Emergency Information

Emergency cases

This could be due to lack of knowledge on what is safe to eat. When you break or loosen any of your dental fittings, call one of our offices immediately. Please do not come to the office directly. You will allow us to create a time to see you by calling us, even if you have a regular appointment scheduled.

Loose brackets or bands

If a bracket or wire is loosened, call our office. You may have a situation that requires cutting a wire or sliding a bracket off a wire at night or over the weekend. If you need to cut a wire in case of an emergency, you may use fingernail clippers washed and sterilized in alcohol. Please call us the next business day, so we may schedule an appointment for you.

Wire irritation

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 of a pencil. If the wire will not move, try covering the end of it with a small amount of wax. If the wire is painful, you can cut it with nail clippers or scissors washed and sterilized in alcohol. If you are unable to resolve the wire irritation, call us for an appointment.

Orabase ointment is provided to the patients at the start of and throughout treatment (upon request). This ointment is applied to the lips or inside the mouth to temporarily alleviate any discomfort associated with mouth sores or irritation from the braces.

Lost separators

Most patients lose a separator during their treatment. Do not worry about losing it, but call the office to see if it needs to be replaced.

Discomfort with orthodontic treatment

During the first week that your braces are in place and routine adjustments are complete, you will likely feel some soreness or discomfort. You may take acetaminophen or other non-aspirin pain relievers while adjusting to your new braces. Apply warm washcloth or heating pad to reduce soreness in your jaws.