Orthodontic Emergencies

True orthodontics emergencies are very rare. Most problems that can occur with orthodontics can be remedied at home. For example, the occasional broken bracket is not beneficial to your treatment, but these can be repaired during your regularly scheduled appointments. Having a broken bracket for a few weeks between appointments shouldn’t prolong the amount of time that you will need to stay in braces (unless you have a tendency to break brackets on a regular basis). That said, if you incur an injury or have an incident that causes multiple brackets to break in succession, it is probably a good idea to contact our office to schedule an appointment.

Sore teeth are common when you first have your braces tightened. Your teeth may be sore for up to three days after your braces are adjusted, and you may need to restrict your diet to soft foods during this time. This soreness is not cause for concern. However, if you feel that the soreness you are experiencing is particularly severe or if it does not diminish after three to five days, call the office.

Likewise, if a loose wire end causes irritation by poking your gums, lips, or cheek, you can use wax (which your orthodontist can provide) to cover the end of the wire. If, however, your braces wire breaks, frays, or causes severe irritation, you’ll want to schedule an appointment to come in as soon as possible to have the wire fixed, trimmed, or replaced.

If you lose your retainers, this is not usually cause for an emergency appointment, but you should call our office as soon as possible to schedule an appointment to get a replacement.

As with most medical emergencies, what constitutes an orthodontics emergency is usually a matter of common sense. When in doubt, give your local Birmingham Orthodontics office a call and we’ll let you know whether or not you should come in. Remember, always call before coming in for an emergency appointment to ensure that we will be able to make room for you in the schedule. If your emergency occurs after regular business hours or over a weekend, call (205) 733-2022 and one of our on-call orthodontic assistants will be able to assist you.