Emergency Care
There are very few true orthodontic emergencies.
Most problems can be remedied at home. However, if you have a situation that you cannot resolve on your own, call us as soon as possible, so we can fit you in for a repair appointment.
In the meantime, this feature can help resolve minor problems you may encounter during your orthodontic treatment.
- Sore teeth- If your teeth are sore after a visit, you may take acetaminophen or other non-aspirin pain relievers while you adjust to your new braces. A warm washcloth, heating pad or warm salt-water rinses may reduce the soreness in your jaws.
- Wire Irritation- If your braces cause irritation, try 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.
- Loose Bracket- If the main wire or a bracket comes loose; first, call our office to see if the bracket needs to be re-fitted. If you have a situation where you must cut the wire or slide a bracket off the wire, you may use fingernail clippers that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. Please call our office on the next business day to schedule a repair appointment.
- If a separator comes out- call our office to see if it needs to be replaced. Some patients may lose a separator during treatment, which is common.