What to do in Case There is a Problem

Call our office as soon as possible if you break or loosen any of your appliances. Please do not come directly to the office – by calling us, you will allow us to create a time to see you. Even if you have a regular appointment scheduled, call us immediately to notify us if you need an appliance repaired. Please be sure to bring anything broken with you to the office.

Loose Brackets or Bands

Call our office to notify us for advice if a bracket or wire is broken. The bracket may or may not need to be immediately re-bonded . You may have a situation that requires cutting a wire or sliding a bracket off a wire at night or over the weekend. If you need to cut a wire you may use nail clippers or scissors that have been washed and cleansed with alcohol. Please then call our office for advice on how to remedy solution.

Wire Irritations

Sometimes discomfort caused by a wire on your braces can be resolved by 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. If you cannot resolve the wire irritation, call our office for an appointment.

Lost Separators

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

Discomfort with Orthodontic Treatment

During the first week after your braces are in place and routine adjustments are complete, you will likely feel some discomfort. You may take Motrin or Advil for the discomfort while you adjust to your new braces. A warm wash cloth or heating pad may reduce the soreness in your jaws.