If you have an emergency during this time, please call our office and listen to the message on our answering machine, we will have doctors covering emergencies ONLY.

With that in mind, we would like to offer some basic facts to help avoid Orthodontic emergencies.

~Broken Bracket

Modern braces are held onto teeth with the most sophisticated bonding material available that will hold the bracket on the tooth surface for the duration of treatment, yet allow easy removal once the braces are ready to come off.  What that means is we use material that are strong enough to last a few years, but also weak enough to come off without damaging tooth structure.  Eating hard, sticky, and chewy foods create excessive pressure on the bracket itself and often leads to bond failure. 

~Wire Breaks 

If a wire breaks or sticks out, it can hurt your cheek, tongue or gum. You may be able to use the eraser end of a pencil (unused pencil) to push the wire into a better position. If this doesn't work, place a small piece of orthodontic wax over the end of the wire. We recommend removing the wax at night.

Do not cut the wire. A cut wire can be accidentally swallowed or inhaled.

If the wire has caused a sore, rinse your mouth with warm salt water or an antiseptic rinse. For salt water, use one-half teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of water. 

Rinsing will keep the area clean and reduce discomfort.