Emergency Info
What to do in case of an Emergency
Call our office as soon as possible if you break or loosen any of your appliances. Please do not come directly to our 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 to let us know if you will need your braces repaired.
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.
Loose Brackets or Bands
Call our office for advice if a bracket or wire is loosened. You may have a situation that requires cutting a wire or sliding a bracket off a wire. If you need to cut a wire in case of emergency, you may use fingernail clippers that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. Please call our office the next business day so that we may schedule an appointment for you.
Lost Separators
Many patients lose separators early in their treatment. Do not worry about losing a separator, but call our office to see if it needs to be replaced.
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 can cut it with nail clippers or scissors that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. If you cannot resolve the wire irritation, call our office for an appointment.