The Center for Facial Harmony

Emergency Care

Fortunately, orthodontic emergencies are very rare, but when they do occur we are available to help you. We will schedule an appointment to resolve the problem as soon as possible.

You might be surprised to learn that many orthodontic problems can be solved yourself until you are able to schedule an appointment.

The following solutions may help you relieve your discomfort:

If a wire is poking:

-Using a pencil or eraser, push the poking wire towards your gums or place wax on it to alleviate the discomfort.
-Shift the wire to the opposite side of your mouth away from the side that is poking you.

If a wire is loose:

-Use a pair of tweezers to hold the wire then try and place the wire back into place. If this does not help, use a small fingernail clipper to clip the wire behind the last tooth that is securely fastened.
-Apply wax to area that is uncomfortable.

If an appliance is loose:

-Try to keep it in your mouth
- Cover any sharp or protruding areas with a cotton ball, gauze, or orthodontic relief wax

Call to make an appointment at your convenience if:

-a bracket/brace comes loose
-one of your colored elastics (donut around each tooth) comes off
-your appliance comes loose

Repair appointments usually take longer than regular appointments and advance planning helps keep treatment on course.

Please note

It is not uncommon for one or two of your braces to come unglued or come off after your initial appointment. If this occurs, DO NOT PANIC. Call the office to schedule an appointment to have them put back on.

If you break your appliance or braces frequently, (more than 3 times over a 2 year period) your braces may need to stay on for a longer length of time than initially planned for. There will be an extra charge for all broken braces or wires after the third time. There is a fee for replacement appliances as well.