Emergency Care:
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 solve the problem. We also have after hours staff that are on call to assist you between the hours of 8am and 8pm.
You might be surprised to learn that you may be able to temporarily solve many problems yourself. When working with your appliances, you need to know the names of the parts of your appliances so you are able to identify what part is broken or out of place. 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 of time may result in disruptions in your treatment plan.
Below is a list of common issues and ways to solve them:
Poking Wire: Using a pencil eraser, push the wire down or place wax on it to alleviate discomfort. If the wire is poking out the back you may clip the wire with cuticle scissors or wire cutters.
Loose Bracket/Band: If your bracket or band is still attached to the wire, you should leave it there and place wax over it. If the bracket comes off the wire completely, place that bracket in a baggie and bring it to your next appointment.
Loose Wire: Using a tweezer, try to put your wire back into place. If doing this and 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.
Loose Orthodontic Appliance: (i.e. expander) If your appliance is poking you, place wax on the offending part of your appliance.
General Soreness: When you get your braces on, you may feel general soreness in your mouth and teeth may be tender to biting pressures for three to five days. This can be relieved by rinsing your mouth with a warm saltwater mouthwash. Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in 8 ounces of warm water, and rinse your mouth vigorously. Placing Orabase on the affected area may help; this can be found in a pharmacy. If the tenderness is severe, take whatever you normally take for headache or similar pain. The lips, cheeks and tongue may also become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and become accustomed to the surface of the braces. You can put wax on the braces to lessen this.