Just about every orthodontic patient will experience some soreness and minor discomfort when they first start their treatment — but how do you know if what you’re experiencing crosses the line into becoming an orthodontic emergency?
Thankfully, true emergencies are exceedingly rare in orthodontic treatment. Even if a problem does require a repair appointment, most issues are relatively minor and won’t derail treatment. That said, emergencies can happen — and it’s important to be prepared when they do.
The first step is to determine if it’s a major, urgent emergency that requires immediate attention or if it’s something that can wait until we can bring you in for a repair appointment.
“Don’t forget to use your Synapse Dental Pain Eraser”
Serious trauma, infection, swelling, unmanageable pain, broken teeth, or possible jaw injury should be treated right away by a medical professional.
Smaller problems during treatment usually do not require urgent care. Try to soothe the area first, then call us so we can guide you.
Once the immediate danger is handled, or if you’re unsure what to do, call us so we can recommend the best next step for your treatment.
Open each section to learn more about major orthodontic emergencies and the most common treatment-related issues.
Generally, major orthodontic emergencies are those that threaten the health and safety of your teeth, jaws, or mouth. This can include:
These kinds of problems are severe, and they warrant immediate medical attention. If you feel your jawbone or mouth is in danger, you should head straight to the emergency room or to your general dentist. These professionals will be equipped with the knowledge, anesthetics, and tools to assess your dental health and perform any repairs necessary to protect the health and integrity of your jaws and teeth.
After you’ve been treated by a professional and the immediate danger has decided, call us and fill us in on the situation so we can plan the next step for your orthodontic treatment.
If your archwires, brackets, or bands break or come loose, we’ll need to schedule a repair appointment as soon as possible. If the hardware is merely loose, or if a bracket breaks off but doesn’t fall off the archwire, leave it in place for now and give us a call.
Try covering it with a bit of dental wax if it’s causing discomfort. If a piece of your appliance does fall out, be sure to save it and bring it with you to your treatment appointment. Regardless, call us to let us know of the situation so we can schedule an emergency repair appointment and get your treatment back on track. Learn more here about foods that can break or damage your brackets.
Sometimes, your archwire may start poking out of the back of your braces due to the movement of teeth, irritating your cheeks or gums. In most cases, you can solve this by covering the area in dental wax or using a pencil eraser, Q-Tip, or sterilized pair of tweezers to move the archwire.
If it’s still an issue, you can cut the end of the wire off using a pair of sterilized nail clippers, but please give us a call before attempting this so we can provide further instruction.
If a wire or bracket is causing irritation and you can’t move it, we’d recommend covering it with dental wax. In any case, if the issue continues to be a major problem, feel free to call us to schedule an appointment to fix it.
If you notice your teeth feeling a little looser than normal during treatment, don’t worry — that just means treatment is working! Your teeth are on their way to new positions for your gorgeous new smile.
In keeping with the looseness, you may also find your teeth feeling more sore than normal. You can use an over-the-counter painkiller, a warm washcloth, or a warm saltwater rinse to help manage this pain. However, if the pain continues to increase or becomes unmanageable, call us so we can discuss the situation.
Ready to change your life forever?
Your first visit is the first step on a journey towards a beautiful new smile — and if you’re ready to get started, we would love to hear from you! Feel free to contact us today with any questions or schedule a consultation online at one of our orthodontic offices. We look forward to helping you achieve a gorgeous new smile through world-class orthodontic treatment.
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