Ortho Emergencies

Most patients lose a separator during their treatment. Do not worry about losing a separator, but please call our office to see if it needs to be replaced.

Right after you get your braces, and sometimes after you have an adjustment appointment, your teeth and mouth will feel sore. To alleviate the pain, you may take acetaminophen or other non-aspirin pain relievers while you adjust to your new braces.
 
You can also gargle lukewarm saltwater, which is a mixture of one teaspoon of salt dissolved in eight ounces of water. A warm washcloth or a heating pad may also reduce the soreness in your jaws.

You may be susceptible to mouth sores. While your braces don’t cause them, they may be made worse by irritation from braces.
 
One or several patches of sores may appear on the cheeks, lips, or tongue. This is not an emergency, but it may be very uncomfortable for you.
 
Get quick relief by applying a small amount of topical anesthetic (such as Orabase or Ora-Gel) directly to the area with sores using a cotton swab.

Try moving the wire away from the irritated area with a cotton swab or eraser. If the wire will not 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.

Occasionally, the end of a wire will work itself out of place and irritate your mouth. Use a Q-tip or pencil eraser to push the wire so that it’s flat against the tooth.
 
If the wire cannot be moved into a comfortable position, cover it with relief wax. (See Irritated of Lips or Cheeks above for instructions on applying relief wax.)
 
You'll need to make Dr. Maness aware of the problem.
 
In a situation where the wire is extremely bothersome, and you can't see Dr. Maness anytime soon, as a last resort, you may clip the wire.
 
Reduce the possibility of swallowing the snipped piece of wire by using folded tissue or gauze around the area.
 
Use a pair of sharp clippers and snip off the protruding wire. Relief wax may still be necessary to provide comfort to the irritated area.

First, call our office to see if the bracket needs to be re-fitted. If you have a situation where you must cut the wire or slide a bracket off the wire, you may use fingernail clippers that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol.
 
Please call our office the next business day to schedule a repair appointment.

Try putting the wire back in place using tweezers that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. If that does not work, try putting wax over the wire where it is poking you.
 
If you have a situation where you must cut the wire, you may use fingernail clippers that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. Cut the wire behind the last bracket in which it is secured.

If your headgear is causing pain, it's usually because it isn't being worn long enough. Please adhere to Dr. Maness’ instructions, and wear your headgear for the instructed amount of hours each day.
 
If the facebow is bent, please call our office for an appointment. Do not try to adjust it yourself.