Orthodontic emergencies can be truly unpredictable and may happen at any time. They can occur as a result of common daily activities – such as cleaning the teeth or eating a meal, or they can happen due to energetic exertion or accidents – such as sports involvement or facial trauma. Emergencies may even occur following the initial application of orthodontic appliances, or after an adjustment appointment.
Whether you are dealing with a loosened bracket, protruding wire, or general discomfort, our team never wants you to feel uncertain about what to do next. If you or your child is dealing with an orthodontic emergency, the first step to alleviate the situation is to remain calm. Depending on the issue, you will be relieved to know that many of these urgent matters can be easily handled from home until you can make it into our office. In the below guide, we break down how to address each of these scenarios safely and effectively.
If you have any questions regarding your specific situation or would like to seek help from our experts, simply give our team a call! Our Greensboro, NC providers are more than happy to offer assistance.
General Discomfort
If you are experiencing soreness following the application or adjustment of your orthodontic appliance, this is perfectly normal. You can expect tenderness in your teeth and gums over the next few days as your mouth adjusts to the new level of pressure exerted by your appliance. To alleviate any discomfort during this time, we recommend over-the-counter pain medication.
If your discomfort is caused by gum sores or ulcers formed by friction between your gums and appliance, we suggest rinsing your mouth with warm salt-water and applying wax to any protruding appliance components. We can show you how to do this in the office!
Loose Appliance
When any part of your appliance has become loose but is still attached, place wax over any protruding, extending pieces and contact our office to schedule a repair appointment.
Loose Bracket
In the case of a loosened bracket, we recommend that you place wax over the area and contact our office for repairs. If the bracket can be easily detached, simply remove it from the mouth and bring it with you to your repair appointment.
Loose Wire
If your wire becomes loose, you may be able to secure it at home using tweezers and a small piece of dental floss.
- First, pull the wire back into place over the bracket using tweezers.
- If you are missing your elastic band used to hold the wire in place, use a piece of dental floss instead!
- Simply hold the wire firmly in position and tie the floss around the bracket to hold the wire.
- Contact our office to let us know of the situation.
If you are unable to secure the loose wire, you can use wax to minimize irritation until you can visit our office for repair. When you contact our team, we may also be able to provide further detailed instructions on managing the situation from home before you come in.
Protruding Wire
When wires become broken, they may protrude and cause pain by poking the gum tissue. In order to resolve this, push the wire down and adjust it into a position where it no longer pokes the gums. You may then place wax over the end of the wire.
Contact our office to schedule an appointment for repairs.
Looking Out for You During Your Time of Need
If you are dealing with an orthodontic emergency, our board-certified experts at grinz orthodontics promise to be here for you! Our professionals make every effort to keep the entire orthodontic process smooth and enjoyable; however, these emergencies can certainly complicate matters! What sets us apart is that we have plans in place to ensure that when emergencies do happen, you never feel caught off guard or alone.
You can trust that if you can’t handle the situation from home, we have a team of experts here to get you back to smiling in no time! If you are experiencing an orthodontic emergency, please do not hesitate to give us a call! We will be more than happy to help you.
