True orthodontic emergencies are rare, but when they occur we are available to you. As a general rule, you should call our office when you experience severe pain or have a painful appliance problem 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 solve many problems yourself temporarily until you can get to our office. If there is a loose piece that you can remove, put it in a plastic bag or envelope and bring it with you to your next appointment. If your braces are poking you, put soft wax on the piece that's sticking out. If the wire has slid to one side, you can pull it back to the other side with needle-nosed pliers, replacing it in the tube on the back tooth.
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 to your treatment plan.
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. Stick to a soft diet until your teeth do not hurt to chewing. Irritated gums and other sore spots can be relieved by rinsing your mouth with a warm salt-water mouthwash. Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in eight ounces of warm water, and rinse your mouth vigorously. An alternative (better tasting) mouthwash is the Healthy Gums Rinse by The Natural Dentist. Placing Orabase on the affected area may also help relieve discomfort; Orabase can be found in a pharmacy. If the tenderness is severe, take Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or whatever you normally take for headache or similar pain. Aspirin, Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) and Naproxen Sodium (Naprosyn, Anaprox) actually slow the tooth movement, so it is not advisable to use them frequently while wearing braces.
The lips, cheeks, and tongue may become irritated for one to two weeks as they learn a new posture and become accustomed to the surface of the braces. You can put wax on the braces to lessen this. We'll show you how!
Things to Keep in Mind
Most concerns can be remedied at home. However, if you have a situation that you are not able to resolve on your own, please call our office so we can schedule you a COMFORT CARE or REPAIR appointment.
Listed below are some common concerns that may arise along with some helpful suggestions:
If a separator falls out…
If a separator falls out and your next appointment is within the next two days, you do not have to come back to our office to have the separator replaced. However, if the separator falls out within a day or two of being placed, you should call our office to schedule a quick appointment to have the separator replaced.
If a colored alastic (little colored rubber ring on the bracket) comes off…
If an alastic (little rubber ring) comes off, phone our office to schedule an appointment.
If the rubber c-chain breaks…
If the rubber c-chain breaks, phone our office to schedule an appointment.
If a ligature wire is causing irritation…
If a ligature wire is causing irritation, try tucking the ligature wire away from the area by using the eraser end of a pencil or a Q-tip. If the ligature wire cannot be tucked in, cover the end of the wire with a small piece of wax, a cotton ball or a piece of sugarless gum. Cutting the wire should only be done as a last resort. Please call our office for an appointment.
If the main archwire has come out of the tube…
If the main archwire has come out of the tube on the back molar, you may attempt to reinsert the wire with a pair of needle nose pliers or tweezers. If you are not successful in placing the wire back into the tube, place a piece of wax over the area. If the archwire is long and poking you, apply wax to the area. If the wax does not help, the wire can be cut with a wire cutter or nail clipper close to the back of the brace. Cutting the wire should be done as a last resort. Please call our office to schedule an appointment.
If the main archwire is long…
If the main archwire is long and poking you, we recommend covering the area with wax until you can get in to see us for an appointment. If this does not provide relief, you may wish to try and trim the wire with nail clippers or small wire cutters, if you have them. Do this as a last resort.
If a bracket is loose…
If a bracket (the small rectangular brace) is loose, call our office to schedule an appointment. In most cases, the bracket will remain attached to the main archwire. A loose bracket can be left in place until you are seen for your appointment. You may use a pair of eyebrow tweezers to reposition the brace if it flips around the wire and becomes a source of irritation. If the bracket falls off, please bring bracket in with you and your visit.
If a band is loose…
If a band (the ring around the back molar) is loose, call our office to schedule an appointment to have the band re-cemented.
If any appliance gets bent…
If any appliance gets bent, or is not fitting well, it should not be worn until it can be properly adjusted in our office. Please call our office to schedule an appointment.
If you lose or break your appliance or retainer…
If you break your appliance or retainer, bring all the pieces with you for repair. If you lose or break your appliance or retainer, an impression will have to be taken to remake it. There may be a fee for the repair or replacement of the appliance or retainer. Please contact our office to schedule an appointment.
If your teeth are sore after your visit…
If your teeth are sore after a visit, take aspirin, Tylenol or ibuprofen unless you are allergic to them. If your teeth suddenly get sore, please call our office to schedule an appointment. It is unusual for teeth to get sore several weeks after your last office visit.
If food becomes stuck between your teeth…
If food becomes stuck between your teeth, use dental floss or a proxy brush to dislodge the food. It sometimes helps to tie a small knot in the middle of the floss and then slide the floss back and forth through the food mass.
If a permanent tooth feels loose…
If a permanent tooth feels loose, don't be alarmed. A little movement is normal when wearing braces.
