Emergency Info: What to Do in Case of an Emergency
There are various orthodontic problems that can happen during your treatment. Some are fairly common and others are not. Some will need to be addressed right away and others can wait depending on the situation.
Please do not come directly to the office, by calling us, you will allow us to create a time to see you or direct the best course of action. Even if you have a regular appointment scheduled, call us to notify us if you need an appliance repaired.
If you don’t know what to do, call our office and we will direct you on the best course of action.
Loose Brackets or Bands
Breaking a bracket is fairly common and usually occurs due to improper food choices or eating styles. Most of the time this is not an emergency unless it is causing severe pain and or moving a tooth adversely. You may have a situation that requires cutting a wire or sliding a bracket off a wire at night or over the weekend. If you need to cut a wire in case of an emergency, you may use fingernail clippers that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. Please call our office the next business day, so that we may schedule an appointment for you.
Wire Irritations
Sometimes discomfort caused by a wire on your braces can be resolved by moving the wire away from the irritated area with a cotton swab or eraser. If the wire will not move, try covering the end of it with a small piece of cotton or a small amount of wax. If the wire is painful, you can cut it with nail clippers or scissors that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. If you cannot resolve the wire irritation, call our office for an appointment.
Lost Seperator
Most patients lose a separator during their treatment. Do not worry about losing a separator, but call our office to see if it needs to be replaced.
Discomfort with your Orthodontic Appointment
During the first week after your braces are in place and routine adjustments are complete, you will likely feel some pain, soreness, or discomfort. You may take acetaminophen or other non-aspirin pain relievers while you adjust to your new braces. A warm washcloth or heating pad may reduce the soreness in your jaws.
When to Call the Office
If you make any of the adjustments we’ve mentioned, call the office as soon as possible, during regular office hours, so that we can schedule a time to make repairs. CALL EVEN IF YOU HAVE A SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT, because a repair may take longer than the time allotted for a regular appointment.
If you are unable to alleviate the problem on your own, please call. We are always available to assist you.
Direct injuries to the mouth or teeth- immediately ice the area and call your regular dentist. After seeing your dentist, we will need to replace any broken or displaced appliances as soon as possible (depending on the patient’s comfort level).
