First Aid

We don’t always expect you to have problems with your braces, but in the event you do, always call us.

Please check your appliances daily as you have been shown to ensure nothing is loose, sliding or “off.”  Call if you discover anything unusual. A special repair appointment may be needed even if you have an upcoming appointment. Routing appointments may not allow time to make a repair.

Poking Wire (irritating cheek)

Occasionally during treatment, an archwire may shift and become more exposed behind the molar on one side. This can be very uncomfortable. Be sure to call our Scheduling Coordinator any time there is pain or discomfort due to a wire poking or a wire coming out of its slot. To avoid irritation until we see you, use orthodontic wax.

Loose Brackets

Losing a bracket can mean losing valuable treatment time; it is essential that you call and notify us of any breakage. If our mutual schedules do not accommodate an immediate repair appointment and the loose bracket is causing discomfort, we will schedule a comfort appointment until the time that the bracket can be fixed. Please do not wait until your regular appointment to inform us of a breakage. Time is allotted for the procedure we have planned to perform only. Often, we do not have time to do both the repair and the planned adjustment. A call ahead of time may allow us to add more time to an adjustment appointment, or to schedule a separate repair appointment as soon as possible.

Lost or Broken Retainer

Wearing and taking care of your retainer is just as important as wearing your braces. Without regular retainer wear, your teeth will tend to shift. If you have lost or broken your retainer, call our office as soon as possible.  We will need to schedule an appointment for an impression to make a new retainer