We don’t just serve patients, we serve family.

If you break or loosen any of your appliances, call our office as soon as possible. Please do not come directly to the office; by calling us, we can make sure there is time to see you. Even if you have a regular appointment scheduled, call us immediately to let us know if you need an appliance repaired.

Loose Brackets or Bands

Call us immediately if a bracket or a band becomes loose. The bracket may need to be repaired as soon as possible, and you may have to cut a wire or slide a bracket off a wire if you experience this kind of emergency at night or over the weekend. If you need to cut a wire in the case of an emergency, use fingernail clippers that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. Please call our office the next business day so that we can schedule an appointment for you.

Wire Irritations

If you are experiencing discomfort caused by a wire on your braces, you may be able to resolve it by using a cotton swab or pencil eraser to move the wire away from the irritated area. If the wire won’t move, try covering the end of it with a small piece of cotton or a small amount of wax.

If the wire is painful, you can cut it with nail clippers or scissors that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. If you are unable to resolve the wire irritation, call us to schedule an appointment.

Lost Separators

If you lose a separator during your treatment, do not worry – just give us a call to see if it needs to be replaced.

Discomfort with Orthodontic Treatment

During the first week of wearing braces, you will likely feel some pain, soreness, or discomfort. You can take acetaminophen or other non-aspirin pain relievers, such as Ibuprofen or Aleve, while you adjust to your new braces. A warm washcloth or heating pad may also help reduce soreness.