Emergency Information

What to do in Case of Emergency

Call our office as soon as possible if you break or loosen any of your appliances. Please do not come directly to the office. By calling us, you will allow us to create a time to see you. Even if you have a regular appointment scheduled, call us immediately to notify us if you need your braces repaired.

Loose Brackets or Bands

Call our office immediately for advice if a bracket or wire is loosened. The bracket may need to be re-fitted as soon as possible. You may have a situation that requires cutting a wire or sliding a bracket off a wire at night or over the weekend. If you need to cut a wire in case of emergency, you may use heavy fingernail or toenail clippers that have been washed and sterilized in isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. Please call our office the next business day, so that we may schedule an appointment for you.

Wire Irritations

Sometimes discomfort caused by a wire on your braces can be resolved by moving the wire away from the irritated area with a cotton swab or pencil eraser. If the wire will not move, try covering the end of it with a small piece of cotton or a small amount of wax. If the wire is painful, you can cut it with nail clippers or scissors that have been washed and sterilized in isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. If you cannot resolve the wire irritation, call our office for an appointment.

Lost Separators

Most patients lose elastic separators during their treatment. Do not worry about losing a separator, but call our office to see if it needs to be replaced.

What can I eat if my teeth are sore?

Your teeth will be tender to biting pressure for about 3-5 days after you visit the orthodontist. You will quickly notice that soft foods like pasta, rice, mashed potatoes, and soup are easily tolerated but a thick chewy steak is not. There is no reason to torture yourself by trying to eat stiff or chewy foods. Steamed vegetables are usually soft enough to eat and ensure that you get enough vital nutrients to maintain a healthy diet.

What can I do for my sore teeth?

The amount of discomfort that most orthodontic patients experience is usually mild and of short duration. This low-grade dull ache is caused by irritation in the ligament that surrounds the tooth. Tooth discomfort is highly individual yet most patients achieve effective pain relief from 400-800 mg of an anti-inflammatory drug like ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin), naproxen (Naprosyn), or aspirin. Check with your doctor for potential side effects with other medications first or if you have a suspected allergy to any of these drugs. Typically, 400 mg every six hours is effective for patients weighing less than 135 lbs. For those over 135 lbs, effective pain relief can be achieved with 600-800 mg every eight hours. This medication is usually not required and not recommended for more than 3-5 days after a visit to the orthodontist. Efficient tooth movement can be delayed if anti-inflammatory pain medication is taken for too long a period of time and kidney and liver damage has been found in patients taking these medications continuously over a long period of time without a doctor’s supervision.