If you have braces or an appliance in your mouth as part of your orthodontic treatment, there may be times when you call the office outside of our typical office hours. When this happens, you can leave a voicemail that we will respond to when the office is open next, or you can call our emergency number.
Many patients ask, “What is our emergency number for?” and “What is an orthodontic emergency?”so we’ve decided to outline what it is.
What is an orthodontic emergency?
Good news for you, true orthodontic emergencies are very rare, but they can still happen on occasion. When you are in one of these emergency situations, it is important that you stay calm and let our office know as soon as you can so that we can help with emergency treatment. We can help with many of these situations over the phone, but there are certain scenarios where a visit to the office is the best next step.
Minor Orthodontic Emergencies
Even for minor issues such as those listed below, call our emergency line (if the incident happens outside of business hours) so that we can assess the situation on a case by case basis.
Loose or Broken Bracket
If you notice a loose or broken wire, bracket or band on your braces, and it is causing discomfort, please let us know. If the loose piece is still attached to your braces, leave it in place and try to avoid touching the loose piece until you can come in to see us. If any pieces of your braces fall out, please keep that with you and bring it to your repair appointment. To ease any irritation, you can cover the area with dental wax. If a broken wire, bracket or band is not causing discomfort, please give us a call during normal business hours and we can get you or your child scheduled for a repair appointment.
Discomfort from Poking Wires, Ties, or Brackets
As your teeth move during your treatment, the positioning of the wires, ties and brackets may shift causing you discomfort in your mouth. If this happens, you can try to use a clean pencil eraser, q-tip or tweezers to try to move it to a more comfortable position. You can also cover the area with dental wax. When you call us, we may walk you through this process or a process to clip the wire poking you in the mouth at home.
Toothaches or Wiggly Teeth
You may feel some soreness or discomfort in your teeth and gums as you go through your braces journey. This is absolutely a normal part of treatment. Most of the time any discomfort is gone after a few days. If the pain is beyond a mild ache or anything you can tolerate, or if the pain is getting worse please give us a call so we can help you with your situation.
Serious Orthodontic Emergencies
Serious orthodontic emergencies are very rare and happen when there is a potential for injury or damage to the teeth, jaw, or mouth. These emergencies include:
Trauma or an injury to the face, mouth, or teeth
Swollen or infected gums or any other area of the face
Severe, pain in the mouth or face
If you notice any of these problems, please call us immediately at (317) 888-2827. When you call us, we can talk with you or someone close to you to gain a better understanding of the situation. If you feel like this is an emergency that requires help from medical professionals other than an orthodontist, please go straight to the emergency room. Call us to provide an update about what happened and your treatment when you feel safe.
Contact Your Greenwood and Indianapolis, IN Orthodontist
If you have a minor orthodontic emergency, a serious orthodontic emergency, or if you have a concern about your treatment, please call our office. We can provide advice for handling situations at home and we can schedule an appointment to see you in the office if necessary. We love seeing all of our patients, but hopefully we never have to see you for an emergency appointment.
