Emergency Care

General Soreness — it is not unusual for your teeth to feel tender or sore following initial placement of braces or after an orthodontic adjustment. The best way to deal with soreness is to stick to a soft diet, and if needed, take a mild analgesic such as Tylenol™ (but always check with a physician before taking a new medication).

Loose Bracket/Band — Please phone our office ASAP and we will arrange a time for you to come in and have the bracket/band re-cemented. If needed, place some orthodontic wax over the bracket to help reduce any irritation.

Poking Wire — Try using a pencil eraser to push the poking wire down, or place some orthodontic wax over the portion of the wire that is poking. If that does not help, then use a sharp pair of nail clippers to snip the offending piece.

Loose Wire — Sometimes the archwires will feel loose. This can be because the archwire has come out of the orthodontic bracket, or it can simply be because the archwire is very light and flexible. When you start treatment, Dr. Budd or Dr. Yen will likely have placed a very light and flexible wire that will move and bend when you touch it. This is perfectly normal, but if you are uncertain, please give us a call and we will be happy set up an appointment to check your appliances.

Loose Appliance — If you have a loose space maintainer or palatal expander, please call our office and we will schedule an appointment to have it cemented. If it comes out completely, please place the appliance somewhere safe and bring it with you to your appointment.