Orthodontic Emergencies in Indianapolis and Greenfield, IN
Most orthodontic problems are uncomfortable rather than urgent, and most of them can be handled at home or sorted out over the phone. Below is what to do for the six things that come up most often. If you are in real pain, if something is bleeding, or if you have had an injury to your face or mouth, call us right away and we will make room for you.
Indianapolis: 317-898-7645 Greenfield: 317-467-9989
Frequently Asked Questions
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 wash cloth or a heating pad may also reduce the soreness in your jaws.
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.
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 your orthodontist’s 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.
What Counts as a Real Emergency
Call us the same day for a broken appliance you cannot manage at home, pain that over-the-counter medication is not touching, or a wire you cannot tuck away that is cutting into your cheek. Go to an emergency room or an oral surgeon first, not to us, for a blow to the face, a possible broken jaw, or a knocked-out tooth. We will pick up the orthodontic side after the urgent care is done.
Preventing Most Emergencies
Most broken brackets trace back to food. Ice, hard candy, raw carrots, nuts, and anything sticky like caramel or taffy are the usual culprits. We give every patient the full list when treatment starts, and following it prevents the large majority of emergency visits.