Occasionally, patients may sustain an injury to the mouth during treatment. Dental emergencies while wearing braces or other orthodontic appliances generally fall into two categories.
EMERGENCIES RELATED TO ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCES
Sometimes, appliances may be broken or bent during orthodontic treatment. If there are any disturbances, such as loose bands, loose brackets, broken or poking wires, please call our office for an appointment during patient hours. For your convenience and that of scheduled patients, it is not possible to accept walk-in emergencies. In the meantime, here are some helpful hints to remedy some of the problems you may encounter until our office can see you.
- If a tie wire is irritating your mouth, cover it with beeswax or tuck it under the arch wire with a blunt object such as a pencil eraser or Q-tip.
- A loose band or bracket can generally be left in place until seen in our office. Call Orthodontics of San Mateo during patient hours when you notice a loose band or bracket. We will schedule you to reattach the loose appliance, if indicated.
- A broken or poking archwire can often be bent back into place with a pencil eraser or cut with nail clippers. Call our office during patient hours if you do not believe the problem has been resolved.
DIRECT INJURIES TO THE MOUTH AND TEETH
Following a direct injury to your mouth or teeth, whether undergoing orthodontic care or not, immediately ice the injured area, and you should contact your regular dentist as soon as possible. Usually, an X-ray of the involved tooth or teeth is needed to determine the extent of injury. If a tooth has been displaced, knocked out, or fractured, it is best to contact your family dentist first, since we may not have the necessary materials or anesthesia required to treat these injuries. If the appliances are dislodged or displaced, we will need to replace or adjust them as soon as possible, after you have seen your general dentist, depending on the patient’s comfort level.
After Office Hours
If an orthodontic emergency arises where the patient is in pain after hours, please contact our office. Information is available regarding who to contact for further assistance.