What to Do in Case of Emergency
Call our office as soon as possible if you break or loosen any of your appliances. 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.
Loose Brackets or Bands & Wire irritations
Call our office immediately for advice if a bracket or wire is loosened. The bracket may need to be re-fitted as soon as possible. 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 you are out of town, 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.
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.
After alleviating your discomfort, it is very important that you still call our office so that we may schedule an appointment to repair the problem. Allowing your appliance to remain damaged for an extended period of time may result in disruptions to your treatment plan.
Lost Separators
Most patients lose a separator during their treatment. Do not worry about losing a separator, but 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.