While true orthodontic emergencies are rare, you may find that common appliance issues can happen, such as soreness and loose, missing, or broken pieces of the appliance.
People are often surprised to learn that many orthodontic issues have temporary solutions that will last until your next orthodontic appointment. For instance, if you can remove a loose piece, you can place it in a plastic bag and bring it to your next visit to our office. Once you get a handle on your discomfort, you should still call our office immediately to schedule an appointment and permanently solve your problem.
Soreness
It’s not uncommon to feel general soreness in the mouth or tenderness in your teeth when biting. The discomfort usually lasts for only a few days. Eating soft foods can help to alleviate this discomfort.
You can alleviate gum irritation by rinsing your mouth with warm salt water. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) will help relieve any lingering soreness.
Orthodontic Headgear
Wearing headgear can be uncomfortable, but it doesn’t immediately warrant emergency orthodontics in Belmont, NC. The aches could result from not wearing your orthodontic headgear according to your orthodontist’s instructions. You should become more comfortable wearing the headgear for the prescribed number of hours.
Contact our office for assistance if the facebow or metal piece on your headgear is bent or misshapen.
Loose Appliances
If your appliance is loose, you can cover the offending part with soft wax until your next appointment.
Loose Brackets
Brackets temporarily bond to teeth with a special adhesive. Despite the strength of the dental glue, it can sometimes fail, leaving the bracket loose or disconnected from a tooth. You might not need emergency care for this problem, but you should contact our office to avoid prolonging your orthodontic treatment.
Loose Wires
Use a pair of needle-nosed pliers or tweezers to gently push the wire back into position. If necessary, you can wrap a piece of floss around the bracket to replace a missing colored o-ring to tie the wire into place.
If you have trouble moving the wire into a comfortable position, try covering the wire’s end with wax. As a last resort, you could clip the wire behind the last secured tooth with a fingernail clipper and cover the end with wax.
Poking Wire
You can address a poking wire by pushing it into a pencil eraser or using soft wax to prevent irritation. Emergency orthodontics in Belmont, NC, may not be necessary.