Occasionally, some patients will experience an injury to the mouth during treatment. Dental emergencies while wearing braces or other orthodontic appliances generally fall into two categories.
Emergencies Related to Orthodontic Appliances
It is possible that an appliance may become damaged during your orthodontic treatment. If you experience any issues such as loose bands, loose brackets, or broken or poking wires, please call our office during patient hours to schedule an appointment. To ensure the timely care of all our patients, we are unable to accommodate walk-in emergencies.
In the meantime, here are some tips to address common issues until your appointment:
- Irritating Tie Wire: Cover the wire with wax or gently tuck it under the bracket using a blunt object like a pencil eraser or Q-tip.
- Loose Band or Bracket: These can usually remain in place until your appointment. Please call our office during patient hours to schedule a repair.
- Broken or Poking Wire: Placing wax over the end of the poking wire will temporarily resolve the issue . Please call our office during patient hours to schedule a repair
Direct Injuries to the Mouth and Teeth
If you experience a direct injury to your mouth or teeth, please apply ice to the injured area immediately and contact your regular dentist as soon as possible, regardless of whether you are currently undergoing orthodontic treatment. Your dentist will likely need to take an x-ray to assess the extent of the injury.
For a displaced, knocked-out, or fractured tooth, it is important to contact your family dentist first. They have the materials and anesthesia necessary to treat these injuries.
If your orthodontic appliances are dislodged or displaced, we will need to replace or adjust them as soon as possible once you have seen your general dentist. We will schedule this based on your comfort level.
After Office Hours
If you experience a painful orthodontic emergency outside of our regular office hours, please contact our office. You will find information on how to reach the on-call orthodontist for further assistance.
