Ortho Emergencies
Orthodontic Emergencies: Prompt Care to Keep Your Treatment on Track
While orthodontic issues rarely constitute true emergencies, there are instances where prompt attention is necessary. In a life-threatening emergency, please dial 911 or head to the nearest emergency room. However, if you’re experiencing pain, discomfort, or if something breaks or comes off unexpectedly with your braces or orthodontic appliance, contacting your orthodontic office is essential to ensure treatment continues smoothly.
HOW TO AVOID ORTHODONTIC EMERGENCIES
Of course, it is best to avoid orthodontic emergencies, if at all possible. Here are some ways to help you do that:
- Follow eating instructions. The majority of orthodontic emergencies involve foods you are not supposed to eat while wearing braces. Your orthodontist will give you a list of foods you should avoid, and following those instructions will help you avoid damage to your braces and unnecessary pain. In general avoid HARD, STICKY & OVERLY CHEWY FOODS.
- Follow dental and braces care instructions. Your orthodontist will give you specific instructions for brushing and flossing your teeth with braces. Follow these care instructions to avoid damaging your braces or your teeth. & remember to continue seeing your regular dentist for cleaning at least every 6 mos while in braces..
- Wear a mouthguard when playing sports. If you have braces and play a sport with any degree of contact, it is a good idea to wear a mouthguard. This will protect your mouth from being injured by your braces if you were to get bumped by another player or a ball. It will also help to prevent damage to your braces.
WIRE IS POKING OUT AND CAUSING PAIN
Personally checking for any wires that feel long before you leave the office after each appointment can help to prevent this. Even so, sometimes a wire will shift for various reasons once you leave. If you are not in discomfort, you may wait until your next appointment. If you are in great pain, a temporary solution is to place a piece of wax over any irritant. For any ongoing irritation, the orthodontist will most likely see you the same day or the next day, if you call after hours.
BRACKET OR BAND COMES LOOSE
Brackets are the pieces that are glued on the front side of your tooth. The archwire is tied to the brackets by ligatures. Over time the wire straightens out & the teeth move. Bands are the metal rings that fit around your back molars where the archwire slips into a slot. Occasionally a bracket or band may become unglued & feel loose. If this happens, you should contact your orthodontist as soon as possible during business hours. If it occurs after hours, contact your orthodontist as soon as they open the next day. There is no need to call an after hours number. They will most likely have you come in at a convenient time to have the bracket or band cemented back into place. If it is early in treatment, it will not delay progress. If it is at the end of treatment, not having it repaired immediately can add months onto treatment. The reason is because the tooth is no longer tied in place & can freely move out of place & the slightest movement can mean back tracking.
SEPARATOR OR SPACER COMES LOOSE
We may place separators or spacers in between your teeth to make room for the bands that will be placed around some of your teeth. If a separator comes out, the best thing to do is the “floss test.” This is when you take a piece of floss, fold it in half and& tie two knots in it. If that knot moves easily between the teeth, then there is enough space. If the knot gets caught, then, call your orthodontist to go in and have the separator replaced. Depending upon how far out your appointment is, the orthodontist may want to see you in order to put the separator back in, or they may let it go until they see you at your next appointment.
TOOTH KNOCKED OUT OR OUT OF POSITION
Accidents happen. If you are in braces and you are hit in the face, it is likely that your braces will prevent you from completely knocking a tooth out. If the force is hard enough, it may actually push the tooth out of position and bend the wire. If a tooth is knocked out, you MUST BE SEEN BY A DENTAL PROFESSIONAL WITHIN 2 HOURS to have the best chance of saving the tooth. If a dental professional cannot be reached, go to the emergency room. If the tooth falls out, rinse it and put it in a cup with your own saliva or saline. If this is not possible, milk will do.
FOOD STUCK IN BRACES CAUSING PAIN
Sometimes a particle of food can get stuck between a band and your tooth or gums, causing discomfort. If you can’t get it out by brushing, flossing, or using a toothpick, call your orthodontist. They will likely see you the same day if you call during business hours, or the next day if you call after hours to help get you comfortable. If the discomfort is not intense, going a few days to a week is typically fine.