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, experience bleeding 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 resolve the problem.

You might be surprised to learn that you may be able to temporarily solve many problems yourself until you schedule an appointment with our office. 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.

Loose Band or Bracket
 

• Brackets are the parts of braces attached to teeth with a special adhesive. They are generally positioned in the center of each tooth. The bracket can be knocked off if you've eaten one of those hard or crunchy foods you've been instructed to avoid, or if the mouth is struck while at play.
• If the bracket is off center, the adhesive may have failed. If the loose bracket has rotated on the wire  and is sticking out, you can do a temporary fix to alleviate discomfort and prevent further damage. To put the bracket back in place, use sterile tweezers to slide the bracket along the wire until it is between two teeth. Rotate the bracket back to the proper position, then slide it back to the center of the tooth.
• Use wax to avoid soreness
• If a bracket is loose and is not attached to the wire, bring it to your next appointment
• Call the office during business hours to have the braces repaired
• The doctor may or may not have you come in prior to your next appointment, depending on where it is in the mouth and at what stage of treatment you are in
• Contact us regardless so that we can adjust the length of your next appointment, if needed

Loose or Protruding Wires
 

• Occasionaly, the end of a wire will work itself out of place and irritate the mouth
• If a wire is poking, try to bend it with a sturdy object such as a spoon or an eraser so that it is flat against the tooth
• Cover with wax to avoid soreness
• Call the office during business hours to have the wire adjusted

Ligatures Come Off 
 

• Tiny rubber bands or small, fine wires known as "ligatures" hold the wire to the bracket
• If a ligature comes off, you may be able to put it back on using sterile tweezers
• If a ligature comes loose, simply remove it with sterile tweezers
• If the wire ligature is sticking out into the lip but is not loose, it may be bent back down with a pencil eraser to eliminate irritation

Lost Tie or Colored Elastic

• Unless this causes a wire to start poking, this can wait until your next visit with us

General Discomfort & Soreness

• It is normal for you to have discomfort for a day or two after your braces or retainers are adjusted. It can make eating uncomfortable. This discomfort is normal and temporary.
• Eat soft foods
• Warm salt water rinses may help reduce discomfort
• Ora-Base numbing gel for ulcers that may develop (they heal in 5-8 days)
• Use an over-the-counter pain reliever such as Ibuprofen (Advil) or Acetaminophen (Tylenol) as needed

Please review the following helpful emergency care information prior to contacting our office: