Why are my braces still on? A short skit with 5 Questions!

Those of you who have been in braces at our office may have experienced my “Are your teeth straight” stand-up comedy  act!  It goes something like this:

Q. Are your teeth straight?          (I never ask this question unless they really are pretty much straight!)
              A.  Yes they are…(sometimes we have to give the patient a mirror to look at their own teeth)

Q. So if your teeth are straight?: “Why are your braces still on?”

              A. Because my “bite” is off (sometimes we have to explain to our patients that you can have straight upper and lower arches but still have some type of overbite, overjet, openbite, etc.)

Q. So what do you think fixes your “bite”?

              A. Rubber bands!

Q. What happens if you do not wear your rubber bands as we instructed?

             A. My bite will not get fix and MY BRACES WILL NOT COME OFF.

Q. So who is in charge of how much longer the braces are on?

             A. You… the patient, is in charge, not the doctor, not your parents!

Alice in Wonderland

In Lewis Carol's story Alice in Wonderland the Cheshire Cat has a remarkable ability to vanish except for its grin "which remained sometime after the rest of it had gone."  With all our concern for the teeth and bite, it might seem as if we are dealing with only the GRIN and missing the PERSON to whom it belongs.  That's why we would like to take this time to let you know that we do appreciate the opportunity of serving your orthodontic needs.
Our goal is to provide the highest quality treatment in a caring and friendly manner.  We hope that all of your visits with us are pleasant, and that you will feel comfortable recommending us to your friends and family!.

Dr. Waxler