Orthodontic emergencies are rare, but we are available for you should any problems occur. Call our office as soon as possible if you break or loosen any of your appliances or experience severe pain. We’ll be able to make time to see you to resolve the problem if you call rather than come directly to the office.
You may be able to solve some problems yourself temporarily until you can get to our office. If your braces are poking you, put some soft wax on the piece that’s sticking out. If there is a loose piece that you can safely and easily remove, put it in a plastic bag or envelope and bring it with you to your next appointment.
It’s common to feel discomfort during the first week after your braces are placed. And after routine adjustments, you will likely feel some pain, soreness or discomfort. To relieve this, take acetaminophen or another non-aspirin pain reliever. And you can use a warm wash cloth or heating pad to reduce any soreness in your jaws.
Loose Brackets or Bands?
Call our office immediately for advice if a bracket or wire is loosened. The bracket may need to be re-fitted as soon as possible.
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. You can try covering the end of the wire with a small piece of cotton or a small amount of wax if it will not move. 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 separators
Do not worry about losing a separator, but call our office when it happens to see if it needs to be replaced.
