We Can Help
Dental emergencies are thankfully few and far between and generally fall into two categories – concerns related to orthodontic appliances or discomfort of the teeth or mouth.
Concerns Related to Orthodontic Appliances
Rarely, some part of your appliances might be broken or bent during the time between your orthodontic visits. If there are any disturbances, such as loose bands, loose brackets, and broken or poking wires, please call our office for an appointment during patient hours. For your convenience and the convenience of scheduled patients, it is not possible to handle emergencies on a walk-in basis. In the meantime, here are some helpful tips to remedy the majority of the problems you may encounter until we can see you in the office.
- If a tie wire is irritating your mouth, cover it with orthodontic wax or tuck it under the archwire with a blunt object like a pencil eraser or Q-tip.
- A loose band or bracket can generally be left in place until seen in our office. If possible, please e-mail, text or call us about the issue before the next appointment so that we can have the tools ready for the repair in advance to respect your time. Generally, it can be left in place until we see you next. We will schedule you to reattach the loose appliance if indicated.
- A simple remedy for a broken or poking archwire is that it can often be bent in with a softer object like a pencil eraser or cut with nail clippers. However, if you do not feel the problem has been resolved adequately, please call our office during patient hours to see if we can give guidance and help you further.
Discomfort of the Teeth and Mouth
Following a direct injury to your mouth or teeth, whether undergoing orthodontic care or not, immediately ice the injured area and you should contact your regular dentist.
Most irritations to the teeth and mouth will either self-resolve or improve from a simple solution. But what do you do if you or your child suffers a fall, a shot to the face during sports or a similar accident? These incidents can lead to a direct trauma type injury the the teeth, lips and gums and whether you have braces on or not, you may need to check into your primary general dentist first to assess for the best next step.
After Office Hours
If an orthodontic emergency arises where the patient is in pain after hours, please contact our office. Please leave a voice message or text and we will return your call within 12 hours.