Emergency Info
What should you do in the case of an emergency?
Emergency Information
What to do in case of an emergency
Loose brackets or bands
Call our office immediately for advice if a brace or wire is loosened. The brace 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 fingernail clippers that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol.
Please call our office the next business day so that we may schedule an appointment to see 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 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 alcohol. If you cannot resolve the wire irritation, call our office for an appointment.
Lost separators
Please call our office the next business day so that we may schedule an appointment to see you.
Discomfort with orthodontic treatment
During the first week after your braces are in place and routine adjustments are complete, you will likely feel some pain, soreness or discomfort. You may take acetaminophen or other non-aspirin pain relievers while you adjust to your new braces.
A warm wash cloth or heating pad may reduce the soreness in your jaws.
Lost or Broken Retainer
It is very important to wear a retainer for the first year full time and at night thereafter to maintain your beautiful smile. Your teeth will shift if you do not wear a retainer!
If you lose or break your retainer, please call our office to schedule an appointment for new impressions so that a new retainer can be fabricated for you. There is an additional fee to replace lost or broken retainers.