Accidents happen. Even if you take the best possible care of your braces, something may go wrong with your braces that will require immediate repair. Call Dr. Garrison, your orthodontic specialist, when an orthodontic emergency arises.
What Qualifies as an Orthodontic Emergency?
Fortunately, it’s rare for something to occur with your braces, which would qualify as an “emergency” by the word’s dictionary definition. A proper dental emergency typically includes infections or broken teeth, where you may have severe mouth or face pain and the risk of the disease or decay spreading. Serious emergencies are possible after orthodontic treatment but fortunately rare.
Orthodontic emergencies are typically not severe, but you should address them quickly nonetheless. Any type of orthodontic braces can have issues. If something seems to be wrong, you might wonder how quickly you’ll need to get into our dental office to have Dr. Garrison provide emergency repairs.
In general, your brackets, appliances, and wires should always stay in place. If a bracket becomes loose from your tooth or a wire breaks, this could be considered an emergency orthodontic situation. It shouldn’t take us long to fix the issue, but it may take longer than you might expect, so please always let us know what has happened.
Here are some things you may experience with your braces and what you can do until you receive professional treatment:
Loose or broken bracket
The wire runs through a bracket that is secured to each tooth. If one of your brackets becomes loose or breaks, call us to make an appointment to have it reset. In the meantime, don’t panic. You can apply wax to the bracket to prevent it from sliding and cutting your gums or cheek.
Displaced bracket
If a bracket comes completely free from a tooth, we’ll need to reset it so that your braces can continue to do their work. Save the bracket in a baggie and bring it with you when you come into the office.
Broken wire
Place wax at each tip end of the broken wire, and call us as soon as possible to set an appointment for treatment. The wax will stick best when the area is dry, we recommend using a paper towel or napkin to pat the area dry before applying the wax.
Contact Your Emergency Orthodontist
Don’t wait to let us know if something has gone wrong with your braces or orthodontic device. The sooner you call us, the better. We’ll be more than happy to address the problem for you.
Please explain to us what happened and why it concerns you. We will do our best to provide any answers and the treatment you need as soon as possible.
Come See Your Bluffton Orthodontist Today
An orthodontist is a dentist trained to diagnose, prevent, and treat teeth and jaw issues. This can include tooth misalignment, malocclusions, and problems that may not yet have occurred. Braces are a standard treatment for these types of issues.
If your child or teen needs braces in Bluffton, SC, we’ll start the process with a consultation. We’ll answer any of your questions and tailor the treatment based on your feedback and goals.
Dr. Bob Garrison and his friendly, competent staff at Bluffton Orthodontics are there for your orthodontic needs in Bluffton, South Carolina. Your smile will be our primary objective, and we’ll focus on making your teeth straight, functional, and beautiful.
We emphasize satisfaction in the quality of our dental care, treating you and your children in a relaxed, professional manner. We know your kids may not look forward to visiting the dentist, but we’ll do everything we can to make sure your kids are as comfortable as possible. They may even enjoy the experience.
We love providing our patients with the highest-quality dental care. Come in, and see for yourself why our patients rave about us.