Orthodontic treatments are designed to improve your smile and overall oral health, but there may be occasional discomfort or emergencies. It’s typical to feel some tenderness in your teeth for a day or more after an orthodontic appointment. You can usually relieve this discomfort with over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen, Tylenol, or Aleve. If the discomfort continues, please contact our office for further guidance.
Types of Orthodontic Emergencies
Orthodontic emergencies generally fall into two categories: problems associated with orthodontic devices and direct injuries to the mouth and teeth.
Emergencies Related to Orthodontic Appliances
During your orthodontic treatment, appliances may occasionally break or become displaced. If you experience any of the following issues, such as loose bands, brackets, or wires, please follow these steps and contact our office to schedule an appointment during regular hours. Please note that we are unable to accommodate walk-in emergencies as we need to respect the scheduled patients.
Temporary Solutions:
- Irritating Tie Wire: Cover it with orthodontic wax or tuck it under the archwire using a blunt object like a pencil eraser or Q-tip.
- Loose Band or Bracket: Leave the appliance in place and contact us promptly during office hours. We usually schedule appointments within the same week to reattach it if necessary.
- Broken or Poking Archwire: Attempt to adjust it with a pencil eraser or trim it with nail clippers. If you cannot resolve the issue, contact our office during patient hours for assistance.
Watch this instructional video for guidance on handling orthodontic emergencies:
Direct Injuries to the Mouth and Teeth
If you experience a direct injury to your mouth or teeth, whether you are undergoing orthodontic care or not, take the following steps:
- Immediate Action: Ice the injured area to reduce swelling.
- Contact Your Dentist: Please make sure to contact your regular dentist as soon as possible. They may need to take an x-ray of the injured tooth or teeth to evaluate the extent of the injury. If a tooth is displaced, knocked out, or fractured, your family dentist should be the first person you contact. Our office may not have the necessary materials or anesthesia needed to treat these injuries.
If your orthodontic appliances are dislodged or displaced, we will need to adjust or replace them after you have seen your general dentist, depending on your comfort level.
Emergencies After Office Hours
In the event of an orthodontic emergency resulting in pain after office hours, please contact our office. We will provide information on who to reach out to for further assistance.
