Emergency Care
You will be pleased to hear that there are very few true orthodontic emergencies. Most difficulties can be remedied at home. The information below can help you with any simple situations you may encounter.
However, if you have a problem that you cannot resolve on your own, please contact us as soon as possible so your Epic Dental orthodontist can see you to repair any damage to your orthodontic appliance.
- Wire Irritations: Sometimes discomfort caused by a wire on your braces can be resolved by moving the wire away from the irritated area with a cotton swab or the eraser end of a pencil. If the wire will not move, try covering the end of it with a small amount of wax. If the wire is painful, you can cut it with nail clippers or scissors that have been cleaned in alcohol. If you cannot solve the wire irritation, call our office for an appointment.
- Something Loose or Broken: Please call our office immediately for advice if a bracket or wire is loose so that we can check and repair your appliance. Please save any piece of your appliance and bring it to the office with you. A lost band or bracket will need to be reattached as soon as possible to minimize increasing the treatment time. If you need to cut a wire, you may use nail clippers that have cleaned in alcohol. Then call us to schedule a repair. If you have aligners and lose an attachment, please call us so we can replace it.
- Lost Aligner or Retainer: If you lose your Invisalign aligners during treatment, use the previous aligners to hold your teeth in place until another can be ordered. Call us as soon as possible to order the aligners to minimize the lost time. For a lost retainer, call and schedule for an impression for a replacement as soon as possible so your teeth do not move.
Lost Spacers: A spacer or separator may be lost during treatment. If you can replace it yourself, just put it back in place. But, do not worry about replacing the separator. Please call our office to see when it needs to be replaced. - Sports injuries: Even when you wear a mouth guard, accidents can happen. In case you do have a sports emergency, be sure to check your mouth and your appliances for damage. Please contact our office immediately if you notice loose teeth or if your appliances have been damaged. You can temporarily relieve any discomfort by rinsing your mouth with warm salt water and by using wax.
Even if you have an upcoming appointment scheduled, please contact us right away at our dental office if you have an issue with your orthodontics that needs to be resolved. We proudly serve Norwood, Walpole, and surrounding areas.