subject: Orthodontic Emergencies- What To Do When You Have Problems With Your Braces [print this page] If you are one of the large number of people currently fitted with braces, it is very important to know what to do when something goes wrong with the wires and brackets attached to your teeth. A variety of problems can occur. Some of them require immediate attention and a trip to your orthodontist and some can be treated at home or do not require an orthodontist visit right away.
Broken Braces
Generally, a broken or loose brace is not considered to be an urgent problem. Normally when a bracket comes loose, it is still attached to the wire by an elastic tie so it will stay close to where it normally would be. Nevertheless, when this situation comes up, it is important to call your Littleton orthodontist as soon as possible to schedule an appointment to fix the problem. In the meantime, if the loose bracket is bothersome or painful, one technique for rectifying the problem is to apply a small amount of wax to the bracket to hold it in place. If the bracket comes loose from the wire, take it out of your mouth to avoid swallowing it and call your orthodontist immediately.
Poking Wire
Many times as your teeth move and the spacing of your teeth becomes different, wires can become longer at the back of the teeth and end up poking your mouth and causing significant discomfort. This is a normal problem and should not be considered an emergency. A basic way to attempt to solve this problem is to use the eraser end of a pencil to try to bend the wire back away from your mouth to avoid the contact. If this fails, you can use a small ball of wax placed at the end of the wire to smooth the area. If both of these methods fail, you may need to schedule an appointment with your orthodontist to have the wire clipped.
Pain After Orthodontic Appointments
After you have an appointment to either get your braces on or get them adjusted, you will experience some level of pain. This is normal and should not be considered an emergency. For approximately 3-5 days after your appointment, the pain will continue. To treat it, orthodontists recommend over the counter pain medications such as Ibuprofen. It is also beneficial to eat softer foods during this time.
Accidents Involving The Teeth
Any time you experience an accident that involves your teeth, it is important to seek immediate medical attention. Depending on the severity of the injury, immediate treatment by a dentist or other tooth professional may be crucial. In some cases, braces can actually prevent tooth loss because of the added stability they provide, but can cause additional problems with the braces cutting up the mouth. In either case, immediately call your Highlands Ranch orthodontist for help during a situation like this.
