Emergency Information

What to do in case of emergency

Call our office as soon as possible if you break or loosen any of your appliances. Please do not come directly to the office – by calling us, you will allow us to create a time to see you. Even if you have a regular appointment scheduled, call us immediately to notify us if you need an appliance repaired.

If you should have a direct injury to your teeth and mouth, you should always be seen by your general dentist (or the emergency room) as soon as possible. X-rays may be required if a tooth has been severely loosened, fractured, or knocked out. If the orthodontic appliances are damaged, they can be repaired afterwards.

We never want you to be uncomfortable with a loose band or bracket or poking wires, but here are helpful hints in dealing with some of the minor problems we see.

Loose brackets or bands

A loose band or bracket can generally be left in place until you are seen by our office. They will still be attached to the arch wire by an elastic. If you do 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 for advice if a brace is loosened and so that we may schedule an appointment for you to get it repaired.

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 separators

Many patients will lose a separator during their treatment. This generally means that enough space has been created and the separator has become dislodged. Please call our office to see if it needs to be replaced.

Discomfort with Orthodontic Treatment

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 wash cloth or heating pad may reduce the soreness in your jaws.