Directions
Post Treatment Care - Orthodontic Emergencies
If you are in extreme pain or discomfort, please call our office at 603-434-1586 and our answering system will give you instructions on what to do. An orthodontic assistant will call you back as soon as they can.
ALWAYS keep any band, bracket, wire or any other orthodontic device that comes loose and is removed from your mouth. Please bring it in with you on your next appointment.
- Direct Injuries to Your Teeth or Mouth...
Following a direct injury to your mouth or teeth, you should be seen as soon as possible. Usually a radiograph of the teeth involved is needed to ascertain the extent of the injury. If orthodontic appliances are dislodged, displaced or broken, we will need to replace or adjust them as soon as possible.
- Pain or Discomfort Related to Orthodontic Appliances...
Broken or disturbed appliances can occur from time to time during your orthodontic care. Most repairs can wait until normal office hours to be corrected as long as you are comfortable. Please call our office as soon as possible so we can evaluate the urgency of the problem and schedule you to be seen accordingly. Delay in contacting the office to make necessary adjustments or repairs leads to delay in treatment and will lengthen the amount of time needed to finish treatment.
- Sore Teeth...
You may take an acetaminophen or other non-aspirin pain relievers. A warm wash cloth, heating pad or warm salt water rinses will reduce the soreness.
- Wire Irritation...
Try moving the wire away from the irritated area with a cotton swab or pencil eraser. If the wire will not move, try covering the end of it with a small piece of cotton, pencil eraser, or a small amount of wax.
- Loose Bracket and Loose Band...
If a bracket or band comes loose from your tooth and it is giving you discomfort, place a small ball of wax, or a pencil eraser over the bracket to keep it from moving. A broken brace should be fixed in a timely manner. Please call our office on the next business day so we can schedule you accordingly.
- Lost Separators ...
If a separator falls out, we need to know this, however, please call us on the next business day to report this mishap. It is common for some patients to lose a separator during treatment. It is wise to be seen by the doctor as soon as possible in order to assess whether or not the separator(s) must be replaced.
- Vacation And Out Of Town Emergencies...
If you are away on vacation and have a problem such as a loose or broken bracket, try to use some wax or a pencil eraser to make you comfortable. If you have a broken appliance, such as an expander, or you are unable to remedy the problem with wax and need immediate attention, you should call an orthodontist in the area in which you are visiting. They may be able to assist you so that you are comfortable until you return from your trip. Once you return home, please call us as soon as possible so that you may be seen by the doctor. Please bring any appliance, bracket or wire to us that has been removed by you or the assisting doctor.
