True orthodontic emergencies are few and far between. In fact, most issues can be resolved at home without much difficulty. However, if you do experience a problem that you can’t easily address with the directions below, call our office immediately to schedule an appointment.
If your teeth are sore after a visit, take acetaminophen or a different non-aspirin pain reliever while you adjust to your new braces. Another idea that may help with the pain is to apply a warm washcloth or heating pad to the sore area. Still feeling pain? Try a warm saltwater rinse to reduce the soreness of your jaws.
If your braces cause irritation, try moving the wire away from the irritated area with a cotton swab or pencil eraser. If the wire will not move, cover the end of it with a small piece of cotton or a small amount of wax. Should pain persist, cut the wire with nail clippers or scissors that have been washed and sterilized in rubbing alcohol.
If a main wire or a bracket comes loose, call our office to see if the bracket needs to be refitted. In a situation that demands you cut the wire or slide a bracket off the wire, use fingernail clippers that have been washed and sterilized in rubbing alcohol. If the loose bracket happened when outside of our regular business hours, please call our office on the next business day to schedule a repair appointment.
It is common for some patients to lose a separator during treatment. If a separator comes out, call our office immediately to see if it needs to be replaced.
