Guidelines for micro-implants and fixed appliances supported by micro-implants

Dear patient!

To achieve the desired outcome of your orthodontic treatment, it is important to follow the recommendations provided and attend your follow-up appointments on time.

After fitting

In the first few days following the fitting of the appliance or micro-implant, you may experience:

• a feeling of pressure on your teeth;
• discomfort when chewing or speaking;
• irritation of the mucous membrane of the cheeks or tongue;
• pain and slight swelling around the micro-implant;
• increased salivation.

These sensations are normal and usually subside within a few days.

Oral hygiene

Brush your teeth after every meal. Pay particular attention to cleaning the area around the micro-implant and the braces. Use a water flosser, an orthodontic toothbrush, a single-tufted brush and interdental brushes. Use mouthwashes or additional hygiene products as recommended by your dentist.

Marks from the appliance may appear on the tongue if the micro-implants or braces are located in the palate area and the tongue comes into contact with them; these most often occur after sleep or when the mouth is dry. In such cases, it is also recommended to use a tongue scraper.

Inadequate oral hygiene can lead to inflammation of the tissues around the micro-implant and complicate the course of treatment.

Diet

It is recommended to avoid:

• hard foods (nuts, rusks, ice);
• sticky foods (toffee, chewy sweets);
• the habit of chewing on hard objects.

Excessive force may lead to deformation, detachment or breakage of the appliance’s components.

Important to know

• Do not attempt to activate, remove or reposition any parts of the appliance yourself.
• If you notice that a micro-implant is loose, that parts of the appliance have come loose or that its position has changed, you must contact your dentist.
• If you experience chafing of the mucous membrane, you may use orthodontic wax or a healing gel as recommended by your dentist.

When to see your dentist urgently

• severe pain that does not subside within a few days;
• swelling or signs of inflammation around the micro-implant;
• looseness of the micro-implant;
• breakage or detachment of appliance components;
• injury to the mucous membrane caused by the appliance, which does not resolve within a few days.

Follow-up appointments

Regular follow-up appointments are an essential part of treatment. Missing appointments may affect the effectiveness of treatment and prolong its duration.

Treatment using micro-implants is a highly predictable method of orthodontic treatment; however, the stability of the micro-implant depends on the individual characteristics of the body, the quality of oral hygiene and the patient’s adherence to the dentist’s recommendations.