Emergency Care

Even though you are careful, you may occasionally damage your appliances. We want our patients to be informed of problems that may occur, and understand how to solve them, at least temporarily, until it is possible to return to our office.

Loose brackets

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. 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 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.

Broken archwire

If a main archwire breaks (the one that goes all the way around the outside of your braces), call our office for an emergency appointment.

Soreness

When you have just started wearing braces, you may feel general soreness in your mouth, and teeth may be tender to biting pressures for 1 day to 1 week. This soreness can be soothed by rinsing your mouth with a warm salt-water rinse. Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in 8 ounces of warm water, and rinse your mouth vigorously. Placing an over-the-counter topical anesthetic on the affected area may also help. This soothing aid can be found in your local pharmacy or grocery store.

Injury

If you have a traumatic injury resulting in cuts to your lips or gums or if you have a loose tooth, please contact our office immediately. If you have broken any part of a tooth, you will need to contact your family dentist. If you suspect that your jaw has been injured or notice that your teeth have been moved by the accident, you may also need to be seen by an oral surgeon.

Infection or Swelling

If you have an infected tooth or any type of swelling in the facial region it is best to contact your family dentist first. Remember that he or she is trained to handle a range of dental problems and can most likely offer the necessary diagnostic tools, anesthetics and treatments you may need. After the problem is resolved, please call our office so we may determine if any changes in orthodontic treatment are necessary.

If you are involved in contact sports, a regular mouth guard can be fitted over your braces for added protection.