Emergency Care
True orthodontic emergencies are very rare, but when they do occur we are always available. As a general rule, you should call the office when you have a problem that you can't take care of yourself. We'll be able to schedule an appointment to resolve it.
You can solve most minor problems yourself. When working with your braces, you need to know the names of the parts of your appliances so you are able to identify what part is broken or out of place. Allowing your appliance to remain damaged for an extended period of time may result in disruptions in your treatment progress.
Should an emergency occur after hours, Dr. Gluck is always on call and can be reached by calling him at his home. The emergency number is available on the answering machine after hours. If you have a sports accident or facial injury that requires an emergency room visit, please have someone there contact Dr. Gluck right away.
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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 wire comes out entirely, wrap the bracket with a tissue.
Loose wire
Using a tweezer, try to put your wire back into place. If doing this and using wax doesn't help, as a last resort use a small 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.
Headgear does not fit
Sometimes headgear discomfort is caused by not wearing the headgear as instructed by your orthodontist. Please refer to the instructions provided by your orthodontist. If the facebow is bent, please call our office for assistance. Surprisingly, the headgear may hurt less as 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. This can be relieved by rinsing your mouth with a warm saltwater mouthwash. 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. If the tenderness is severe, take whatever you normally take for headache or similar 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. We'll show you how!