emergencies

During the course of orthodontic treatment, there are two types of dental emergencies you may experience:

1. Direct Injury to the Mouth or Teeth
If you experience a direct injury to your mouth or teeth, whether you are in orthodontic treatment or not, you should contact your dentist right away. Your dentist will have the resources available to take care of any broken, displaced or knocked out teeth. Do not throw away any pieces of broken teeth or teeth that may have been knocked out, unless instructed to do so by your dentist. Do not delay, contact your dentist immediately.

Following your visit to the dentist, contact our office to schedule an appointment to evaluate your braces and determine if adjustments need to be made.

2. Emergencies Related to your Braces or other Orthodontic Appliances
Braces and other appliances may become loose, bent or broken during the course of treatment. Thankfully, these types of “emergencies” are much less severe than a direct injury to your mouth. Often, loose brackets or bands, poking or bent wires and broken appliances can be managed temporarily by you at home. Please call our office and schedule an appointment. Your comfort is of utmost importance to us. We will work you into the schedule as soon as possible.

Please watch this video for a demonstration on how to handle some orthodontic “emergencies” at home.

After Hours Emergency
If you are experiencing a true emergency, call 9-1-1 or go directly to the Emergency Room.

If an orthodontic “emergency” arrises, and the patient is in severe pain, please contact our office. You will find information about how to initiate our after hours emergency services.