emergency care

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True orthodontic emergencies are very rare, but when they do occur we are available to you. As a general rule, you should call the office when you experience severe pain or when you have a painful appliance problem that you can't take care of yourself. We'll be able to schedule an appointment to resolve the problem.

You might be surprised to learn that you may be able to temporarily solve many problems yourself. After alleviating your discomfort, it is very important that you still call our office as soon as possible to schedule a time to repair the problem. Allowing your braces or appliance to remain damaged for an extended period of time may result in undesirable tooth movements.

Poking Wire

Use a pencil eraser and push the poking wire down or place wax on it to alleviate the discomfort.

Loose Bracket

If your bracket is still attached to the wire, you should leave it in place. If is uncomfortable, cover it with wax. If the bracket comes out completely, bring it with you to the REPAIR APPOINTMENT. Do NOT connect rubber bands to a loose bracket.
Be sure to call to schedule a REPAIR APPOINTMENT (see below).

Loose Band (metal ring that fits around back tooth)

If your band is loose, try to keep the band on the tooth and avoid sticky foods. If the band comes out and the wire is poking, clip the wire with fingernail clippers or wire cutters. Do NOT connect rubber bands to a loose band. Be sure to call to schedule a REPAIR APPOINTMENT (see below).

Loose Wire

Using a tweezers, try to place your wire back into place. If doing this or using wax doesn't help, as a last resort, use a small fingernail clipper to clip the wire behind the last tooth to which it is securely fastened. If your discomfort continues, place wax on it and call to schedule a COMFORT APPOINTMENT (see below).

Loose Appliance

Try to replace the appliance into its proper position if possible. Place wax if it is causing discomfort. As a last resort, remove the appliance if possible. In any event, be sure to call to schedule a REPAIR APPOINTMENT (see below), and bring the appliance with you if it was removed.

Discomfort

When you get your braces on or have them adjusted, you will feel pressure on your teeth, and you may experience some tenderness when biting and chewing a few days. If the tooth pressure is really bothersome, you may take whatever you would take for a headache to minimize the discomfort. Chewing sugar-free gum can also help relieve the pressure and discomfort.

The lips, cheeks, and tongue may also become irritated for the first couple of weeks as they adjust to the surface of the braces. This can be relieved by rinsing your mouth with warm salt water. Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in 8 ounces of warm water and rinse your mouth vigorously. Also, you can put wax on the braces to relieve the irritation areas. We'll show you how! Finally, you can also place Orabase, a topical anesthetic, on the affected area. This can be found in a pharmacy.

Repair Appointment

A repair appointment usually requires approximately 30 minutes. Do not wait to tell us about a needed repair because you were coming in for your regular visit anyway! We can't do your regular visit (15-20 minutes) and a REPAIR APPOINTMENT (30 minutes) in your 15 minute scheduled time. This leads to one of the most frustrating orthodontic events. You or your child sit down in the chair, a loose bracket is discovered, and there is not enough time for the repair (30 minutes). Subsequently, the regular visit (15 minutes) can't be done until the Repair is completed! So, you are back up at the front desk rescheduling for a REPAIR APPOINTMENT and you got nothing accomplished this trip; very frustrating!

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT REPAIRS ARE NOT LIFE THREATENING!

If you have a loose bracket or band, a broken wire, or a loose appliance, you will need a REPAIR APPOINTMENT soon, but it can wait to be scheduled during a regular REPAIR APPOINTMENT time. Nothing terrible will happen in just a few days, but it does need to be repaired.

Most REPAIR APPOINTMENTS are caused by eating and chewing things you are not suppose to! (for parents: this means 90%)

CALL as soon as you know there is a problem. Many times we can shift your appointment and save you a trip!

Comfort Appointment:

If you have a wire poking or loose bracket or band that is uncomfortable and causing irritation, you will need a COMFORT APPOINTMENT. We can clip the wire or remove the loose bracket or band to make you comfortable as soon as possible. Then, if it was a loose bracket or band, we will need to schedule a REPAIR APPOINTMENT.