Emergency Info

True orthodontic emergencies are rare, but there are instances, such as trauma or allergic reaction, in which you need to contact our office immediately. As a general rule, emergency appointments are made for a broken appliance, severe pain, a poking wire or problem you can’t handle with our instructions over the phone. If you have a true emergency, you may page Dr. Ingraham at 361-224-3640.

Other problems, such as a poking wire or loose bracket, are not emergencies. However, we need to know when something happens with your appliances. Please call us on the next business day to talk to us about what happened. Broken or loosened braces need to be fixed in a timely manner. We schedule these types of appointments during the quieter part of our day, usually from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Please call our office at any time for help in solving an orthodontic problem. We may be able to help you solve the problem over the phone, or we may need to schedule an appointment or direct you to emergency help. We want you to be comfortable during your treatment, so we allow extra time in our schedule every day for such occurrences.

If your emergency occurs after regular business hours or on the weekend, we have someone available to help you. You may call our emergency pager number at 224-3640. Our on-call specialist will talk with you and determine whether you need to be seen immediately. Often, we can guide you through home care and first aid that will make you comfortable until you can be seen at our office. We may have to schedule an extra appointment for repairs or replacements.

Just remember, we’re always here to help you. Here are a few tips and instructions that may help until you can talk to us ...

Allergic Symptoms

Although they’re uncommon, some patients do have allergic reactions to brackets, metal braces parts or even the latex gloves our staff wears for your and their protection. If you know you have a sensitivity to latex, or any other material we may use, please let us know in advance. If you experience any allergic symptoms, such as rash or inflammation, call us immediately.

Athletics

You can play the sports you played before you got braces or even participate in something new. But please talk to us first. We'll have special precautions for you to follow, include wearing a specially fitted mouthguard to protect your teeth and braces, and also to protect your tissues from being damaged by your braces. We recommend the 'boil and bite' type mouthguards that are found in most athletic stores.

Bent, Broken or Loose Appliances

Even if you have an appointment scheduled for the same or next day, please call our office if you have a loose or broken device. While broken and loose appliances don’t usually require emergency attention, we’ll help you determine what you need to do, and we’ll make sure we have time during your appointment to repair or replace it. Decay can develop under a loose band or bracket if it is left un-repaired for too long, and loose or broken appliances can lengthen your treatment time.

We want you to be comfortable, so when you’ve broken or damaged an appliance, remove it if it can be easily taken out, or shift it so that you’re not uncomfortable. If it cannot be removed, cover the sharp or irritating parts with chewing gum or orthodontic wax. If a wire is sticking out and covering it with wax doesn’t help, you may try tucking it in with a Q-Tip or a pencil eraser, or you may cut it as close as possible to the nearest bracket with a small, clean wire cutter or clean nail clippers. 

If the very last bracket comes off, it may allow the wire to poke your cheek. Call us to make an appointment to get the wire clipped.

If a separator (a small rubber 'o' that is between your teeth to create space) falls out, don't worry. This usually means enough space has been created and the separator has become dislodged. Call us during regular office hours to let us know the separator has fallen out.

Orthodontic appliances are designed to move your teeth in specific directions, but sometimes, they must move in one direction before they can complete movement into another direction. It may appear that your teeth are moving in the wrong direction. Be patient. With time, you’ll see your tooth or teeth begin to move in the proper direction.

However, undesired tooth movement can occur if a bracket has come off, when wires are bent or damaged or if the force being applied to a tooth is too strong. Call us if you’re concerned about your tooth movement, and we’ll determine whether you need to come in before your next appointment.

Direct Injury to Mouth and Teeth

As soon as possible after a direct injury to your mouth and teeth, you should be seen by your general dentist or, if necessary, you should go to the emergency room of your local hospital.

If a tooth has been severely loosened, fractured or knocked out, you may need immediate treatment and X-rays to determine the extent of the damage to teeth and/or surrounding gums and bone.

Please seek dental or medical help immediately. Coming to our office is not your best action because we may not be equipped to give you the emergency treatment you may require. If any of your orthodontic appliances have been broken or damaged, we can repair or replace them after your emergency needs have been addressed.

Discomfort or Pain

It's not unusual to experience some mild discomfort the first week after your braces are placed and after routine adjustments. You may use non-aspirin pain reliever to ease the discomfort. Also, try eating soft foods during this time. If your jaw joints are uncomfortable, try a moist heat compress. This type of discomfort should go away within a few days. If it doesn't, or if your pain is severe, call our office.

Gum Concerns
If you don’t keep your teeth and gums clean during orthodontic treatment, your gums may become swollen and begin to bleed. Brushing your teeth and gums gently and rinsing with mouthwash or warm salt water usually will return your gums to a comfortable and healthy condition. Use dental floss to check for trapped food particles.

Sometimes, swollen gums are caused by the orthodontic movement of your teeth. See our section on Oral Hygiene, and if you’re sure your teeth and gums are clean, call us to determine whether you need an appointment.

Headgear

If your headgear falls off at night (consistently) or causes other problems, call us immediately for advice. We may need to make adjustments.

Herbst Appliance

If your Herbst Appliance comes apart (the post comes out of the sleeve attachment), call us during regular office hours to schedule a repair appointment. If it's a small screw that has come out, please save the screw, then call our office or our emergency number.

Lip Pain

With new patients especially, lips sometimes get dry and cracked. Brackets may irritate the lips, especially when they’re new. To keep your lips soft and supple, use a lubricant such as Vaseline or Chapstick or place orthodontic wax on the part of the appliance that’s irritating your lips. If the soreness or condition lasts more than a few days, call our office to determine whether you need to schedule an appointment.

Loosened Teeth

Don't be alarmed if at some time during your treatment, your teeth feel 'loose.' They must loosen before they can move. Once your teeth are in the new positions, they'll settle and become fixed in place.

Poking Wire or Band

Sometimes, you can use a cotton swab or a clean eraser to move a wire away from an area that is being irritated. You can also use orthodontic wax to cover a wire or band that is poking or causing irritation. Dry the area so that the wax will stick. Apply a small piece of wax directly to the irritating part. Press gently and smooth it out with your finger. You should still brush and floss your teeth and brackets even when you’re using wax on them. Wax is harmless and can be applied as often as necessary. Don’t worry if you swallow it.

If you don’t have any wax with you, you can use cotton, tissue or gauze to cushion the irritation. If wax or cushioning doesn’t help, you can remove a small tie wire or gently shift the main archwire if it is causing irritation. You can also use clean nail clippers or wire cutters to clip the wire. After you’ve done so, call our office for instructions.

Palatal Expander

If your palatal expander comes loose, please call our office or our emergency number. We'll need to make an appointment to reseat the expander.

Removable Appliance

If you’re having trouble keeping a removable appliance in your mouth, it’s possible the loose metal parts may need to be tightened. Erupting or shifting teeth may also result in the improper fit of an appliance. If you’re having trouble with your removable appliance, remove it and call our office to schedule an appointment.

Swallowed Part of Your Appliance

If you’re having difficulty breathing after swallowing a part of your appliance, seek medical help immediately! If you have no symptoms after swallowing a piece of your appliance, don’t worry. It will normally pass through your digestive system and out of your body. Call our office to determine whether you need to schedule an earlier appointment for replacement.

Tooth Pain

Braces work by placing gentle pressure on your teeth, encouraging them to shift. This may cause tenderness for two to three days when your braces are first placed or sometimes after adjustments. New technology makes braces much more comfortable than ever before, and the intensity of pain or discomfort always varies from patient to patient. If you feel that your discomfort is unusual or extreme, please call us immediately.