BRACES EMERGENCY
Emergency Dental Care
Though orthodontic emergencies are rare, if they do occur we are available to you. If you are experiencing a problem that you cannot take care of yourself, please call our office and we will schedule an appointment to resolve the problem.
Please see below for common problems you can alleviate from home:
It is common for you to feel a general soreness when you first get your braces or Invisalign. We recommend sticking to a soft diet & rinsing your mouth with a warm salt-water mouthwash. Simply dissolve one teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of warm water and rinse vigorously. As a last resort, take Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or a similar pain reliever for headaches. Be aware, Aspirin, Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) and Naproxen Sodium (Naprosyn, Anaprox) slows tooth movement, so try to avoid using these frequently while wearing braces or Invisalign.
If your appliance is poking you, you can place wax on the offending part.
If your bracket is still attached to the wire, you should leave it in place and put wax on it, if needed. If the bracket is no longer attached, place it in a baggie and bring it to your next appointment.
Using a pair of tweezers or needle nosed pliers, try to put the wire back into place. Try using a piece of floss to tie the wire back into place by tying the floss around the bracket. If that doesn’t work, use a small fingernail clipper to clip the wire behind the last tooth to which it is securely fastened.
A broken or poking wire can typically be bent in with a pencil eraser.
If your bracket is still attached to the wire, you should leave it in place and put wax on it, if needed. If the bracket is no longer attached, place it in a baggie and bring it to your next appointment.
