201chome\u201d for the next several months\/years and we want you to make yourself comfortable\n and enjoy your time here. It is our hope that you look forward to your time spent with us. We can\u2019t\n wait to get started and know there will be a beautiful smile awaiting you at the end of this\n journey! Below you will find all the information and videos that will guide you through making\n appointments, eating guides, emergencies and more.
\n Just click on each link below for more information:<\/a><\/p>\n

What Sets Us Apart-Our Mission Statement<\/a>
\n Get Acquainted with Orthodontic \u201cLingo\u201d<\/a>
\n Managing your Appointments<\/a>
\n What to Expect During your Appointments<\/a>
\n Eating Guide – \u201cDo\u2019s and Dont’s\u201d<\/a>
\n Brushing and Flossing – Your Commitment to Oral Care at Home<\/a>
\n Orthodontic Emergencies – Handling Emergencies Appropriately<\/a>
\n Retainers – Maintaining Your New Smile<\/a>
\n Watch all of the instructional videos<\/a>\n <\/p>\n

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Mission Statement\/Vision:<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/a>At Struble Orthodontics, we are committed to providing individual attention and\n exceptional orthodontic care in a comforting, compassionate environment for people of all\n ages.  We will treat you like family by respecting your time, concerns and apprehensions while\n we exceed all your expectations. You will leave with a new smile and a lifetime of improved dental\n health and function.<\/p>\n

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Orthodontic “Lingo”: the words you\u2019ll want to know<\/strong><\/p>\n

Orthodontic Records:<\/strong> These are the materials we will be collecting in order to\n properly diagnose your orthodontic problems to ensure we have an appropriate treatment plan that\n will address your individual orthodontic needs. These initial records usually consist of orthodontic\n models, or digital models, digital photographs, digital radiographs and a thorough clinical\n examination.<\/p>\n

3D Scan and Digital Models:<\/strong> Remember those messy alginate impressions that were\n routine and common in orthodontic offices? You may remember your parents complaining about them when\n they reminisce about their orthodontic experience! Our office has made a technology upgrade and we\n now have three iTero digital scanners! This allows us to generate digital treatment study models for\n our patients so that we can accurately track progress in a more comfortable, convenient way. Now\n that\u2019s a win for everyone!<\/p>\n

Impressions:<\/strong> We will occasionally use a soft rubbery material called alginate to\n take impressions or molds of your teeth. These impressions allow us to create and construct\n orthodontic retainers and appliances. Fortunately, digital scanning technology in our high-tech\n practice now typically allows us to avoid these routine impressions.<\/p>\n

Panoramic Radiograph:<\/strong> This is a type of x-ray that we use to evaluate dental\n development, tooth eruption and jaw anatomy. This x-ray is different than the x-rays your dentist\n usually takes to check for cavities.<\/p>\n

Separators:<\/strong> Sometimes we may need to use small separators or \u201cspacers\u201d to make room\n between your teeth for the placement of bands. These separators may make your teeth a bit sore. We\n usually keep these separators in your mouth for approximately a week and ask that you not floss in\n these areas to avoid dislodging these separators.<\/p>\n

Bands:<\/strong> These are thin metal rings that we may place around your back molar teeth. We\n use these from time to time with your braces or to attach permanent retainers and other appliances.\n <\/p>\n

Brackets:<\/strong> AKA Braces, these are the small metal or ceramic attachments we place on\n your teeth through a process known as \u201cbonding\u201d. These are the \u201chandles\u201d we use to move and\n straighten your teeth. We use a special type of \u201cself-ligating\u201d bracket because we find greater\n comfort, faster tooth movement and excellent esthetics with these technologically advanced brackets.\n <\/p>\n

Arch Wire:<\/strong> The arch wire is actually what allows us to move your teeth. Arch wires\n come in many different sizes, shapes, and materials. We will be changing your arch wires frequently\n during the first portion of your treatment.<\/p>\n

Elastic Chain:<\/strong> These are available in many colors and are used to gently close\n spaces between your teeth by attaching around your brackets.<\/p>\n

Steel ties:<\/strong> These are sometimes used to securely fasten your arch wire to the\n bracket. Sometimes during brushing or eating these ties can come loose or move. Please see the Orthodontic Emergencies<\/a> for ideas on how to handle this situation.<\/p>\n

Elastic ties:<\/strong> These also come in many colors and are sometimes used with our\n conventional brackets to secure the arch wire to the bracket.<\/p>\n

Retainer:<\/strong> Retainers are used for several different reasons during and after\n orthodontic treatment. They come in many different colors and types. They can sometimes be used to\n make small movements to your teeth but are usually used to maintain your beautiful result after\n orthodontic treatment. We will sometimes use \u201cfixed\u201d retainers that remain attached to your teeth.\n Alternatively, <\/a>\u201cremovable\u201d retainers can be taken out so it is your\n responsibility to make sure these are worn as instructed for best results.<\/p>\n

Elastics:<\/strong> You may be asked to wear these \u201crubber bands\u201d to aid us in perfecting your\n bite or the way your teeth fit together. When worn as asked, these help to complete your treatment\n and accelerate treatment progress.<\/p>\n

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Managing your Appointments<\/strong><\/p>\n

