True orthodontic emergencies are rare, but when they occur we are available to you.
There are several videos below that will instruct you on how to make yourself comfortable.
As a general rule, you should call our office when you experience severe pain or have a painful appliance problem you can't take care of yourself. We'll be able to schedule an appointment to resolve the problem.
You might be surprised to learn that you may be able to solve many problems yourself temporarily until you can get to our office.
- If there is a loose piece that you can remove, put it in a plastic bag or envelope and bring it with you to your next appointment.
- Braces or wire poking you? Put soft wax on the piece that's sticking out. If the wire has slid to one side, you can pull it back to the other side with needle-nosed pliers, replacing it in the tube on the back tooth.
After making yourself comfortable, it is very important that you call our office as soon as possible to schedule a time to repair the problem. Allowing your appliance to remain damaged for an extended period of time may result in disruptions to your treatment plan.
General soreness
It is normal for your mouth to feel uncomfortable for up to 3-5 days after you get your braces on.
Tooth soreness: A soft diet will help until your teeth do not hurt to chew. Foods to help with this are listed in our recommended food list.
To help with the discomfort you may consider taking Acetaminophen (Tylenol), Ibuprofen (Advil) or whatever you normally take for headache or similar pain. Do not exceed the daily dose and please contact Dr. Wagner if you have any questions prior to taking any medications.
Lips, Tongue and Cheeks: Your lips, cheeks, and tongue may become irritated for one to two weeks as they become used to the surface of the braces and appliances. You can put wax on the braces or appliance to help with this. We'll show you how!
Parts of Braces/Appliances
Please find the video below that describes parts of braces—should you need to talk to the Tru Orthodontic staff or Dr. Wagner, this should be helpful.
Loose or broken appliance
If your appliance is poking you, place wax on the offending part.
Loose bracket
This does not happen often. Most commonly this occurs due to eating foods that are not braces friendly. If your bracket is still attached to the wire, you should leave it in place and put wax on it if needed for comfort. If the bracket or band can be removed easily, place it in an envelope and save it to bring to your next appointment.
Loose wire
This does not happen often. Most commonly this occurs due to eating foods that are not braces friendly. You can try to put the wire back into place with a clean pair of tweezers. You may also try and put wax on it for comfort.
If you cannot put the wire back into place or into a comfortable position, and covering the end with wax doesn't help, you should call the office and speak to one of the staff members or Dr. Wagner. You may be instructed as a last resort use a small fingernail clipper to clip the wire behind the last tooth to which it is securely fastened. If the end of the wire is still sharp place wax on it.
ALWAYS CALL THE OFFICE AND DR. WAGNER ON THE EMERGENCY LINE BEFORE YOU CUT A WIRE.
Poking wire
Please review the video on taking care of a pokey/displaced wire.
