405.604.3745Orthodontic Emergencies
Orthodontic emergencies are rare, but there is a possibility you may experience soreness or discomfort from adjustments, broken wires, or other minor mishaps. In most cases, there are at-home solutions to temporarily alleviate your discomfort until you can make an appointment. If these emergency care solutions do not temporarily fix the problem or if you experience pain, call 405-604-3745 – even after hours. Our on-call clinician will help you as soon as possible.
Wire Poking, Wire Out of Brace, or Broken Wire
Sometimes the wire of your braces may move and poke out of the back brace. You may try to reinsert the wire with a pair of needle-nosed pliers or tweezers. If you can’t reinsert the wire, simply take nail clippers and clip the wire as close as poassible to the brace. If you can’t clip the wire, put wax on it to reduce discomfort. If the wire breaks between two braces, attempt to cut the wire or use wax until your appointment.
Poking Wire
Needle Nose Pliers
Nail Clippers
Ortho Wax
Other Common Orthodontic Issues
Wire Tie Poking
The wire tie connects the main wire of your braces to the brackets. If the twisted end of this tie feels sharp, use a pencil eraser to gently push the tie back into a comfortable position.
Loose Expander
O-Tie Off A Brace
Lost or Broken Retainer
Broken Brace
Experiencing An Emergency?
It’s normal to experience soreness or discomfort for a couple of days after you get braces or following an adjustment.
Try an over-the-counter pain reliever, rinse your mouth with warm salt water (just a tablespoon of salt in a cup of water) and switch to softer foods.