EMERGENCIES
Orthodontic emergencies are rare but they do occur. It may surprise some but many orthodontic problems can be resolved or at least mitigated at home until you are able to come in and see us.
Please read below if you experiencing any mild discomfort or issues with appliances, bracke ts, wires, etc. If a patient has a poking wire, sometimes a nail clipper clipping the wire will help resolve the issue. Broken appliances can be bothersome but do not immediately need to be resolved unless directed by your doctor. If it does bother you, place wax on the area to relieve it.
If after trying any of these solutions you are still not relieved, Our after hours emergence line is 512-400-4405 and this number is also provided when you call our main office after hours. If you are dealing with a life threatening medical emergency please call 911 or go to the nearest hospital.
COMMON PROBLEMS
Mouth Aches, Discomfort
Some discomfort is expected after braces are first installed and when they are adjusted. You are feeling the effect of orthodontic appliances moving your teeth. The pain should be mild and it should resolve over the course of a few days. Patients can use saltwater rinse of 8 oz water to (do not swallow the rinse) to alleviate the pain or pain relievers such as Advil as needed. Call us if your symptoms get worse or you have any concerns.
Poking or Extruding Wires
Wires can sometimes cause irrigation, poking lips, gums or cheeks. Call us and we will help you resolve the issue over the phone if possible or we will schedule an appointment to address it. If the situation arises outside of normal business hours you, a patient, or their adult guardian, can address it until we can see you. Here is how:
Use a sterile and soft device such as an unused pencil eraser, back of a spoon or Qtip, to bend the offending wire back into a position closer to the teeth so it no longer protrudes into the cheeks or any other offending area.
Use orthodontic wax to cover the wire or device so it stops contact with your body. This is not a long term solution but it can eliminate pain while the wax is in place. We also advise using a saline rinse of ½ teaspoon of salt mixed in 8 oz of water to clean the area and alleviate the area.
Sore Lips, Cheeks, Tongue
Some persons are prone to developing sores on their tongues, cheeks, and/or lips. Orthodontic appliances, might not necessarily cause this but they could exacerbate it. Topical anesthetics such as Orabase or Ora-Gel can provide relief from such discomfort. Please inform us if you have these issues.
Loose or Broken Brackets
Brackets are the parts that adhere to the teeth. They may come loose due to eating hard foods (the types you should avoid) or due to physical force striking the area. Please call us if you suffer from loose a bracket. If this occurs after office hours and the bracket has come off the tooth but remains attached to the wire, and adult can try to rotate and/or slide it back into place using sterile tweezers, taking care not to break it off or swallow it. If the adult is unable to do so and it is causing irritation you can try applying dental wax? Please call us and inform if this happens as we will schedule an appointment to correct the situation.