What to do in case of emergency
Call our office as soon as possible if you break or loosen any of your appliances. Please do not come directly to the office – by calling us, you will allow us to create a time to see you. Even if you have a regular appointment scheduled, call immediately to notify us if you need an appliance repaired.
Loose brackets or bands
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 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 emergency, you may use fingernail clippers that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. Please call our office the next business day, so that we may schedule an appointment for you.
Wire irritations
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. If the wire is painful, you can cut it with nail clippers or scissors that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. If you cannot resolve the wire irritation, call our office for an appointment.
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. If we have shown you how and where to put the separator you may also replace it yourself.
Discomfort with orthodontic treatment
During the first week after braces are in place and after routine adjustments are made, patients will likely feel some soreness or discomfort. If needed, the patient may take pain medication (i.e. Tylenol, Ibuprophen, or the medication they generally take for discomfort) while they adjust to the new braces. As in every case of administering a medication, make sure the patient is not allergic to the medicaiton and follow the directions listed on the bottle or prescription. A warm wash cloth or heating pad may also help reduce the soreness in the patient's jaws.