We hope these suggestions will help you handle minor emergencies. Please call our office for assistance, at any time.
Pokey wire
A wire poking can cause a sore lip or cheek, and a canker sore may result. Use the eraser end of a pencil to push the wire away from the gum tissue. Orthodontic wax (from your patient kit) is also helpful to cover shorter ends. For a long wire, cut the excess with a nail clipper which has been washed well and sterilized with Isopropyl Alcohol; catch the loose end with a folded tissue, as it will shoot when it is cut. Rinsing with one-half teaspoon of salt dissolved in a glass of warm water three to four times a day, will help to heal most mouth sores quickly.
Call us for an appointment if the problem persists.
Sore Teeth
After the initial placement of your braces or after an adjustment appointment, some tooth soreness is to be expected; this is the result of tooth movement. An anti-inflammatory pain reliever such as Advil usually relieves the pain. This may be necessary for three to five days. Eating softer food during this time is a good idea, especially just after you get your braces.
Loose Bands or Brackets
If a bracket detaches from the tooth, or a band on your back tooth is moving up and down, you will need to schedule an appointment so we can repair it. Call our office to arrange a suitable time. Please save the bracket or band, and bring it to your repair appointment. This will save a lot of time, as the bands are custom made for you. If the loose bracket is the last one at the back of your mouth and the wire is poking, you can follow the instructions for pokey wire, explained above.
Lost Separator
A separator is a colored elastic which is placed between your back teeth, to create space before cementing a band around your molar. If a separator comes out, the teeth may move together and will make banding the tooth very uncomfortable. Please call our office, and we will decide if it should be replaced. It is also important, that the top of the separator at the chewing surface of the tooth always be visible. If it slips down below your gums, try to lift it up gently, so the top of the separator is over your tooth as shown above. If you are unsuccessful, please call our office as soon as possible.
Lost or Broken Retainer
If you lose or break your retainer, you will most likely require an impression appointment to facilitate repair or replacement. Call our office, as soon as possible. You do not want to be without your retainer for too long, and risk having your teeth move.
Broken Tooth
In case of a dental emergency such as a broken or chipped tooth, contact your family dentist or call our office as soon as possible. If a tooth is knocked out, do not attempt to place it back in its socket; this could cause further damage. Place a displaced tooth in milk and call your family dentist, or go immediately to the emergency dental clinic at the hospital. You have the best chance of saving the tooth if it replaced within thirty minutes.