Oakbrook Orthodontic’s Emergency Care
When addressing orthodontic emergencies, it’s worth emphasizing that these events don’t happen frequently. That said, if you’re experiencing an orthodontic emergency, you need to be treated as soon as possible. And because emergencies rarely wait for a convenient time to happen, we’re here, ready to schedule an appointment to get whatever your issue is resolved quickly and efficiently.
Of course, there will be a delay between when you experience symptoms and when you can get in to see us. This page provides some tips for what to do in the meantime.
What You Can Do in The Meantime
For non-urgent emergencies, like uncomfortable headgear, loose or abrasive appliances, loose brackets and wires, or something else, you have a few stop-gap measures at your disposal. We’ll list them out here so you can be as comfortable as possible until you get in to see us at Oakbrook Orthodontics.
Uncomfortable Headgear: Sometimes discomfort is caused by not wearing the headgear as instructed. Please refer to the instructions given by your orthodontist. If the facebow is bent, please call our office for assistance.
Abrasive Wire: Wires are sharp and when they come loose or dislodged, they may poke the inside of your mouth, making life very uncomfortable for you. To solve this annoying problem, just put some wax on the part of the wire that’s poking you.
Faulty Appliance: A loose or dislodged bracket or wire needs to be taken care of by your orthodontist as soon as possible. The longer a wire or bracket stays dislodged, the longer you’ll end up needing to wear braces. If the faulty appliance is causing you discomfort, try applying wax to the bracket or wire that is out of place.
Soreness: If you’ve only just gotten your braces for the first time, you’re likely to experience some tooth and mouth soreness. Eating may be especially hard given the tenderness of your teeth. Your best bet is to eat soft foods until this soreness goes away. For other soreness, you can create a salt and warm water mixture. Gargle, but don’t swallow that mixture.
For especially bad soreness in your mouth or teeth, you can try taking Tylenol or applying Orabase to the areas that are the sorest.
Schedule an Appointment
Following alleviating your discomfort, it is important that you call to schedule an appointment as soon as possible. Allowing your appliance to remain damaged for long periods of time may result in disruptions to your treatment. Call us today at 630-705-7900.