Emergency Care
True orthodontic emergencies are rare, but if they do occur, we are available. As a general rule, you should call the office (419-882-1017 or 734-854-6221) when you experience pain or when you have an appliance problem that you can't take care of yourself. We'll be able to schedule an appointment to resolve the problem. If you are in pain and it's after regular office hours, you can call always call 419-539-2276 for assistance.
You may be able to temporarily solve the problem yourself until you are able to schedule an appointment with our office. After alleviating your discomfort, it is very important that you still call our office as soon as possible to schedule a time to repair the problem. Allowing your appliance to remain damaged for an extended period of time may result in disruptions of your treatment.
The following solutions may help you relieve your discomfort:
Poking Wire
Using a pencil eraser, push the poking wire down or place wax on it to alleviate the discomfort.
Loose Bracket or Band
If your bracket or band is still attached to the wire, you should leave it in place and put wax on it. If the bracket is not attached, then call during normal office hours to schedule a repair visit. If the wire is poking due to the missing bracket, see the tips for dealing with poking or loose wires.Loose Wire
Using tweezers, try to place your wire back into place. If this doesn't help, as a last resort use a fingernail clipper to clip the wire behind the last tooth to which it is securely fastened. If your discomfort continues, place wax on it.
Loose Appliance
If your appliance is poking you, place wax on the offending part of your appliance.
Face Mask/ Headgear Does Not Fit
Sometimes discomfort is caused by not wearing the facemask/headgear as instructed. Please refer to the instructions provided by our office. If the facebow is bent, please call our office for assistance. Surprisingly, the face mask/headgear may hurt less if it's worn more, so be sure you're getting in the prescribed hours.
General Soreness
When you get your braces on, you may feel general soreness in your mouth, and teeth may be tender to biting pressures for three to five days. If the tenderness is severe, take ibuprofen or whatever you normally take for muscle pain.
The lips, cheeks, and tongue may also become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and become accustomed to the surface of the braces. You can put wax on the braces to lessen this. Rinsing your mouth with a warm salt-water mouthwash may also help. Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in 8 ounces of warm water and rinse your mouth vigorously. Placing Orabase on the affected area may help; this can be found in a pharmacy.
