As with any device, there is always the possibility of a problem. Below is a brief listing of situations that may arise and some direction on how to deal with them. Occasionally, a patient may require care outside of his or her regularly scheduled appointments. Use the guidelines below to determine when an additional appointment at our office is required.
Should the problem occur after office hours or on a weekend, please follow the directions on the office answering machine in order to contact a staff member. According to the situation, every effort will be made to remedy the problem as soon as possible.
An emergency appointment may be scheduled to make you more comfortable. We may have to book a longer appointment to completely fix the problem. Our staff will explain the procedure to you according to the specific situation.
- SORE TEETH -
If your teeth become sore after a visit, this will only last approximately one to two days. Chewing softer foods will help. Dr. McKee and Dr. Russett can recommend a pain reliever as necessary.
- FOOD STUCK -
If food becomes stuck in the brackets or on the wire, use a piece of dental floss to gently dislodge the food. Please refer to your handout of foods to avoid to ensure that you are not risking your braces' integrity with a particular food type.
- WIRE OR BRACKET CAUSING IRRITATION -
If a wire or bracket is irritating the surrounding gums or tissues, place a piece of orthodontic wax over the area. Rinsing with warm salt water may also help. Usually the tissues will adjust to the wire or bracket within a few days. If irritation continues, please contact our office for an appointment.
- WIRE OUT OF BRACKETS -
If a wire comes out of the brackets, attempt to place the wire back into the bracket. If that is not possible, please contact our office for an appointment.
- BROKEN APPLIANCE -
If an appliance breaks, please contact our office for an appointment. Make sure yo bring your appliance with you if possible.
- TRAUMA TO MOUTH -
If the mouth or surrounding area sustains trauma, please contact our office to describe the injury. An appointment will be arranged as necessary.
- ELASTIC COMES OFF -
If one of the elastics holding the wire in place on a bracket comes off, do not worry - this is not an emergency. Please call our office and our staff will determine if you can be seen at your next regularly scheduled appointment or if you should drop in earlier to have it replaced. If the office is closed, please leave a message and our staff will return your call on the next business day.
