Your First Visit
Walking through our doors for the first time is the start of your journey toward a confident, healthy smile, and we’re here to make that experience smooth, informative, and even fun.
From the moment you arrive, you’ll be greeted by our friendly team and welcomed into an environment that feels more like home than a dental office. Whether you’re visiting our Dover or Exeter location, we’ve designed our space to be modern, comfortable, and family-friendly, complete with cozy amenities to help you feel at ease.
What Happens During Your First Visit?
Your initial appointment is all about getting to know you and your smile goals. Here’s what you can expect:
- Warm Welcome and Paperwork: We’ll gather basic information and review your medical and dental history. To save time, you can complete your forms online before your appointment.
- Digital Imaging and Exam: We’ll take high-quality digital photos and, if needed, a panoramic X-ray or 3D scan using our iTero digital scanner. This allows Dr. Miller to evaluate your teeth, bite, and jaw with precision, without any messy impressions.
- One-on-One with Dr. Miller: Dr. Miller will perform a thorough exam and talk with you about what he sees. He’ll explain your treatment options clearly, answer your questions, and create a personalized plan based on your needs and goals.
- Treatment and Financial Overview: Our team will walk you through your custom treatment plan and explain your financial options. We offer flexible payment plans, interest-free financing, and we work closely with insurance providers to make care accessible and stress-free.
No Pressure, Just Information
We believe your first visit should empower you, not overwhelm you. There’s no pressure to start treatment that day unless you’re ready. Our goal is to give you all the information you need to make the best decision for your smile.
At Seacoast Braces Miller Orthodontics, we’re not just straightening teeth — we’re building confidence, trust, and lasting relationships. We can’t wait to meet you and help you take the first step toward a healthier, happier smile.
Home-Care Instructions
Life With Braces
Now that you have braces, it’s important to know how to properly care for them throughout your treatment. With the right habits, you can keep your smile healthy and your treatment on track.
Eating with Braces
Don’t worry — you’ll be back to enjoying your favorite snacks soon enough! But to protect your braces, you’ll need to avoid foods that can damage the brackets and wires. We recommend sticking to soft foods from the major food groups and cutting your food with a knife and fork.
Foods to avoid:
- Chewy: bagels, licorice
- Crunchy: popcorn, chips, ice
- Sticky: caramel, chewing gum
- Hard: nuts, hard candies
- Biting directly: corn on the cob, whole apples, raw carrots
Braces-friendly foods:
- Dairy: soft cheese, yogurt, milk-based drinks
- Breads: soft tortillas, pancakes, muffins (no nuts)
- Grains: pasta, soft-cooked rice
- Proteins: soft chicken, meatballs, lunch meats, tuna, salmon
- Vegetables: mashed potatoes, steamed spinach, beans
- Fruits: bananas, applesauce, fruit juice
- Treats: ice cream (no nuts), milkshakes, Jell-O, soft cake
Soreness from Braces
Some soreness is normal when you first get braces or after adjustments. To ease discomfort, dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt in 8 oz of lukewarm water and rinse for a few minutes. Avoid swallowing the solution.
If soreness persists, you may take over-the-counter pain relievers. It’s also common for your lips, cheeks, and tongue to feel irritated at first. Orthodontic wax can help — just let us know if you need some.
Loose Teeth
Feeling like your teeth are loose? That’s expected! Braces must slightly loosen teeth before moving them into their new positions. Once aligned, they’ll feel secure again.
Loose Wires or Bands
If a wire or band becomes loose, contact us right away. Save any detached pieces and bring them to your appointment.
In the meantime, you can gently push a loose wire back into place with the eraser end of a pencil or the back of a spoon. If it’s irritating your mouth, apply orthodontic wax or a damp cotton ball for relief.
Caring for Your Appliances
To stay on track with treatment, it’s essential to care for all appliances, including elastics, retainers, and other prescribed devices. Damaged or neglected appliances can extend your treatment time.
Playing Sports with Braces
Great news — yes, you can still play sports with braces! Just be sure to wear a properly fitted mouthguard to protect your teeth and appliances. Ask us if you need help choosing the right one.
If you experience a sports-related injury, check your mouth and braces for damage. Contact us immediately if anything is loose or painful. Rinsing with warm saltwater or applying wax can help until you’re seen.
Brushing & Flossing with Braces
Keeping your teeth and gums healthy during orthodontic treatment is just as important as moving your teeth into alignment. When you have braces, brushing and flossing after every meal helps prevent plaque buildup, tooth decay, and gum irritation.
