Emergency Care

Emergency Care during Treatment

If a problem occurs during your orthodontic treatment please refer to the following list of instructions for help. In case of problem that you can not relieve please call the office.

General Soreness - When you get your braces placed or when the archwire is changed your teeth may be tender to biting pressures for 3 to 5 days. This can generally be relieved by taking Tylenol or Advil (Ibuprofen) or whatever you normally take for headache or pain. The lips, cheeks, and tongue may also become irritated for the first one or two weeks as they toughen and become accustomed to the surface of the braces. You can put wax on the braces to lessen this.

Poking Wire - Use a pencil eraser to push the poking wire down or place wax on it to alleviate the discomfort.

Loose Bracket or Band - If a bracket or band becomes loose, contact the office so it can be repaired. If it is bothering you, we’ll schedule an appointment to repair it. If it is not uncomfortable we’ll repair it at your next appointment.

Loose or Broken Wire - You can try to put your wire back into place. If you are not able to replace the wire or if it is broken, contact the office so it can be repaired. You can cover it with wax if the wire is bothering you.

Loose or Broken Appliance - If your appliance is loose or broken, call the office so it can be adjusted or repaired.

Headgear Does Not Fit - If your headgear is not fitting or is bent, please call our office for assistance.

For more information please see the Canadian Association of Orthodontists Website: http://cao-aco.org/MEDIA/Emergencies.html

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