It is possible that some patients may experience an injury to the mouth during treatment. Dental emergencies while wearing braces or other orthodontic appliances generally fall into two categories listed below.
Emergencies Related to Orthodontic Appliances
Appliances might be broken or bent during your orthodontic treatment, especially if ignoring instructions on avoiding hard or sticky foods. If there are any disturbances, such as broken or poking wires, loose bands, or broken braces, please call our office for an appointment during patient hours. On the weekends all calls are forwarded to Dr. Tom or Dr. Ferlito to give advice and remedy the problem. For your convenience and the convenience of scheduled patients, it is usually not possible to handle emergencies on a walk-in basis. In the meantime, here are some helpful hints to remedy some of the problems you may encounter until our office can see you.
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- If a piece of wire is irritating you, cover it with wax or tuck it under the rest of the wire with a soft, blunt object like a pencil eraser or Q-tip
- A loose band or bracket can generally be left in place until seen in our office if it is not causing any discomfort. Call Bradford Orthodontics during patient hours when you notice a loose band or brace and we will schedule you to reattach the loose appliance
- A larger piece of poking archwire can often be cut and removed using a pair of nail clippers
Watch this video that explains how to handle an orthodontic emergency
Direct Injuries to the Mouth and Teeth
Following a direct injury to your mouth or teeth, immediately ice the injured area and contact your regular dentist as soon as possible, as x-rays of the involved teeth are needed to determine the extent of the injury. If a tooth has been displaced, knocked out, or fractured, it is still best to contact your family dentist first as we may not have the necessary materials or anesthesia required to directly treat these injuries. If orthodontic appliances are dislodged or displaced, we will need to adjust the appliances as soon as possible after you have seen your general dentist. If you cannot get in touch with your general dentist, please let us know so that Dr. Tom or Dr. Ferlito can assist in the meantime. If a true emergency occurs beyond the scope of dental care, do not hesitate to go directly to the emergency room for care.
After Office Hours
If an orthodontic emergency arises and the patient is in pain after hours, please contact our office. On weekends, all calls are forwarded to Dr. Tom or Dr. Ferlito who can provide assistance as needed.