Orthodontic emergencies can occur at any time during treatment and often relate to complications with appliances. An orthodontic emergency is any circumstance that causes pain, threatens your health, or interferes with the course of orthodontic treatment. Seeing Dr. Aymach for orthodontic emergency care can offer immediate assistance for a variety of issues, some of which include:

Loose appliance: If a part of your appliance is causing irritation or is loose, place wax on the offending part until you can see us have it fixed. If you can remove it, then bring the part to your next appointment.
Loose bracket: If the bracket is still attached to the wire, use wax to keep it in place. If it has detached or can be removed easily, store it in a tissue or envelope and bring it to your next appointment.
Poking wire: For those with braces, wire issues can cause some pain or discomfort. Wires are threaded through the brackets to keep the pressure on your or your child’s teeth while they move into the correct positioning. These wires, however, can snap. This causes the area to become loose. When a wire breaks, it can stick out from the teeth, poke the inside of the cheek, or just cause general discomfort. To alleviate discomfort, try using tweezers to bend the wire back against the tooth. Use some relief wax to hold the wire in its position. This is a temporary solution. In order to fix the wire, the orthodontist will need to replace it. Be sure to make an appointment as soon as you can.
General soreness: This is commonly experienced when the braces are first put on and when the wire is tightened. Rinsing with a warm saltwater mouthwash can help. If the soreness or tenderness is severe, over-the-counter painkillers can be taken.
Facial trauma: If you feel that your health is in danger or you are experiencing extreme discomfort, go to the emergency room for treatment and contact us from there to let us know what happened. Otherwise, call Dr. Aymach’s Burke orthodontic office as soon as possible.

If you feel that you are experiencing a minor emergency related to your orthodontic appliance, contact our Burke pediatric dental and orthodontic office to find out when you can schedule an emergency visit. While you wait, we may recommend temporary solutions to your emergency, such as placing wax on the end of a broken wire that is poking your gums or cheeks.