Please help us stay on track with your treatment by maintaining your appointments. This will help us\n complete your treatment in a timely manner. We also ask that you be on time for your appointments.\n <\/a>Respecting your time is a big priority for us! We will make every\n effort to be ready for you at your appointment time and want to make your treatment as timely as\n possible.<\/p>\n

While we always strive to accommodate scheduling needs and desires of our patient families, we want\n our patients to be aware that it is not always possible to schedule routine appointments outside of\n school, work or extra-curricular activity times.<\/p>\n

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What to Expect During your Appointments<\/strong><\/p>\n

Your \u201cStart\u201d Appointment:<\/strong> You will be getting your orthodontic braces or appliances!\n This is a very exciting appointment as it marks the beginning of your active treatment. . . . those\n pearly whites are starting to move today!<\/p>\n

This will be one of your longer appointments with us. Depending on your specific treatment plan and\n orthodontic needs, this appointment may last approximately 1-1.5 hours.<\/p>\n

Your braces and any other appliances will be placed on your teeth at this appointment and thorough\n care and cleaning instructions will be provided. We will make sure you have all the necessary tools\n to keep those teeth as clean as possible for us during your treatment. We will rely on you to help\n us by making sure you are doing your best to follow our recommendations. Excellent treatment results\n simply cannot be achieved without your cooperation!<\/p>\n

You may experience some soreness and tenderness over the next several days after you get your\n orthodontic appliances placed. Usually, this period of soreness lasts approximately 3-5 days and\n then subsides. We recommend using an over-the-counter medication like Tylenol during this period to\n help relieve any significant discomfort. Be sure to follow package instructions for proper dosing.\n <\/p>\n

Routine Visits:<\/strong> Now that you have your braces on and movement has begun, we will\n have you come in for new arch wires, check your oral hygiene, replace chains and secure brackets.\n These appointments are the stepping stones required to ensure your treatment is on track. They are\n usually scheduled every 6-10 weeks depending on your treatment plan and orthodontic needs.<\/p>\n

Progress Records:<\/strong> Now that we\u2019ve got those teeth moving in the right direction, it\n may be necessary for us to periodically obtain progress records to document and evaluate your\n progress. These records will include digital photographs and occasionally digital radiographs to\n evaluate tooth position and eruption. Patient health and safety is a primary concern for us here at\n Struble Orthodontics. We thoroughly evaluate the need for these progress records and make every\n effort to keep radiation exposure to a minimum for our patients by using digital radiographs. We\n will only take these x-rays when absolutely necessary for the health of our patients and to achieve\n the best possible orthodontic result.<\/p>\n

Removing Your Braces:<\/strong> This is an incredibly exciting day in your orthodontic journey\n and today we get to share in your success! This appointment will take approximately 1-1.5 hours but\n removing the brackets actually only takes approximately a minute! Now that you have your beautiful\n new smile, it\u2019s time to make sure we maintain this result by wearing retainers exactly as\n instructed. We use a variety of retainers catered to meet your specific retention needs and will\n make sure you receive proper wear and care instructions when you receive your retainers. We will\n deliver your retainers as soon as possible so we ask that you return to our office within a couple\n days (usually the same day) to make sure your new retainers fit properly. It\u2019s time to enjoy that\n new smile and be able to eat all the things you\u2019ve had to avoid during your treatment. . . . enjoy,\n and congratulations from all of us at Struble Orthodontics!<\/p>\n

<\/a>Retainer Visits:<\/strong> Even though you\u2019ve reached a milestone in your\n treatment, we still ask that you continue to see us for several visits. We call this your retention\n phase. These visits allow us to monitor your stability and ensure that your retainers or appliances\n are fitting properly. Everyone\u2019s treatment and stability are different so this period is vital to\n make sure that your orthodontic investment is a lasting one. We want that brand new smile and\n healthy bite to last a lifetime!<\/p>\n

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Eating Guide: The Do’s and the Dont’s<\/strong><\/p>\n

Orthodontic appliances do require you to be careful with the types of foods you are able to consume\n without causing problems or prolonging your treatment.  If you\u2019re careful, you can continue to\n enjoy most of the same foods you\u2019re used to but below we\u2019ve listed several groups we ask that you\n try to avoid:<\/p>\n

Hard\/Crunchy Foods:<\/strong> These can damage wires and even loosen brackets.  This can\n delay or prolong your treatment if this becomes a recurrent problem.  Exercise caution and use\n common sense with these foods, you can usually eat hard foods if cut into small enough pieces and\n are careful when eating.  If you do happen to break a bracket or damage some piece of your\n braces, please call our office (541) 848-6642<\/a> ahead of time so that we\n may prepare for this and fix this problem promptly for you.<\/p>\n

Sticky Foods: <\/strong>Sticky foods can also cause damage to your appliances.  If\n these sticky foods are high in sugar content, they can cause cavities or gum inflammation because\n they are hard to clean from around your appliances.<\/p>\n

Sugary Foods and Drinks:<\/strong> Foods and drinks that are high in sugar content should be\n avoided during orthodontic treatment whenever possible.  If you do occasionally enjoy a sugary\n snack, we ask that you brush and clean your teeth around your braces as soon as possible.  If\n you do not have access to a toothbrush, it is best to rinse well with water.
\n Below is a list of food examples we ask that you avoid:<\/p>\n