YOU HAVE AN ACCIDENTAL EMERGENCY?

At the beginning or your orthodontic treatment, your gums and your inner cheeks may be irritated in some places. We will provide you with orthodontic wax that you may apply to your braces or the wires that are bothering you (dry the surface before applying). This will help to relieve the discomfort and cushion the area to promote healing. Rinsing your mouth with saltwater is also beneficial for healing.

During your treatment, the wires will be adjusted every 4-10 weeks. After an adjustment, your teeth may become sensitive for 2 - 3 days. If this discomfort bothers you, the same medication that you would normally take for a headache will provide relief. If your teeth are sensitive, a soft food diet is recommended for the first couple of days after an adjustment appointment. This sensitivity will not last long.

Eating sticky or hard foods may cause a brace to detach from the tooth. Therefore we don’t recommend these foods. If a brace or band does detach from a tooth and it is still attached to the wire or device, use a bit of wax to hold it in place until you can come to the clinic and have it fixed. If it falls off completely, keep the pieces, if possible. Contact us to plan an appointment.

If a wire comes undone or is hurting your cheeks or your gums, you can use a bit of wax at the pointy end. Dry the wire first. Add a small ball of wax, about the size of a pea, by pinching it on with your fingers. You can also cut the piece of wire with a nail cutter if you are comfortable doing so on your own. Please call us for assistance.

If your retainer is either lost or broken, call us immediately so that we may give you an appointment to either repair or replace it, otherwise, your teeth may move quickly.