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 True orthodontic emergencies are very rare, but when they do occur we are available for you. As a general rule, you should call the office when you experience severe pain or when you have a painful appliance problem that you can't take care of yourself. We'll be able to schedule an appointment to resolve the problem.
You might be surprised to learn that you may be able to temporarily solve many problems yourself until you schedule an appointment with our office. When working with your appliances, you need to know the names of the parts of your appliances so you are able to identify what part is broken or out of place (see our Braces Diagram). If you are able to alleviate your discomfort, it is still very important that you call our office as soon as possible to schedule a time to repair the problem. Allowing your appliance to remain damaged for an extended period of time may result in disruptions in your treatment plan.
The following solutions may help you relieve your discomfort:
Poking Wire
Using a pencil eraser, push the poking wire down or place wax on it to alleviate the discomfort.
Loose Bracket or Band
If your bracket or band is still attached to the wire, you should leave it in place and put wax on it. If the bracket, band, or wire comes out entirely, save it somewhere safe and bring it in to your next appointment.
Loose Wire
Using tweezers, try to place your wire back into place. If doing this and using wax does not help, as a last resort use a small fingernail clipper to clip the wire behind the last tooth to which it is securely fastened. If your discomfort continues, place wax on it.
Loose Appliance
If your appliance is poking you, place wax on the offending part of your appliance.
Headgear Does Not Fit
Sometimes headgear discomfort is caused by not wearing the headgear as instructed. Please refer to the instructions you received from us. If the facebow is bent, please call our office for assistance. Surprisingly, the headgear may hurt less if it's worn more, so be sure you're getting in the prescribed hours.
General Soreness
When you first get your braces on and for a few days after your regular adjustments, you may feel a general soreness in your mouth, and your teeth may be tender to biting pressures. This discomfort can often be relieved by rinsing your mouth with a warm salt-water solution. Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in 8 ounces of warm water and rinse your mouth vigorously.
If the tenderness is severe, take ibuprofen or acetaminophen or whatever you normally take for a headache or similar pain. The lips, cheeks, and tongue may also become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and become accustomed to the surfaces of the braces. You can put wax on the braces to lessen any irritation. Placing Orabase on the affected area may also help; this can be found in your local pharmacy.
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