Plainfield, IL (Illinois) Orthodontist Steven J. Moravec, DDS, MS

As with any device, there is always the possibility of things happening with braces or orthodontic appliances. True orthodontic emergencies are very rare, but when they do occur we are available to you. As a general rule, you should call the office when you experience severe pain or when you have a painful appliance problem that you can't take care of yourself. We’ll be able to schedule an appointment to resolve the problem.

You might be surprised to learn that you may be able to temporarily solve many problems yourself until you schedule an appointment with our office. When working with your appliances, you need to know the names of the parts of your appliances so you are able to identify what part is broken or out of place. After alleviating your discomfort, it is very important that you still call our office as soon as possible to schedule a time to repair the problem. Allowing your appliance to remain damaged for an extended period of time may result in disruptions in your treatment plan.

Below is a list of things that sometimes occur, as well as some remedies and instructions in case they do happen.

If your teeth become sore after a visit
If food becomes stuck
If a wire causes irritation
If the main wire has come out of the brace or tube
If a piece of a brace breaks
Loose Expander
Loose Herbst Crowns
Trauma to the Mouth

If your teeth become sore after a visit, we generally recommend that you take an analgesic such as acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) or ibuprofen (e.g., Advil). We do not recommend Motrin because it can inhibit tooth movement. This, of course, is the protocol only if there are no known allergies to these medications. Rinsing with Peroxyl or a cup of warm water and teaspoon of salt can also be soothing.

Back to top

If food becomes stuck between your teeth, use dental floss or a proxy brush to dislodge the food.

Back to top

If a wire causes irritation, push the wire away from the area using the eraser end of a pencil or a cotton swab. If the wire cannot be tucked away, cover the end of the wire with a small piece of wax, a cotton ball, or a piece of sugarless gum, until you can see us for an adjustment.

Back to top

If the main wire has come out of the brace or tube on a back molar tooth, attempt to reinsert the wire with a pair of needle nosed pliers or tweezers. If the wire is not sticking you, place a piece of wax over the area. If the wire is sticking you and wax does not help, the wire can be cut with a small wire cutter or nail clipper close to the back of the last brace. This is a last resort if professional help is unavailable.

Back to top

If a brace comes loose from a tooth, it usually remains connected to the main wire and is not cause for an emergency visit. Tweezers can be used to reposition the brace if it flips around the wire and becomes a source of irritation. Call our office at your earliest convenience. It may be necessary to schedule a separate visit to repair the loose brace(s), since repairs of this nature usually take additional time.

Back to top

Loose Expander - Call the office.

Back to top

Loose Herbst Crowns - Call the office.

Back to top

Trauma to the Mouth - Call the office.

Back to top