What to do in Case of Emergency

Call our office at 346-387-6289 as soon as possible if you break or loosen any of your appliances to discuss the course of action. We recommend that you call first, instead of coming directly to the office, and allow us to create a time especially for you. Even if you have a regular appointment scheduled, please call and notify us of any appliance repair needs.

Discomfort with Orthodontic Treatment

During the first week after placement of the braces and a few days after routine adjustments to your braces, you will likely feel some soreness or discomfort. This discomfort feels like a mild headache or sore muscles after a workout at the gym. If you have no allergy to these medications, you may take ibuprofen, acetaminophen or other non-aspirin pain relievers while you adjust to your new braces. A warm wash cloth or compress applied to the affected area may reduce the soreness in your jaws.

Loose Brackets or Bands

A loose bracket or band is usually harmless and not an emergency, but may need to be refitted as soon as possible. Call our office immediately for advice if a bracket or band is loosened or broken. Placing dental wax over the bracket or band will usually relieve the discomfort.

Wire Irritations

Discomfort caused by a wire on your braces can be resolved by moving the wire away from the irritated area with a pencil eraser or cotton swab. If the wire will not move, try covering it with a small amount of dental wax or cotton. If the wire is painful and the wire irritation can not be resolved, please call our office as soon as possible for an appointment

Lost Separators

Separators (spacers) make just enough room for a comfortable fit for your braces/bands and play an important role in your treatment. Some patients do lose a separator during treatment, but the situation is easily resolved. If you should lose a separator, just call our office as soon as possible after the loss to discuss the need for replacement.

Herbst

The Herbst is designed with movable parts that may become loosened from each other. If the arms become separated from the tubes, you may attempt to reinsert the arm into the tube by opening wide and gently reinserting the arm into the tube. The Herbst is fabricated to a precision fit and if you can not easily and gently reinsert the arm into the tube, please call our office as soon as possible for assistance.