Orthodontic Emergencies Columbus
Immediate Care to Keep Treatment on Track
Experiencing an orthodontic emergency is never something you or your child expect to happen. A broken bracket, a protruding archwire, or even a loose expander requires immediate attention, especially if treatment is to remain on track. This is why you can count on us at Wigal Orthodontics to deliver fast and comfortable care. All you need to do is call our office in Columbus and let us know about the situation.
How Can I Avoid an Orthodontic Emergency?
While it may not always be possible to avoid all orthodontic emergencies, there are a few things you or your child can do to minimize your chances of needing immediate treatment. They include:
- Avoiding hard, sticky, or chewy foods that can damage your appliances or teeth.
- Wearing appropriate mouth protection if you or your child play sports. These can absorb the pressure placed on your braces and teeth should you accidentally fall or sustain a collision to the mouth.
- Practicing good oral hygiene at home by brushing and flossing your teeth as well as using appropriate instruments to adequately clean around brackets and wires. If you’re wearing Invisalign, you’ll want to make sure that you clean and soak your trays to remove any accumulated bacteria that might otherwise transfer to teeth and cause cavities or gum disease.
How To Take Care of Your Braces / Retainers at Home
Just like keeping your teeth and gums clean is important to avoid cavities and other similar problems, so is properly caring for your braces and/or retainer.
If you or your child are currently wearing braces, you’ll need to make sure that the areas around the brackets and wires are properly cleaned. This can be accomplished with an interdental brush that is designed for reaching small areas. Also, using a floss threader can help make cleaning between teeth while wearing braces much easier. You can find these products at your local drugstore, and they’re often quite affordable.
If you’re unsure how to use these instruments correctly, Dr. Wigal or Dr. Kluemper can show you during an appointment so that your at-home oral hygiene routine is a success.
Once you are wearing a retainer, you’ll need to make sure that you soak it in denture cleanser once each day to remove dried saliva, bacteria, and food particles. A thorough rinse is necessary before reinserting it into your mouth.
Tips for Common Orthodontic Emergencies
Although it’s unlikely that you’ll suffer an orthodontic emergency, there is still a possibility, and you must be prepared to handle the situation until you can see a member of our Wigal Orthodontics team.
If you sustain any of the following injuries or emergencies, we have provided a few tips you can follow to avoid further harm or a delay in treatment. If you would like additional information, you can refer to the American Association of Orthodontists’ emergency guide that we have provided at the bottom of the page.
Loose Bands
Although alarming, loose bands (those located around your back teeth) are not the kind of emergency that requires same-day treatment. Instead, you can call and alert our office to your situation. We’ll find a time within the next 1-2 weeks for you to come in so that we can fix the problem. While immediate attention is not necessary, failing to seek treatment can lead to damaged enamel, so don’t wait.
Trapped Food or Debris
You can easily remove food debris with your toothbrush and dental floss. This should dislodge the item without any issue; however, if you cannot remove it, don’t hesitate to call our office. We’ll be happy to help.
Damaged or Lost Elastic Band
If the ligatures – the small elastic band that holds the wire to your brackets – are damaged or lost, you’ll need to call us right away. Having these replaced quickly is essential if you want to avoid a delay. While it’s possible to use tweezers to replace the band yourself, you may need professional help if you’re worried you might damage the band or your tooth. Also, if you are regularly losing these elastic bands, let us know so that we can determine the underlying cause and work to address it.
Pain or Discomfort
Experiencing pain while wearing braces is normal. The movement of your teeth will cause some level of discomfort. The good news is that within a few days after an adjustment, the soreness will begin to dissipate; however, if it intensifies or lasts longer than one week, make sure to let us know right away.
Mouth Sores
Metal brackets can often irritate soft oral tissues, resulting in mouth sores. If this happens, you can use orthodontic wax to cover the bracket so that it no longer rubs against your cheeks, tongue, or lips. While you may not want to hear this, allowing small callouses to form will be helpful in the long term, as you’ll be unlikely to feel much discomfort as you move forward with treatment. There is also the option of using a topical oral anesthetic to relieve temporary discomfort.
Loose/Poking Wires
Should you have a loose wire or one that is poking out near your molars, you’ll be pleased to learn that you can generally take care of this problem at home. This situation is more uncomfortable than anything else, but you can use orthodontic wax from Dr. Wigal or Dr. Kluemper to cover the wire. We can also clip the wire should you feel more comfortable coming in for professional help.
Broken Braces/ Loose Brackets
The last thing you want to happen while wearing braces is to sustain a broken or loose bracket. Yes, it’s alarming, but you don’t need to panic. Just call our office to let us know, and we’ll work to find a time for you to come in so that Dr. Wigal or Dr. Kluemper can re-bond the bracket to your tooth so that it remains in place and continues to keep your treatment on track.
Swallowed Braces or Pieces
You should plan to contact our office right away should you or your child accidentally swallow a bracket or another piece of orthodontic appliance. This type of problem is extremely rare, but if it happens, you do not want to wait. While a small rubber band is unlikely to cause much of a concern, you should still seek professional help to ensure no further issues occur.
Loose Expanders
If you need to wear a palate expander to widen your upper jaw or teeth, it can become loose. If it does, make sure to call our office right away. Our team will need you to come in quickly so that we can fix the problem and avoid undoing all of the progress that has occurred so far.
Facial Trauma
Whether you’re playing sports or going for a run, or your child takes a tumble while outside, facial trauma while wearing braces requires immediate attention. We will work quickly to alleviate any pain or discomfort while addressing the damage with careful precision and comfort.
Should you or another member of your family experience any continuous bleeding, swelling, or broken bones (jawbone), make sure to seek immediate medical attention at your local emergency room before calling us.
