Call or text us right away if you experience an orthodontic emergency (like a broken or lost appliance) even if you have a regularly scheduled appointment soon. We don’t want your treatment to get off track, so we’ll guide you to manage the problem until you can come into the office.
You can prevent most orthodontic problems by following our food recommendations and best practices for care. Still, wires and brackets sometimes break even when you are being careful with what you eat and how you chew. We get that. Don’t stress. Get in touch with us right away and we’ll work with you to solve any problem.
Loose Brackets or Bands
If a bracket, band, or archwire is loose, call our office right away. It’s possible that Dr. Kaye or Dr. Yucha will need to refit the bracket. If your problem happens at night or on a weekend, you might need to slide the loose bracket off and save it in a small plastic bag until you can come in. Please call our office on the next business day so we can schedule an appointment.
Poking Wires or Wire Irritations
Archwires shouldn’t poke your mouth or irritate your cheeks and gums. If a wire is poking you, use a clean cotton swab or the eraser end of a pencil to move it away from the irritated area. If you can’t move the wire, cover the poking end with a small piece of cotton or wax. If this intervention doesn’t mitigate the pain, you can snip the wire with fingernail clippers or scissors that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. If you need to cut the wire or can’t resolve the wire irritation, call us for an appointment.
Lost Separators
It’s normal for patients to lose a separator over the course of their treatment. If you lose a separator, call our office to see if it needs to be replaced.
Discomfort with Braces and Orthodontic Treatment
For the first week after you get braces and then again after routine adjustments, you’ll feel some soreness or discomfort. Though a bit unpleasant, it’s totally normal and nothing to worry about. Here are a few ideas to minimize pain:
- Swish with a little salt water. (1 teaspoon salt dissolved in a cup of warm water)
- Take acetaminophen or another non-aspirin, over-the-counter pain reliever.
- Apply a warm washcloth or heating pad to the sore area.
- Watch your favorite show with a bowl of nut-free ice cream.