What To Do In An Emergency
Minor orthodontic problems can cause some discomfort or irritation. Below we’ve outlined the ways you may be able to soothe discomfort from home.
Loose or Broken Brackets, Bands, or Wires
If any part of your braces become loose or break, call our office to find out if you can wait until your next scheduled appointment for the repair or if you should come in sooner. If the band or bracket is still attached to the archwire, leave it just as is. Do not try to connect any elastics to it, and absolutely do not try to pull it off. If it is causing any irritation, you can use orthodontic wax to cover it or move it back into place with a pencil eraser, Q-tip, or small pair of tweezers (never your fingers). If the bracket or band comes off completely, make sure you keep it and bring it with you to your next appointment.
Tooth Pain or Loosening
To alleviate the pain, normal over-the-counter pain relievers will usually do the trick. Rinsing your mouth with salt water can help provide relief for mouth ulcers. All you need is an 8 ounce glass of warm water mixed with just one teaspoon of salt. Topical numbing solutions such as Ora-base are also helpful to ease ulcer pain.
Contact Our Offices
While actual emergencies are rare, if a traumatic event occurs contact any of our offices as soon as possible. In these situations, X-rays are often necessary to determine the extent of the injury or incident and to determine whether or not the orthodontic appliances have been damaged. If this is an after-hours emergency, please TEXT your nearest office location as we monitor text messages after normal office hours.