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Poking Wire
Using apencil eraser, push the poking wire down or
place wax on it to alleviate the discomfort.
Loose bracket or band
If your bracket or band is still attached to the wire,
you should leave it in place and put wax on it. If the
wire comes out entirely, wrap the bracket with a tissue.
Loose wire
Using a tweezer, try to put your wire back into place.
If doing this and using wax doesn't help, as a last
resort use a small fingernail clipper to clip the wire
behind the last tooth to which it is securely fastened.
If your discomfort continues, place wax on it.
Loose appliance
If your appliance is poking you, place wax on the offending
part of your appliance.
Headgear does not fit
Sometimes headgear discomfort is caused by not wearing the headgear as instructed by your orthodontist. Please refer to the instructions provided by your orthodontist. If the facebow is bent, please call our office for assistance. Surprisingly, the headgear may hurt less as it's worn more, so be sure you're getting in the prescribed hours.
General Soreness
When you get your braces on, you may feel general soreness in your mouth and teeth may be tender to biting pressures for three to five days. This can be relieved by rinsing your mouth with a warm saltwater mouthwash. Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in 8 ounces of warm water, and rinse your mouth vigorously. Placing Orabase on the affected area may help; this can be found in a pharmacy. If the tenderness is severe, take whatever you normally take for headache or similar pain.
The lips, cheeks and tongue may also become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and become accustomed to the surface of the braces. You can put wax on the braces to lessen this. We'll show you how!
Many common orthodontic "emergencies" can easily be handled easily
at home. To help you accurately describe an emergency
situation, use the diagram below which illustrates and
names each part of a typical set of braces.
A. Ligature
The archwire is held to each bracket with a ligature,
which can be either a tiny elastic or a twisted wire.
B. Archwire
The archwire is tied to all of the brackets and creates
force to move teeth into proper alignment.
C. Brackets
Brackets are connected to the bands, or directly bonded
on the teeth, and hold the archwire in place.
D. Metal Band
The band is the cemented ring of metal which wraps around
the tooth.
E. Elastic Hooks & Rubber
Bands
Elastic hooks are used for the attachment of rubber
bands, which help move teeth toward their final position.
A Bracket is Knocked Off
Brackets (see diagram) are the parts of braces attached
to teeth with a special adhesive. They are generally
positioned in the center of each tooth. If the bracket
is off center and moves along the wire, the adhesive
has likely failed. Call your orthodontist, who will
determine the course of action. If the loose bracket
has rotated on the wire and is sticking out, attempt
to turn it back into its normal position and call our
office to schedule an appointment to have it reattached.
You may wish to put orthodontic wax around the area
to minimize the movement of the loose brace. If you
are in pain, please call our office. If you are not
in pain, this is not a true emergency. Please call our
office at your earliest convenience to schedule an appointment
to reattach the brace to the tooth. Remember, brackets
can become loose as a result of chewing on hard, sticky
or chewy foods or objects as well as from physical contact
from sports or rough housing. Be sure to wear a protective
mouth guard while playing sports!
The Archwire is Poking
If the end of an orthodontic archwire (see diagram)
is poking in the back of the mouth, attempt to put wax
over the area to protect the cheek. Call our office
to schedule an appointment and have that clipped. If
you are uncomfortable, make sure you inform the orthodontist.
In a situation where the wire is extremely bothersome
and the patient will not be able to see the orthodontist
immediately, as a last resort, the wire may be clipped
with an instrument such as fingernail clippers. Reduce
the possibility of swallowing the snipped piece of wire
by using folded tissue or gauze around the area to catch
the piece you will remove. Use a pair of sharp clippers
and snip off the protruding wire. Relief wax may still
be necessary to provide comfort to the irritated area.
"Ligature Wire" is
Poking Lip or Cheek
Use a Q-tip or pencil eraser to push the wire (see diagram)
so that it is flat against the tooth. If the wire cannot
be moved into a comfortable position, cover it with
relief wax. (See "Irritation of Cheeks or Lips"
below for instructions on applying relief wax.) Call
our office to schedule a repair appointment.
Loose Brackets, Wires or Bands
If the braces have come loose in any way, call our office
to determine appropriate next steps. Save any pieces
of your braces that break off and bring them with you
to your repair appointment.
Irritation of Lips or Cheeks
Sometimes new braces can be irritating to the mouth.
A small amount of orthodontic wax makes an excellent
buffer between the braces and lips, cheek or tongue.
Simply pinch off a small piece and roll it into a ball
the size of a small pea. Flatten the ball and place
it completely over the area of the braces causing irritation.
If possible, dry off the area first as the wax will
stick better. If the wax is accidentally swallowed it's
not a problem. The wax is harmless.
Mouth Sores
Patients who have mouth sores during orthodontic treatment
may gain relief by applying a small amount of topical
anesthetic (such as Orabase or Ora-Gel) directly to
the sore area using a cotton swab. Reapply as needed.
Discomfort
It's normal to have discomfort for three to five days
after braces or retainers are adjusted. Although temporary,
it can make eating uncomfortable. We encourage you to
eat soft foods. We also recommend rinsing the mouth
with warm salt water. Over-the-counter pain relievers,
acetaminophen or ibuprofen, may be effective.
Lost Ligature (Rubber or Wire)
Tiny rubber bands known as elastic ligatures (see diagram)
are often used to hold the archwire into the bracket
or brace. If an elastic ligature is lost, contact our
office, who can advise you whether the patient should
be seen. The same holds true for wire ligatures.
What if the Lip Gets Caught
on a Brace?
Call our office immediately. Apply ice to the affected
area until you have the opportunity to be seen by your
orthodontist or family dentist.
Food Caught Between Teeth
This is not an emergency. It can be resolved with a
piece of dental floss. Try tying a small knot in the
middle of the floss to help remove the food. Or use
an interproximal brush to dislodge food caught between
teeth and braces. |
