True orthodontic emergencies are very rare, but when they do occur we are available to you. As a general rule, you should call the office when you experience severe pain or when you have a painful appliance problem that you can't take care of yourself. We'll be able to schedule an appointment to resolve the problem. You might be surprised to learn that you will usually be able to temporarily solve many problems yourself until you schedule an appointment with our office. When working with your appliances, you need to know the names of the parts of your appliances so you are able to identify what part is broken or out of place (Braces Diagram). 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 in your treatment plan.
The following solutions may help you relieve your discomfort:
Poking Wire
Using a pencil eraser or tweezers, push the poking wire down or place wax on it to alleviate the discomfort.
Loose Bracket or Band
If your bracket or band is still attached to the wire, you should leave it in place and put wax on it if causing discomfort. If the bracket or band comes out of your mouth, save it in a plastic bag and bring it with you to your appointment.
Loose Wire
Using tweezers, try to place your wire back into place. If doing this and using wax doesn't help, as a last resort use a small fingernail clipper to clip the wire behind the last tooth to which it is securely fastened.
Sore Spots on Lips, Cheeks or Tongue
Try to cover any offending wire, bracket or band with wax or a lip bumper. Wearing a mouthguard to bed can help shield the area while you sleep. Use a topical anesthetic (BraceAid, Ambesol, Oragel) or stick-on patch (CankCover) on the sore spot. Rinsing with warm salt water several times a day can be very soothing. Do not be alarmed if a sore spot does not disappear immediately-it is normal for healing to take at least 10-14 days.
Headgear Does Not Fit/ Causing Pain
Sometimes headgear discomfort is caused by not wearing the headgear as instructed by your orthodontist. Please refer to the instructions provided by the doctor. If the facebow is bent, please call our office for assistance. Surprisingly, the headgear may hurt less if it's worn more, so be sure you're getting in the prescribed hours.
Tooth/Gum Pain Around A Band
The first few days after a band is placed it is normal to have some discomfort around the tooth. This usually subsides on its own but ibuprofen (Motrin® or Advil®) or Alleve® can help if needed. Swelling can be caused by food particles becoming lodged in the gum tissue (very often popcorn!) so be sure to brush and floss thoroughly around the tooth. Swelling can also be caused by a loose band that has moved into the gum tissue.
Tooth Pain from Rubber Bands
It is common for rubber bands to cause some soreness the first few days you wear them as they begin to move your teeth. You may find it helpful to take some ibuprofen during this time. If you keep wearing the elastics as prescribed the discomfort should subside within a few days. However, if you do not wear them as directed, you will have discomfort every time you try to wear them and your teeth will not make any progress.
Accidents to Face and Mouth
Following a direct injury to your mouth or teeth while wearing braces, you should check to see if any teeth have been displaced. If so, call us immediately so the doctors can arrange to see you. Once we have evaluated the situation and performed any necessary treatment, we may recommend that you be seen by your regular dentist depending on the extent of your injuries. We may not have the necessary materials to treat certain injuries and will work with your family dentist to ensure your needs are addressed.
If no teeth appear to be injured but the appliance is dislodged or displaced, we will need to schedule an appointment to repair them. Even if nothing appears to be broken, always let us know that an accident has occurred so we may check your appliances for damage that you may be unable to see. Going a long period of time with damaged appliances can have a negative effect on your treatment progress.
