Emergency Care

True dental emergencies are rare, but don’t worry. We’ll be able to schedule an appointment to resolve the problem. If there is a loose piece that you can remove, put it in a case or plastic bag 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.

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.

General soreness

When you get your braces on, you may feel general soreness in your mouth, and teeth may be tender. Stick to a soft diet until your teeth do not hurt from chewing. Irritated gums and other sore spots can be relieved by rinsing your mouth with a warm salt-water mouthwash. Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in eight ounces of warm water, and rinse your mouth vigorously. Placing Orabase on the affected area may also help relieve discomfort. Orabase can be found in a pharmacy. If the tenderness is severe, take Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or whatever you normally take for headache or similar pain. Aspirin, Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) and Naproxen Sodium (Naprosyn, Anaprox) actually slow the tooth movement, so it is not advisable to use them frequently while wearing braces.

The lips, cheeks, and tongue may become irritated for one to two weeks as they learn a new posture and become accustomed to the surface of the braces. You can put wax on the braces to lessen this. We’ll show you how!

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Headgear

Sometimes discomfort is caused by not wearing the headgear as instructed by your orthodontist, If the facebow (metal piece) is bent, please call our office for assistance.

Loose appliance

If your appliance is poking you, place wax on the offending part.

Loose bracket

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 and save it to bring to your next appointment.

Loose wire

Try putting the wire back in place using a pair of tweezers or needle-nosed pliers. It is okay to use a piece of floss to tie the wire into place: tie the floss around the bracket in place of the missing colored o-ring.

Poking wire

If the end of the wire is still sharp place wax on it.

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