Not sure which toothbrush, toothpaste, or floss to use? Just ask us — we’re happy to recommend the best products for your specific needs and appliances.
Brushing with Braces
We recommend brushing your teeth for five minutes after each meal or at least three times a day using a soft-bristled, small-headed toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. You can also use a powered toothbrush for extra effectiveness.
Here’s how to brush with braces:
- Use small, circular motions to clean the outer and inner surfaces of your teeth.
- Hold the brush at a 45-degree angle to your gumline.
- Brush the chewing surfaces and behind your front teeth using gentle, back-and-forth strokes.
- Pay special attention to the areas around your brackets and wires to keep them free of food and plaque.
Flossing with Braces
Flossing may take a little more time with braces, but it’s essential for keeping your teeth clean and your treatment on track.
To floss with braces:
- Use a floss threader or orthodontic floss to guide the floss behind each wire.
- Wrap the ends of the floss around your index fingers, leaving a few inches of taut floss in the middle.
- Gently slide the floss between your teeth using a back-and-forth motion.
- Curve the floss around each tooth and clean below the gumline.
- Repeat for each tooth.
If regular flossing is difficult or not removing all food particles, let us know — we may recommend a water flosser for a more convenient and thorough clean.
Emergency Care
True orthodontic emergencies are rare, but if one occurs, we’re here to help. If you’re experiencing severe pain or have an issue with your braces that you can’t manage on your own, please call our office right away. We’ll assess the situation and schedule an appointment if needed.
For pain relief, we recommend using acetaminophen (Tylenol) when possible. Anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen may slow down tooth movement and are best avoided during orthodontic treatment.
Temporary Solutions at Home
Many minor issues can be managed at home until we see you in the office:
- Loose parts: If a bracket, band, or wire becomes loose and you can safely remove it, place it in a small bag or envelope and bring it to your next visit.
- Poking wire: Cover the area with orthodontic wax or gently push the wire down with a clean pencil eraser.
- Shifted wire: If the wire slides to one side, use tweezers or needle-nosed pliers to gently move it back into place and reinsert it into the tube on your back molar.
After addressing the issue, always contact us as soon as possible so we can schedule a repair appointment. Leaving a broken appliance unattended could delay your treatment.
Common Orthodontic Issues & What to Do
General Soreness
It’s normal to feel soreness for a few days after getting braces. Stick to a soft diet and avoid foods that require heavy chewing. You can rinse with warm saltwater (1 tsp of salt in 8 oz of warm water) to soothe sore spots. For more significant discomfort, take Tylenol or your preferred pain reliever — just avoid frequent use of ibuprofen, aspirin, or naproxen.
It may take 1–2 weeks for your lips, cheeks, and tongue to adjust to your braces. During this time, wax can help reduce irritation. We’ll show you how to apply it during your first visit.
Loose Appliance
If your appliance is poking or irritating your mouth, place wax over the bothersome area to ease discomfort.
Loose Bracket or Band
If it’s still attached to the wire, leave it in place and cover it with wax if needed. If it comes off entirely, save it and bring it with you to your next appointment.
Loose Wire
Try to guide the wire back into place using clean tweezers or needle-nosed pliers. If an o-ring is missing, tie the wire with dental floss to secure it. If that doesn’t work, and the wire continues to irritate you, you can carefully clip the wire behind the last bracket it’s still attached to using sterilized nail clippers. Apply wax to any sharp ends.
Poking Wire
Use the eraser end of a pencil to gently push the wire down or cover the area with wax for relief.
If you’re ever unsure about what to do, don’t hesitate to call us. We’re here to keep your treatment comfortable, effective, and right on track.
Patient Forms
We use OrthoFi for all of our patient forms and billing. Please be on the look out for an email from OrthoFi with a link to register your account. Please visit www.orthofi.com and click “Patient Portal” on the home page to register.
You may also print and fill out the patient information form below, if you prefer:
Financial Info
We believe that a beautiful, healthy smile should be within reach for every family. That’s why we make paying for treatment as simple and stress-free as possible.
We accept all major forms of payment, including cash, checks, credit cards, and HSA/FSA accounts. For added flexibility, we also partner with OrthoFi, a trusted financing platform that lets you customize a payment plan that works for your budget, often with low monthly payments and 0% interest.
Our team will help you explore all your options, work with your insurance provider, and make sure you get the most out of your benefits. No surprises, no confusion — just straightforward, supportive guidance from start to finish.
