Emergency Orthodontist in Denton & Krum, TX
True orthodontic emergencies are very rare, but when they do occur, we are here to help! As a general rule, you should call one of our conveniently located orthodontic offices in Denton or Krum when you experience severe pain or when you have an uncomfortable appliance problem that you can’t take care of yourself. We’ll be able to schedule an appointment to help resolve the problem and get you back to smiling in no time.
Can I Fix Broken Braces Temporarily?
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. If you are comfortable working with your own appliances, it helps to know the names of the parts so you are able to identify what part is broken or out of place.
After alleviating your discomfort, it is very important to call our friendly office as soon as possible to schedule a time to repair the problem, so we can ensure your appliances are seated correctly, stay in alignment, and don’t create any unexpected problems in the future. Allowing your appliance to remain damaged for an extended period of time may result in disruptions in your treatment plan or further damage to your orthodontic appliance. In extreme cases, neglecting your damaged appliance may lead to undesired results.
Common Problems With Your Braces & How to Temporarily Fix Them
Poking wire
Using a pencil eraser, push the poking wire down or place wax on it to alleviate the discomfort. The dental wax provided with your traditional metal braces are completely safe, and act as a barrier between any sharp poking you might be experiencing, and your cheek.
Loose bracket or band
If your bracket or band is still attached to the wire, you should leave it in place and put wax on it to protect your mouth from any abrassion. If the wire comes out entirely, wrap the bracket with a tissue, and keep it safe till your visit to either our Krum or Denton offices for an emergency visit.
Loose wire
Using a tweezer, try to gently put your wire back into place. If doing this and using wax doesn’t help, as a last resort use a small fingernail clipper to clip the wire behind the last tooth to which it is securely fastened. If your discomfort continues, place wax on it to create a soft edge, and schedule your appointment right away.
Loose appliance
If your appliance is poking you or it feels like an edge is getting caught somewhere in your mouth, place wax on the offending part of your appliance and try to avoid the area with any hot beverages.
General Soreness
When you first get your braces on, you may feel general soreness in your mouth and your teeth may feel tender to biting pressures for three to five days. Not only is this completely normal, it can also be relieved by rinsing your mouth with warm saltwater mouthwash. The saltwater helps reduce tenderness and is a great natural home remedy! Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in 8 ounces of warm (not hot) water, and rinse your mouth vigorously. Placing Orabase on the affected area may help; this can be found in a pharmacy. If the tenderness is severe, you can use your regular over-the-counter pain medication to help manage the discomfort until your mouth has time to adjust to the new sensation.
Your lips, cheeks, and tongue may also become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and become accustomed to the surface of your braces. The appliance may feel foreign in your mouth and it might feel like your tongue just can’t leave the area alone, and this is entirely normal! You can put wax on the braces to lessen this. Our friendly staff at both Krum and Denton Orthodontic offices will show you how!
Invisalign Trays Feel Scratchy
You can use a clean fingernail file to smooth out any sharp or rough edges on your Invisalign trays. If this isn’t enough, place a thin line of wax along the rough area until we can smooth them for you on your next appointment. Your comfort is very important to us, and we would love to hear from you on how we can make the process the best possible.
Call Us Now To Schedule With Our Emergency Orthodontist in Denton & Krum
It is important that you contact us immediately if you are experiencing any emergency with your braces or orthodontic appliances. We will happily assist you as soon as possible, and leave you smiling knowing you’re right back on track to your dream smile.