Orthodontic Emergencies

Emergencies happen at inopportune times that you least expect. Perhaps you’ve fallen and broken an orthodontic appliance, had something come out, or are experiencing discomfort. Here are some of the more common emergencies that orthodontic patients may experience, and what to do if it happens to you:

Broken appliance or bracket

Sometimes the bonding or cement that holds an orthodontic appliance into place can break off or be dislodged during a meal. If this happens, please let us know so that we can re-bond the area at your earliest convenience. A delay in re-bonding these areas will cause a delay in treatment results, and could encourage relapse in teeth that have already been moved.

Irritation or pain caused by a wire or bracket

From time to time, rough edges of an appliance or the end of an orthodontic wire may irritate the inside of your cheeks or lips. Applying orthodontic wax over the area can prevent irritation from reoccurring. Do not attempt to alter or bend your appliance, as this could cause more damage. If significant tissue irritation or trauma is occurring cause by a broken or dislodged appliance, contact our office immediately so that we can resolve the issue for you.

Avulsed or fractured tooth

If you’ve injured a tooth during a fall or sporting accident, your braces may actually save it! Orthodontics often help hold teeth into place, preventing injuries from being much worse than they are. That being said, it is still important to see a care provider to help get the tooth back into place as quickly as possible. Do not attempt to remove the orthodontic appliances attached to your injured tooth.

Broken retainer

If your retainer has broken or fallen out (permanent retainers), then it is necessary to have us repair it as quickly as possible. Not wearing your retainer, even for a short period of time, can allow teeth to drift back into their previous locations very quickly. Once that occurs, it may not be possible to put the retainer back into place without repositioning the teeth again.

Please contact our office if you are experiencing any type of orthodontic emergency. We will make every effort to accommodate you as quickly as possible and alleviate any discomfort that you are experiencing. If you are calling after hours, please leave a message with a callback number where you can be reached. One of our orthodontic team members will be in touch with you as quickly as possible.