Direct Injuries to the Mouth or Teeth
Following a direct injury to your mouth of teeth, whether undergoing orthodontic care or not, you should be seen by your regular dentist as soon as possible. Usually a radiograph of the involved tooth, or teeth, is needed to ascertain the extent of the injury. If a tooth has been knocked out, severely displaced or fractured, it may be best to contact your family dentist first, since we may not have the necessary materials needed to treat these injuries. If the orthodontic appliances are dislodged or displaced, we will need to replace or adjust them as soon as possible.
Please call our office immediately if you or your dentist would like us to evaluate the problem. If you are unable to reach your family dentist or an alternate emergency facility, call this office and we will assist you.
Emergencies Related to Orthodontic Appliances
Broken or disturbed appliances are likely to occur from time to time during your orthodontic care. If there are any disturbances such as loose bands, broken or poking wires, call our office as soon as possible so we can evaluate the urgency of the problem and schedule you to be seen accordingly.
In the interim, the following are helpful hints to remedy some of the problems you may encounter until you can be seen in our office:
- If a wire is irritating your mouth, cover it with orthodontic wax.
- A loose band or bracket can generally be left in place until seen in our office. Call the office as soon as you notice a loose band or bracket so we can adjust your appointment. Failure to notify our office regarding a loose or broken appliance may make it necessary to reschedule your repair.
- A broken archwire, or one that is irritating the gum or cheek tissue, needs to be seen as soon as possible for replacement or adjustment.
- A bent headgear facebow or removable appliance that is not fitting well is not to be worn until it can be properly adjusted in our office. Call the office as soon as possible to schedule an appointment to have the facebow or removable appliance adjusted.
After Office Hours
Our office is generally open Monday through Friday and emergency time is held open during each day so that we may schedule you as soon as possible during normal hours. Should you have an orthodontic emergency after office hours, please call our office and an emergency number will be available for you to call.