Emergency Care

Orthodontic emergencies are rare but when they occur, we are available for you. If you have an urgent concern after office hours, you can contact the on-call number on our voicemail. If there are any disturbances, such as loose bands, loose brackets, or broken or poking wires, please call our office for an appointment during patient hours. You might be surprised to learn that you may be able to solve many problems yourself temporarily until you can get to our office. Here are some helpful hints to remedy some of the problems you may encounter at home until you make it into the office.

• If a twisted wire is irritating your mouth, cover it with wax or tuck it under the arch wire with a blunt object like a pencil eraser or Q-tip.
• A loose band or bracket can generally be left in place until you are seen in our office. Call us during patient hours if you notice a loose band or bracket. We will schedule an appointment to address the broken or loose appliance, as needed.
• A broken or poking archwire can often be bent in with a pencil eraser or cut with nail clippers. Call our office, during patient hours, if you do not feel you cannot resolve the problem comfortably.
• You can rinse your mouth with warm saltwater to help irritations heal. You can dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in eight ounces of warm water and use the mixture to rinse your mouth out several times per day.

• Many people like to use Orajel on their sore gums to help with discomfort or irritations. This product is available at any pharmacy. You may also use over-the-counter medications like Tylenol, Advil, or Motrin for soreness and discomfort.