Most orthodontic problems are minor and can be eased at home until we see you. For a poking wire, cover it with orthodontic wax or gently tuck it down with a pencil eraser. A loose bracket or band can usually stay put until your appointment. For any true injury to your mouth or teeth, ice the area and call your family dentist right away. When in doubt, call Robert Stoner Orthodontics and we will help.
Even with the best care, an appliance can occasionally come loose or a wire can start to poke. The good news is that genuine orthodontic emergencies are rare, and most issues can wait comfortably for a regular appointment once you know how to ease the discomfort. Emergencies generally fall into two categories: problems with your braces or appliances, and direct injuries to your mouth or teeth. Here is how to handle each.
Emergencies Related to Your Braces or Appliances
If a band, bracket, or wire comes loose or starts poking, call our office during patient hours to schedule a visit. For everyone’s convenience, including patients with scheduled appointments, we are not able to handle these on a walk-in basis. In the meantime, these at-home tips can keep you comfortable:
- Poking tie wire: Cover it with orthodontic wax, or gently tuck it back under the archwire with a blunt object like a pencil eraser or a cotton swab.
- Loose band or bracket: This can usually be left in place until we see you. Call us when you notice it, and we will schedule a visit to reattach it if needed.
- Broken or poking archwire: You can often bend it back in with a pencil eraser, or clip the end with sanitized nail clippers if it is poking. Call us if that does not resolve it.
- General soreness: Tenderness after braces are placed or adjusted is normal and usually fades within a few days. Soft foods, warm salt-water rinses, and over-the-counter pain relief help. Orthodontic wax soothes any spot that rubs.
- Lost or slipped spacer (separator): If a separator falls out shortly before your appointment, it is usually fine to leave it, just let us know so we can check it.
If you happen to swallow a small piece of an appliance, do not panic, this is rarely harmful, but call us so we can advise you and check your braces.
Not sure how to handle something? Watch our short emergency-care video, which walks you through the most common fixes.
Direct Injuries to the Mouth and Teeth
For any direct blow to the mouth or teeth, whether or not you are in orthodontic treatment, ice the area right away and contact your family dentist as soon as possible. An X-ray is often needed to assess the injury. If a tooth has been displaced, knocked out, or fractured, call your family dentist first, since they have the materials and anesthesia these injuries may require. If your braces or appliances are dislodged in the process, we will repair or adjust them once your general dentist has treated the injury and you are comfortable.
After Office Hours
If you are in pain after hours, call our office and follow the prompts for after-hours guidance on who to contact. For urgent help during business hours, reach our Beaman Place office at (336) 274-7649 or our Lake Brandt office at (336) 644-1464.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a loose bracket an emergency?
Usually not. A loose bracket or band can typically stay in place until your next visit. Call us so we can schedule a quick repair, and use orthodontic wax if it is rubbing in the meantime.
How do I stop a wire from poking my cheek?
Cover the end with orthodontic wax, or gently tuck it back under the archwire with a pencil eraser. If a wire is long or sharp, you can carefully clip it with sanitized nail clippers. Call us if it keeps bothering you.
My teeth are sore after an adjustment, is that normal?
Yes. Mild soreness for a few days after braces are placed or tightened is completely normal. Soft foods, a warm salt-water rinse, and over-the-counter pain relief usually do the trick.