Direct Injuries to the Mouth or Teeth
Following a direct injury to your mouth or teeth, whether undergoing orthodontic care or not, you should be seen by your regular dentist as soon as possible. If a tooth has been knocked out, severely displaced or fractured, it is best to contact your family dentist first, since we may not have the necessary materials needed to treat these injuries. If the orthodontic appliances are dislodged or displaced, we will need to replace or adjust them as soon as possible.
Emergencies Related to Orthodontic Appliances
Broken or disturbed appliances are likely to occur from time to time during your orthodontic care. If there is any disturbance such as loose bands, broken or poking wires, call our office as soon as possible so we can evaluate the urgency of the problem and schedule you to be seen accordingly.
In the interim, the following are helpful hints to remedy some of the problems you may encounter until you can be seen in our office:
- If a wire is poking and irritating your mouth, cover it with orthodontic wax.
- A broken archwire needs to be seen as soon as possible for replacement or adjustment. Some patients wires do not go back to the brackets in the very back.
- A loose band or bracket can generally be left in place until seen in our office. Please call us and we will schedule you to have it repaired.
- If a retainer cracks, this is NOT an emergency. However, we want to prevent your teeth from shifting so call us the next business day to schedule a professional repair.
After Hours
Should you have a true orthodontic emergency causing severe pain or discomfort after office hours, please call (619) 733-9250 and leave a message on the emergency line. We have staff on call to assist you.