ORTHODONTIC EMERGENCIES
What To Do If You Have Injury, Breakage or Discomfort
Fortunately, true orthodontic emergencies are rare. Sometimes, appliances might be broken or bent during your orthodontic care. If there are any disturbances, such as loose bands, loose brackets, broken or poking wires, please call our office for an appointment during patient hours. For your convenience and the convenience of scheduled patients, it is not possible to handle emergencies on a walk-in basis.
Fortunately, true orthodontic emergencies are rare. Sometimes, appliances might be broken or bent during your orthodontic care. If there are any disturbances, such as loose bands, loose brackets, broken or poking wires, please call our office for an appointment during patient hours. For your convenience and the convenience of scheduled patients, it is not possible to handle emergencies on a walk-in basis.
As a general rule, you should call our office when you experience severe pain or have a painful appliance problem you can’t take care of yourself. We’ll be able to schedule an appointment to resolve the problem. Even if you are able to fix or alleviate your concerns, follow up with our office to ensure that broken appliances will not disrupt your treatment progress. While actual emergencies are rare, our goal is to make orthodontic treatment as comfortable as possible. If you need additional advice, don’t hesitate to call us!
Face Or Head Trauma
If the situation involves facial or head trauma, your first stop should be the emergency room, urgent care or your family physician to rule out any severe medical complications before treating the teeth.
Direct Injury To Mouth Or Teeth
Following a direct injury to your mouth or teeth, whether undergoing orthodontic care or not, immediately ice the injured area and contact your regular dentist as soon as possible. Usually, an x-ray of the involved tooth or teeth is needed to determine the extent of injury. If a tooth has been displaced, knocked out or fractured, it is best to contact your family dentist first, since we may not have the necessary materials or anesthesia required to treat these injuries. If the appliances are dislodged or displaced, we will need to replace or adjust the appliances as soon as possible, so call our office for an appointment.
Orthodontic Emergencies
You might be surprised to learn that you may be able to solve many problems yourself temporarily until you can get to our office. If there is a loose piece that you can remove, put it in a plastic bag or envelope and bring it with you to your next appointment. If your braces are poking you, put soft wax on the piece that’s sticking out. If the wire has slid to one side, you can pull it back to the other side with needle-nosed pliers, replacing it in the tube on the back tooth.
After alleviating your discomfort, it is very important that you still 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 to your treatment plan. Call or text us at 661-294-1800 and feel free to include a quick phone pic to help us guide you.
How To Avoid Orthodontic Emergencies
Of course, it is best to avoid orthodontic emergencies, if at all possible. Here are some ways to help you do that:
Common Orthodontic Issues And What To Do
General Soreness
When you first get your braces and after an adjustment, you may feel general soreness in your mouth, and teeth may be tender to biting pressures for three to five days. Some things that may help:
Loose Appliance
If your bonded upper or lower appliance has become loosened or dislodged, please call our office first. Our staff will schedule a time for your comfort visit. If the appliance becomes loose after office hours, please call the emergency line so that we can make arrangements to help you as soon as possible. If your appliance is poking you, you can place wax on the offending part.
Loose Wire
Loose wires can usually be manipulated into place using a pair of tweezers that have been sterilized in alcohol. If a wire causes irritation, push the wire away from the area using the eraser end of a pencil or a Q-tip. If the wire cannot be tucked away, cover the end of the wire with a small piece of wax or a cotton ball until you can see us for an adjustment.
Poking Wire
Using a pencil eraser, push the poking wire down or place wax on it so that it is no longer poking. Use tweezers or a pencil eraser to coax the wire away from the irritated area. If that is not possible, cover the poking wire with a small amount of the wax. You should then call our office to schedule a visit.
Lost Separator
Your orthodontist may place separators or spacers in between your teeth to make room for the bands that will be placed around some of your teeth. There are several reasons why you may lose a separator during treatment. There is no need to fret, just call our office to see if it needs to be replaced.
Loose Bracket
Occasionally a bracket or band may become unglued & feel loose. If your bracket or band is still attached to the wire, you should leave it in place and put wax on it if needed for comfort. If the bracket or band can be removed easily, place it in an envelope or plastic bag and save it to bring to your next appointment.
If this happens, you should contact your orthodontist as soon as possible during business hours. If it occurs after hours, contact your orthodontist as soon as they open the next day. There is no need to call after hours. Call us the next day and we will most likely have you come in at a convenient time to have the bracket or band cemented back into place. If it is early in treatment, it will not delay progress. If it is at the end of treatment, not having it repaired immediately can add months to treatment.
