emergency orthodontist — Photo by Authority Dental under CC 2.0

Some discomforts are common during the orthodontic treatment, if you experience pain due to your appliance that can’t be resolved at home, call our office to schedule the next available appointment.

Many problems that you may experience can be resolved temporarily at home until you get to our office. If you have any loose pieces that can be revoked, please place it in a zip lock bag or envelope and bring it to your next appointment. If you experience your wires poking, place wax on the end that is sticking out. Lastly, if your wire has slid out on one side, you can pull it back with a long-nose plier and place it back into the tube on your back teeth.

When to look for an emergency orthodontist?

Once your discomfort is relieved, it is extremely important that you contact our office as soon as possible and seek an emergency orthodontist to help and schedule an appointment. If your appliance remains damaged for a prolonged period of time, it may interfere with your treatment plan. We want to give you your best smile, so make sure to always contact us if you have any serious orthodontic emergencies.

General soreness in the mouth is a common side effect when you get your braces. Your teeth will feel tender when biting, and it can generally last three to five days. The rule of thumb is to stay on a soft diet until it doesn’t hurt to chew. If the discomfort is severe, take Acetaminophen (Tylenol) Per your usual physician recommendation. Avoid aspirin, Ibuprofen (Advil) and Naproxen Sodium (Naprosyn, because these medications slow down tooth movement.

You may also experience irritation on your lips, cheeks, and tongue for up to two week as they are becoming accustomed to the surface of the braces. To lessen the irritation, you can place wax on your braces and can rinse your mouth with warm salt-water solution to reduce any inflammation.

Headgear are rarely used these days, but if one needs it, discomfort can occur when headgear is not worn as instructed by your orthodontist. If the facebow (metal bar) is bent, please contact us for assistance. General discomfort with lessen as headgear is worm more.

Place wax on any poking parts of an appliance. Make sure to contact our office if your appliance becomes loose.

If you bracket or band is loose and can be removed easily, place it in a zip lock bag or envelope and bring it to your next appointment. If the bracket or band is still attached, leave it in place and put wax to relieve the discomfort.

If your wire is loose or has come out of place, you can temporarily fix them by placing them back into the tube using tweezers or a pair of long-nosed pliers. If your colored ring on your bracket is missing, tie a floss around the bracket in place of it.

If you can’t place the wire into position to relieve discomfort, you can clip the wire behind the last to tooth which is securely fastened as a last resort. Place wax on the end of the wire if it is causing discomfort.