Orthodontic emergencies

If you have a problem with your braces or appliance we are more than happy to help you so don’t hesitate to call the office. Some orthodontic problems can be dealt with yourself if an emergency visit to our office is not possible. The following section provides suggestions on how to deal with some of these problems.

Tooth Pain It is normal to experience tooth pain and discomfort for several days after the braces have been placed or adjusted. This tends to make eating more difficult. Make sure soft foods are available. The wires on your braces are temperature sensitive; so keep in mind that heat will stiffen the wire and increase the feeling of tightness. On the other hand, something cold will relax your wires and relieve the pressure on your teeth. So here is your excuse to indulge in your favorite cold milkshakes, slurpees, or smoothies. Later on in your treatment if you want to speed it up you can try warm drinks to tighten wires. Another solution to sore teeth is to take a non prescription painkiller. Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) works best as this relieves the pain and relaxes the muscles.

Irritation of Lips and Cheeks Irritation of lips and cheeks from braces rubbing tends to occur when the braces are first placed. We provide you with orthodontic wax which can give you some comfort. To apply the wax, pinch off a small piece and roll it into a ball smaller than the size of a pea. Dry the area the wax is to be placed with a tissue or by smiling and taking a deep breath in. Press the wax onto the brace where the irritation is occurring ensuring the top and bottom of the brace are covered. It is not unusual for the wax to fall off and be swallowed. There should be no concerns about eating the wax as no medications are present.

Elastic ties come off of brackets Small round donut shaped elastic ligatures are used to keep the wire and bracket together. Sometimes they can partially or completely come off the bracket. If there is a stainless steel wire tied around the bracket it is ok to leave it off. To replace it you can try to use tweezers to pull it back around the bracket.

Bracket is knocked off of tooth (broken) Eating hard foods or getting hit in the mouth will likely break the bond between the tooth and the bracket. This will allow the bracket to slide on the wire and may irritate the cheeks. If you have a broken bracket, call the office to either schedule an emergency appointment or to repair this or add it to your next regular scheduled appointment. Our office does our best to get you in within a two week period. Of course this is something best to avoid so please refer to the No No List for what you shouldn’t be eating. On average, one broken bracket can increase your treatment time by 1.5-2 months. If possible you can try to slide the bracket off the wire until you can come into the office.

Loose Band or appliance Call the office and we will book you an appointment to recement it as soon as we can. Please save any parts that have come off.

Poking wire If a wire is protruding out the back of the braces and poking, or if a thin wire is protruding from the braces and poking your lip and cheeks, there are two things you can do. You can try to cover the poking wire with wax until you can make it into the office. The second option is to obtain a small keychain nail clipper and trim the wire. Of course, we can trim the poking wires for you if you call and book a short 5-10 minute appointment.

Wire out in back Sometimes wire can come out of the slot of the back bracket. If possible, use tweezers to place the wire back into the slot. If you cannot do this call the office or try trimming the wire to make yourself comfortable until you can come in.

Bent Headgear

Herbst Arms come apart

1. If a rod gets stuck inside a tube limiting movement of your jaw.
2. Bands that come loose from the tooth.
3. Any other breakage.

Broken or lost retainer