EMERGENCY ORTHODONTICS

When To Visit The ER, When To Call Us And When You Can Help Yourself

Orthodontic emergencies

Did you know, there are rarely any orthodontic emergencies?

Unfortunately, pain, tenderness and soreness during your orthodontic treatment will happen. Fortunately, it is temporary. Discomfort should only occur at the beginning of treatment and after adjustments. Once your mouth grows accustomed to treatment and adjustments, the pain should disappear. This discomfort and pain are not an emergency. 

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True Orthodontic Emergencies

If any of the following situations occur, it is a true emergency. Once you are seen by a specialist and cleared, call us to set up a follow-up appointment to evaluate your appliances and adjust your orthodontic treatment plan as needed.

  • Major trauma or injury to the teeth, face or mouth – Go to the Emergency Room or Call 911. You may have a concussion or a broken jaw that needs to be treated by a doctor

  • Bleeding of the gums, mouth or face that you can’t manage – Go to the Emergency Room or Urgent Care. You may have a cut or infection that needs to be treated by a doctor.

  • Severe unmanageable pain in the mouth – See your dentist or an emergency dentist. The pain in your mouth should never be unbearable.

Don’t Wait to Call Your Orthodontist

If you aren’t sure if an issue requires immediate care, it’s always better to be safe rather than sorry. Don’t hesitate to contact Steel City Orthodontics. We will give you instructions on what you can do at home and let you know if you need to come to the office.

Orthodontic Issues That Are Not Emergencies

Protruding Wire

Sometimes the end of an archwire can come out of place, causing it to poke into the cheek, gum, or another area in the mouth. A Q-tip or pencil eraser can be used to push the wire back into a more comfortable position until you’re able to see your orthodontist. If the wire is still irritating you, you can cover it with orthodontic wax for temporary relief. If you are unable to resolve the issue, please give us a call.

Loose Bracket or Wire

A bracket or wire can come loose for several reasons. Generally, loose or broken brackets are not an urgent problem. If a piece comes off, put it in a plastic bag and save it for your next appointment. If the bracket or band is still attached to the wire, leave it alone and call our office. If it is irritating or scraping the inside of your mouth, you can cover it with orthodontic wax. If any of these happen, you need to contact Steel City Orthodontics immediately because it can result in an oral injury.

Broken Retainer

Retainers are not indestructible. The metal or plastic parts of your retainer can bend or break. If this happens, stop wearing the retainer immediately and give us a call. Collect all the pieces in a plastic bag and bring them to your appointment.  Be sure to call and schedule as soon as possible so that you are not going without a retainer for an extended period, as your teeth can shift.

Mouth Sores

Wires and brackets can cause some irritation on the inside of the lips and cheeks. Applying dental wax to the problematic bracket or wire will often resolve the issue; however, if it doesn’t improve, it’s best to contact your orthodontist. In the meantime, a topical anesthetic like Ora-Gel can alleviate discomfort.

Appliance Breaks

If a piece of your braces breaks, save the piece and call our office to schedule a repair visit. Please bring it to your appointment. If you swallow a piece of your appliance, don’t worry. However, should you experience difficulty breathing, seek immediate medical attention.

Broken Ligature

Ligatures are the tiny rubber bands that hold the wire to the bracket. Sometimes, a ligature can pop off, and you can put it back into place using clean tweezers. If the ligature can’t be put back on or is damaged, notify us right away.

Pain or Discomfort

Take aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen (unless allergic) for temporary relief of discomfort caused by adjustments or sores in the mouth.

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