Capable of enhancing patient comfort, oral hygiene, and compliance, Orthodontic Patient Supplies help to provide a smoother procedure for ortho patients. With the increasing demand placed on practices from aligner patients, things like chewies, cases and cleaning tools are more relevant than ever to ensure patient satisfaction. With this increasing demand in mind, it’s a great time to get familiar with these tools, their purposes, and how they can help your patients.
What Are Orthodontic Patient Supplies?
To summarise in a brief sentence: orthodontic patient supplies are supportive items which promote comfort, hygiene, and care for orthodontic appliances. These items have been used across a broad range of orthodontic appliances, including traditional fixed braces, removable braces, clear aligners, and retainers.
Different types of Ortho Patient Supplies:
When most people read orthodontic accessories they think of one word first and foremost – “Chewies”. Chewies, also known as ‘bite sticks’, or ‘aligner seaters’ are round cylinders made out of foam which the patient uses to create a tighter seal between their aligner and their teeth. Patients simply place the aligner in the correct position in their mouth, then bite down on chewies and use the force generated through their bite to safely push the aligner down onto their teeth, closing any gaps.
Mouthwash hardly needs an introduction. Whether it’s purchased in concentrate, tablet form, or just by the bottle, practices need mouthwash to help patients clean their mouths before, during, or after certain procedures. Alcohol-free mouthwash is generally preferred as its composition helps to prevent discomfort in those who suffer with dry mouth, helps to protect composite restorations. Additionally, alcohol-free mouthwash can be used by patients who suffer from alcoholism, or religious issues, which would otherwise complicate giving them an alcohol-based product.
Cleaning tablets are effervescent tablets which are used to clean retainers, aligners, and mouthguards. It cannot be overstated the importance of keeping aligners clean, as well as providing a simple means for patients to maintain their aligners. The simplicity of cleaning tablets helps with patient involvement, and the cleanliness provided by these tablets helps to create a better outcome.
Retainer boxes and aligner cases are simple cases within which aligners, or retainers, are stored. This helps them to be taken on the go and keeps them away from damage or contaminants when they are not in use.
Some practices, rather than specialising the orthodontic accessories given to each and every patient, create an “Ortho Kit”, a bundle which includes every item a patient might need throughout their procedure. This helps to provide consistency between patients, and means the dental practice only needs to create a series standardised kits, rather than potentially dozens of variations of the same products.
Orthodontic Patient Supplies - Comfort Aids
When it comes to helping patients adapt to their new braces, retainers, or any other orthodontic procedure, there are plenty of products which can help smooth their transition. We call these ‘comfort aids’.
Orthodontic Wax
Also known as dental wax, or braces wax, this is a product which is used to provide a soft, cushioning layer between braces and the soft, sensitive tissues of the mouth. Making it ideal for preventing soft tissue irritation which may be caused by new braces, or as a temporary measure for broken brackets until they can be repaired by a professional.
Aligners/Brace Chewies
As previously discussed, aligners, or chewies help to improve the seating of your aligner, which enhances the treatment progression, and improves the procedure’s level of compliance. These chewies can also help improve comfort in patients.
Lip and Cheek Relief Products
These are silicone guards and protective bumpers, these are only to be used under certain circumstances and when recommended, such as in the very early stages of treatment, or when the patient is participating in a sporting activity.
Oral Hygiene Essentials
These orthodontic Hygiene supplies are what every ortho patient needs to ensure their procedure is safe, compliant and effective.
Specialist Toothbrushes
Whether it’s an orthodontic brush with a v-trim profile, a set of interdental brush, or an electric toothbrush with braces compatibility, these help patients to maintain an effective daily brushing routine in spite of their braces or any obstructions placed on their teeth. Notably, these specialist toothbrushes may need instruction, so it’s important that a member of your practice talk to the patient and cover optimal brushing techniques for their orthodontic procedure.
Orthodontic Floss / Threaders
For users of fixed appliances, orthodontic floss or threaders are very important to prevent plaque and tartar accumulation. Again, just like with specialist toothbrushes, it’s very important that a member of your team, such as a dentist or dental nurse demonstrate and discuss technique, as well as impress the importance of flossing on their ortho patient.
Mouthwash
Mouthwash, as previously discussed, is an important part of oral care during some orthodontic procedures. Alcohol-free mouthwash is recommended because of its reduced risk of demineralisation, and because it is generally more well-tolerated by patients.
It may seem basic, but remember to run over the Do’s and Don’ts of using mouthwash, such as not using mouthwash after brushing your teeth, or not eating and drinking for thirty minutes after using mouthwash. This is just to provide maximum clarity and patient confidence.
Cleaning Products for Aligners/Retainers
These could be cleaning tablets, gentle cleaning gels, and in some cases even ultrasonic cleaners. These help to keep aligners and retainers compliant, clean, and prevent the build-up of unwanted bacteria. Remember to discourage your patient from using boiling water or harsh chemicals to clean their aligner or retainer, as they might damage the appliance, not clean it properly, or lead to another unwanted outcome.
Storage & Protection
This category is quite simple, being restricted to retainer boxes, or cases for aligners
Retainer Boxes
Retainer boxes are just that – small cases where you can safely enclose a retainer to prevent breakage or damage. These boxes tend to have ventilation holes for improved hygiene. A patient should have multiple of these boxes, and be able to bring them to the locations they are likely to be, whether they’re at home, travelling, at school or work.
Aligner Cases
These cases are just like retainer boxes but sized and specilialised for their own respective aligner and brand. These cases help to keep aligners safe, clean, and out of the way when the aligner cannot be worn. These cases are compact, and essential for anyone who is on the go. Often, these cases are highly customisable, and come in various colours, just so that everyone can put their own personal spin on their aligner.
Miscellaneous Accessories for Aligner Patients
Given the rapid growth in patients seeking and using aligners, there are also a fair few accessories to help savvy users through all stages of their aligner journeys. Aligner removal tools are an example of this, these are tools which allow for the safe and easy removal of aligners. There are also cleaning sprays and foams for those who wish to clean their aligner on the go, as well as travel kits with compact tools used for aligner care. These may be introduced by a nurse at a fitting appointment.
Patient Pack Tools
A patient pack which is truly all-inclusive might have a few things we haven’t talked about so far, such as bibs or disposable mirrors for patient use, as well as patient information leaflets and colour-coded supplies for different treatment stages. Well-organised practices can help to improve patient satisfaction and reduce follow-up questions.
Conclusion
Keeping your patients supplied, supported, and informed is a very effective means of keeping your orthodontic procedures safe and producing ideal outcomes. This is something the whole team needs to be involved in, from dental nurses to dentists. We’d encourage you consider creating a structure for patient kits, and browsing a trusted distributor of dental equipment and tools to help keep your orthodontic patients supplied.
