There may be times during your orthodontic treatment that a bracket will break or a wire will pop out of place. While these things could cause discomfort, there’s no need to stress! If you experience an orthodontic emergency, the team at Melbourne Orthodontics is here to help. If the problem occurs during office hours, we can set up an appointment to take care of it as soon as possible. Many issues don’t require immediate attention, but in the event that you experience a pressing problem outside of our office hours, simply call our answering service to be directed to Dr. Reddick or an orthodontic assistant. Here’s what to do in the case of an orthodontic emergency:

Food caught in your teeth: While this isn’t necessarily an emergency, it can cause some discomfort. Using floss or an interdental toothbrush should help get pesky, embarrassing food out of your braces.

Ligatures come off: The tiny rubber bands that hold the wire to the bracket are known as ligatures. If one comes off, you should be able to put it back on with sterilized tweezers. If your ligature breaks and you’re unable to put it back in place, you should contact your orthodontist to see if you should come in for an appointment.

Protruding wire: If you have a pesky wire that is poking your cheek or gums, use a q-tip or your toothbrush to push it back against your tooth. Using wax to cover the wire will help calm the discomfort until your next appointment.

Loose wire, bracket, or band: If any part of your braces comes loose, you should contact your orthodontist to determine if it requires immediate fixing or to receive instructions for fixing the problem from home.

Discomfort: It’s normal to experience sore teeth and gums following an appointment. Sticking to soft foods and taking an over-the-counter pain reliever should help ease any pain.

At Melbourne Orthodontics, we have the specialized equipment, facility, and staff to properly address today’s most demanding orthodontic needs in a warm and caring environment. If you experience an orthodontic emergency that you don’t know how to fix, give us a call! We’ll help you find a solution or schedule an appointment to get your braces back in tip-top shape.