Orthodontic Emergencies
True orthodontic emergencies are very rare, but when they do occur we are available to help you. As a general rule, you should call the office when you experience severe pain or when you have a painful appliance problem that you cannot take care of yourself.
Handling Orthodontic Emergencies
We respect your time and hope that some of the advise below will save you a trip to see us. You are able to temporarily solve many problems with simple techniques. When working with your appliances, you need to know the names of the parts of your appliances so you are able to identify what part is broken or out of place. Many times, the piece that is broken/loose/unglued doesn’t require a visit – you could simply email us a photo and we can advise via email.
Tools You Will Need
With these tools and supplies on hand (most of which you already have) you will be prepared to handle the most common orthodontic emergencies:
Non-medicated Orthodontic Relief Wax
Dental
Floss
Sterile
Tweezers
Small, Sharp
Clipper
Cotton Swabs
(Q-tips)
Salt
Interproximal
Brush
Anatomy of Braces
Understanding your braces and how they work is important and will better equip you to handle some of the more common problems that can arise.
Your braces are made up of several components:
- Ligatures / O-ties(A)
- Archwires (B)
- Brackets / Braces (C)
- Metal Bands (D)
- Elastic Hooks and Rubber Bands (E)
To learn more about what each component does, tap or click on the corresponding letter in the diagram.
The archwire is held to each bracket with a ligature, which can be either a tiny elastic or a twisted wire.
The archwire is tied to all of the brackets and creates force to move teeth into proper alignment.
Brackers are connected to the bands, or directly bonded on the teeth, and hold the archwire in place.
The band is the cemented ring of metal which wraps around the tooth.
Elastic hooks are used for the attachment of rubber bands, which help move teeth toward their final position.
Common Orthodontic Problems
Discomfort
It is perfectly normal to feel pressure and discomfort after we initially place the braces; or after we change wires; or when you are starting a new aligner.
Most people report up to several days of ‘tightness’ and discomfort. You may take any over-the-counter medication as needed.
Loose Wires, Brackets or Bands
If one of your braces (brackets) came loose –
- Is it painful / pinching / sharp in your mouth – Contact us to make an appointment
- Is it simply sliding on the wire or completely off? – No rush, we can fix it next time we see you. You can still let us know or come in but it is not necessary.
Not sure if it’s something that requires immediate attention? Email us a picture at smile@crescentorthodontics.com with a detailed message and we will let you know if you need an appointment or if it can wait.
Ligatures/Color Ties
Come Off
Did one of your colors came off? It is usually not urgent but feel free to email us a picture at smile@crescentorthodontics.com with a detailed message and we will let you know if you need an appointment or if it can wait.
Food Caught Between Teeth
You need to pass the floss under the wire to reach the gums in between the teeth.
You can use a floss threader with a piece of floss or the Superfloss two-in-one floss with a rigid tip.
Irritation and Sores in Mouth
When the braces are new, or a wire is poking, your gums or the inside of your lips/cheeks might get swollen and irritated. Place wax over the source irritating the area until your body gets used to the new braces or until you see us to fix the problem.
Long Pokey Wires
If the wire is very irritating and the patient cannot get to the orthodontist soon, clipping it may be used as a last resort. To lower the chance of swallowing the cut piece, place folded tissue or gauze around the area first. Using sharp clippers, trim the protruding end of the wire. Orthodontic wax may still be needed to keep the area comfortable.
Excess wire around brace
Occasionally we will use a steel tie around a brace that has a metal braided tail. If this tail come out from beneath the wire, you can use a pencil eraser or something similar to tuck it back in gently.