True orthodontic emergencies are very rare. As a general rule, you should call the office when you experience severe pain or when you have a painful appliance problem that you cannot take care of yourself. It will help, when you phone the office, to be able to identify what part is broken or out of place, therefore it is important to know the names of the parts of your appliances. Please call our office as early in the day as possible so we can schedule an appointment to resolve the issue. Should you have an emergency after hours or on weekends please call our office and follow the instructions detailed on the machine.
You may be able to remedy many problems yourself until you are able to come to the office for a repair. 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 appliance to remain damaged for an extended period may result in disruptions in your treatment plan. The following information serves as a useful guide for resolving common issues and relieving your discomfort.
Click here to view our Home Care video on Emergencies
Sore Teeth
After braces/appliances are placed or after an adjustment, it is normal for the teeth to be sore for about 2 or 3 days. An over the counter pain reliever (as long as you have no allergies or medical contraindications) will help alleviate the discomfort. Rinsing your mouth with a cup of warm water and teaspoon of salt can also be soothing.
Wire Poking & Irritation
If a wire causes irritation, push the wire away from the area using a clean eraser end of a pencil or a Q-Tip. If the wire cannot be tucked away, cover the end of the wire with a small piece of wax we have provided to cover the irritating part and call the office for an appointment. Please remember to dry off the area first so the wax will stick better. If you do not have wax with you, use cotton, tissue or gauze until we can take care of the problem. Often you can purchase more wax at your local pharmacy.
Loose Wire on Back Teeth
If the main wire has come out of the tube on your back molar, attempt to reinsert the wire with a pair of needle-nosed pliers or tweezers sterilized in alcohol. If the wire is not sticking you, place a piece of wax over the area. If the wire is sticking you and wax does not help, the wire can be cut with a small wire cutter or fingernail clipper (sterilized in alcohol) behind the back of the last brace that is still attached to a tooth. Please call our office to schedule a repair appointment.
Separator Fell Out
See the Separator / Spacer section for more detail.
Loose Bracket (Brace)
If a bracket becomes loose, it usually remains connected to the main wire by a little rubber colored ring or the self-ligating bracket. Sterilized eyebrow tweezers can be used to reposition the brace if it flips and becomes a source of irritation. In addition, you may place some wax around the brace to keep it from moving and irritating your lips, cheek and tongue. Call our office so we may schedule an appointment to repair it.
Breakages
Wire(s) - If your wire breaks, place a piece of wax over the sharp ends and call our office to schedule an appointment.
Removable Appliances (i.e., retainers) – If a removable appliance breaks, stop wearing it and call our office to schedule an appointment. Please save all pieces and bring them with you to your appointment.
Fixed Appliances – If a fixed appliance breaks, please call our office to schedule an appointment. Please save all pieces and bring them with you to your appointment.
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