When an orthodontic emergency arises, it’s crucial to contact your orthodontist as soon as possible. No matter the severity, damage to your braces or orthodontic appliance can be troublesome. Whether it affects the time you must wear your appliances or the damaged appliance harms your mouth, we recommend tending to the problem immediately.
At Trapnell Orthodontics in Utah County, we understand the severity of any orthodontic emergency. That’s why we urge patients to address their situation right away, and give us a call. From oral pain to broken brackets, we take every emergency seriously. There’s a variety of problems that can occur with your appliances, so take a moment to familiarize yourself with some common orthodontic emergencies.
Common Issues
Like we said, orthodontic emergencies can range from bent wires and broken brackets to irritation and soreness from appliances. Any issue that causes pain or consists of damage to your appliances is important to address. Take a look at some common issues below:
- Soreness in Mouth: Whether it’s your lips or cheeks, braces can sometimes irritate your mouth, especially damaged appliances.
- Loss of Ligature Band: The ligature band holds the wires to your brace brackets and helps apply the necessary pressure to straighten teeth.
- Loss of Separator: It’s common to lose separators throughout orthodontic treatment. You can easily receive a replacement from your orthodontist.
- Loose Bracket or Wire: Loose brackets and wires are concerning. When loose, brackets can’t do their job efficiently, so you could run the risk of lengthening treatment if not addressed right away.
What To Do
As if we haven’t said it enough, when you find yourself in the middle of an orthodontic emergency, you should contact your Trapnell orthodontist right away. You can notify us of your emergency, and we’ll try to get you scheduled in as soon as possible. In the meantime, there’s a couple things you can do to alleviate any pain and save broken appliances.
When a damaged appliance is irritating your mouth, you can apply wax to the area to protect your cheeks and lips from being poked. In the case of loose wires, try pressing the wire back into position with a pencil eraser or something similar. If a loose bracket slides out of position, use tweezers to move it back where it belongs. Occasionally, an irritating wire may need to be snipped, but use caution when doing so.
Preventing Problems
It’s not uncommon for patients to deal with orthodontic emergencies, but with the proper care and right information, you can avoid these problems altogether. Playing sports is a common cause of damaged appliances, so we recommend patients with braces wear a mouthguard while doing so. Additionally, there’s a number of foods to avoid that often damage braces. See below:
- Popcorn
- Sticky, chewy, and hard candy
- Corn chips
- Pretzels
- Nuts
For any orthodontic emergencies, be sure to contact Trapnell Orthodontics in Utah County. We’ll strive to set up an appointment as quick as possible and fix any problem that may occur. Don’t hesitate to call!
