What to do in case of emergency

Call our office as soon as possible if you break or loosen any of your appliances. Please do not come directly to the office – by calling us, you will allow us to create a time to see you. Even if you have a regular appointment scheduled, call us immediately to notify us if you need an appliance repaired so that our office can adjust scheduled treatment time.

Loose Brackets or Bands

Call our office immediately for advice if a bracket or band is loosened. The bracket or band may need to be re-fitted or replaced as soon as possible. If you have an irritation due to a loose bracket you may apply wax to the area as needed to reduce comfort. However, a loose band may be removed and saved until we can see you in our office. Please remember to call our office the next business day, so that we may schedule an appointment for you.

Wire Irritations

Sometimes discomfort caused by a wire on your braces can be resolved by 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 may try to cut it with nail clippers that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. If you cannot resolve the wire irritation, call our office for an appointment.

Lost Separators

When most patients lose a separator it is due to the wanted movement of teeth. Do not worry about losing a separator if it occurs one to two days before your next scheduled appointment but anything earlier you should call our office to see if it needs to be replaced.

Discomfort with Orthodontic Treatment

During the first week after your braces are in place and routine adjustments are complete, you will likely feel some pain, soreness or discomfort. You may take acetaminophen or other non-aspirin pain relievers while you adjust to your new braces. A warm wash cloth or heating pad may reduce the soreness in your jaws.