Don’t hesitate to call our office if you experience severe pain or have a painful appliance problem you can't take care of yourself. We'll be able to schedule an appointment to resolve the problem.
You may be able to temporarily solve many problems yourself until you can come to the office. After alleviating your discomfort, it’s vital that you still call our office as soon as possible to schedule a time for a repair. Allowing your appliance to remain damaged for an extended period of time may delay your treatment progress.
Here’s some tips for managing common troubles:
General Discomfort During Treatment
In the first week after you get braces and after routine adjustments, you’ll likely feel some soreness or discomfort. Don’t worry, this is normal. You can take acetaminophen or another non-aspirin pain reliever. Try using a warm washcloth or heating pad on the outside of your jaw to reduce soreness.
Loose Brackets or Bands
If a bracket, band, or wire has loosened, it is not an emergency.
You may need to use wax. If there is a loose piece you can remove, save it in a plastic bag or envelope and bring it with you on your next visit. If a wire is poking, you can cut the wire; we recommend using fingernail clippers or small wire cutters that have been washed and sterilized with alcohol.
Call the office during regular hours to let us know what happened and will let you know if you need an appointment sooner than your regularly scheduled next visit.
Call the office immediately, if you are experiencing severe pain caused by your braces or appliances.
Poking Wires or Wire Irritations
If the wire has slid to one side, pull it back in place with clean needle-nosed pliers, inserting the end into the tube on the back tooth.
If a wire pokes your cheeks or gums, move it away from the irritated area with a cotton swab or eraser end of a pencil. If you can’t move it, cover the end of the wire with a small piece of cotton or wax to relieve irritation. If the wire is still painful, you can cut it with nail clippers or scissors that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. If you’ve cut the wire or cannot resolve the irritation, call us for an appointment.
Lost Separators
Many patients lose a separator over the course of their treatment. If you do, just give us a ring to see if it needs to be replaced.
If you’re having an orthodontic emergency, or even if you’re not sure, call Dr. Jones and her friendly team as soon as you can. We’re here to make your experience as painless and stress-free as possible!