If you have an orthodontic emergency, we are here to help. If you are in extreme pain or have an appliance problem that you cannot resolve on your own, please contact us. We’ll be able to schedule an appointment to remedy this straight away.
You may be able to come up with solutions on your own in many cases until you can get to our office. If there is a loose piece that you can remove, bring a plastic bag or envelope to your next appointment. Apply soft wax to the protruding area of your braces. If the wire has moved, use needle-nose pliers to draw it back to the other side and reinsert it in the tube on the back tooth.
You must still call our office as soon as possible after you have eased your discomfort to schedule a repair. If your appliance is damaged for an extended period of time, your treatment strategy may be disrupted.
General soreness
After getting braces, your mouth and teeth may feel sore for three to five days, so be ready for that. Eat soft meals until you no longer experience discomfort while biting down. A warm salt-water mouthwash might help relieve sore gums and other oral irritations. Rinse your mouth with an eight-ounce glass of warm water and one teaspoon of salt. If the discomfort persists, try acetaminophen (Tylenol) or whichever pain medicine you normally use. If you have braces, you should avoid taking aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), or naproxen sodium (Naprosyn, Anaprox) daily.
The braces may irritate the lips, cheeks, and tongue for the first one to two weeks as they adapt to their new position and the surface of the braces. This may be reduced by putting wax on the braces. We’ll help you through the process!
Headgear
If you don’t follow your orthodontist’s instructions and wear the headgear as directed, you may have discomfort. Your orthodontist has given you specific instructions. If your facebow is bent, please contact our office for assistance. Wear the headgear for the recommended number of hours to relieve any pain.
Loose appliance
Apply wax to the part of your gadget that keeps poking you.
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
Push the wire back into position using a pair of needle-nose pliers or tweezers. To fasten the wire, replace the lost colored o-ring with a piece of floss. If you are unable to pull the wire into a comfortable position and hiding the end with wax does not help, you may use a small fingernail clipper to cut it below the last tooth to which it is securely connected. If required, apply wax to the sharp end of the wire.
Poling wire
To keep it from poking any longer, push it down with a pencil eraser or wax it.
