How to Handle an Orthodontic Emergency
Long Beach, CA – If you wear braces, there may be a time when you have to deal with an issue like a broken wire or loose bracket. While annoying, these aren’t true emergencies, so you don’t have to drop everything in your busy schedule to have it fixed immediately. That being said, we don’t want to wait until your next appointment (which may be weeks away) to fix the problem, so calling to schedule a comfort visit as soon as possible is recommended.
Listed below are some orthodontic issues that may happen during the course of your treatment and some at-home solutions you can use until you can come into the office. These tips can help you if you experience a problem during non-business hours or while away on vacation.
Loose wire that is poking the inside of your mouth
This can cause irritation, so until you can get to our office, you can use the eraser end of a pencil or a cotton swab to guide the wire back into place. If you are unable to do this, place a bit of orthodontic wax on the end of the wire to prevent it from injuring the inside of your mouth. If the wire is causing pain in your mouth, use a pair of sterile nail clippers to carefully snip the wire at the last bracket to which it is attached.
Loose brackets
If your bracket is still attached to the archwire, leave it in place, but place wax on it to prevent it from irritating your mouth. If your bracket comes off completely, wrap it in tissue and bring it with you to your appointment so it can be replaced.
Ligature comes off
Ligatures are the tiny elastic bands that hold the wires to the brackets. Occasionally, they can fall off. If this happens, you can use a pair of sterile tweezers to place it back on. If a ligature breaks and can’t be put back on, call our office for an appointment so we can place a new ligature.
Pain and discomfort
Unfortunately, there is some discomfort associated with orthodontic treatment. After an appointment where your braces have been tightened, your teeth and gums may be sore. When this happens, it’s best to stick to soft foods, and you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever (i.e. Advil or Tylenol) to help ease your pain.
True orthodontic emergencies are often rare, but we are always here to help our patients, even outside of normal business hours. If you have a situation arise that you aren’t sure how to deal with, or that you think may be a serious emergency, call our office anytime and our staff will help.
It’s important that you contact our office and let us know about any problem that arises with your braces. Even if it seems minor, it’s always best to check to make sure it’s not something that needs immediate attention. We want to keep your treatment on track and ensure your new smile in the shortest amount of time possible!