While you are wearing braces to align your smile, there are several issues that can arise. If you have an orthodontic emergency, call our office to discuss the problem with our orthodontists or team. You may need to visit right away or you may be able to do something to alleviate the problem until your next scheduled visit.
Is It a True Orthodontic Emergency?
Most problems with braces or aligners are uncomfortable but not urgent. A loose bracket or a poking wire can usually wait a day or two once you’ve made yourself comfortable. A few situations need care right away:
- An injury to the face, mouth or teeth, such as a fall or a hit during sports
- Swelling or signs of infection in the gums, mouth or face
- Severe pain that you can’t manage at home
If you’ve had an injury to your face or mouth, get emergency medical care first. Once you’ve been seen, call us so we can check your braces or aligners and get treatment back on track.
Common Braces Problems You Can Handle at Home
Loose Bracket
Brackets are the ceramic or metal squares that are attached to the front of each tooth. They can become weak or break if you chew something hard or sticky. This can cause the bracket to come loose and poke into your cheek, gums or tongue. Put orthodontic wax over the bracket to keep it from poking the inside of your mouth. This will help relieve discomfort until you visit Dr. Fiegle, Dr. Solomon or Dr. Fox.
Our guide to managing a broken bracket walks through the steps in more detail.
Broken or Protruding Wire
If a wire sticks out or becomes damaged, it can injure your gums, tongue or cheek. You may use the eraser on the end of a pencil to push the wire back into position. If the wire will not move to a comfortable position, put a piece of orthodontic wax over the end of the wire. If a protruding wire has caused a sore, rinse your mouth with an antiseptic rinse or with warm salt water. This will clean the area and reduce discomfort.
Lost or Broken Rubber Bands
If you wear elastics to help correct your bite and one snaps, replace it with a fresh one from your supply. If you run out, call us and we’ll get more to you. Try not to go long without them, since skipping elastics can slow your progress.
Soreness After an Adjustment
Feeling some tenderness for a few days after your braces are placed or adjusted is normal. Stick with soft foods like pasta, yogurt and soup, and use an over-the-counter pain reliever as directed on the label if you need it. Orthodontic wax can also help if your cheeks or lips feel irritated.
Clear Aligner and Retainer Problems
Cracked or Lost Aligner
If you wear Invisalign or Spark aligners and one cracks or goes missing, put your previous set back in and call us. We’ll let you know whether to move ahead to your next set or wait for a replacement, so your teeth keep moving in the right direction.
Lost or Broken Retainer
Teeth can start to shift quickly without a retainer, so call us soon if yours is lost, cracked or no longer fits. If a damaged retainer still fits comfortably, keep wearing it until we can see you. We can fit you for a replacement retainer and help protect your results.
What to Keep on Hand
A small kit at home, in your backpack or in your car makes most orthodontic problems easy to manage:
- Orthodontic wax
- A pencil with a clean eraser
- Salt for a warm saltwater rinse
- An over-the-counter pain reliever
- Extra elastics, if you wear them
- Your aligner or retainer case
When to Call Us
When in doubt, call the office where you receive treatment. Winning Orthodontic Smiles offers after-hours emergency care for our patients, so you can get guidance even when something happens outside of office hours.
We invite you to contact our team today to learn more and to schedule an appointment. When you come into one of our offices in Bluffton, Beaufort, Hilton Head Island or Walterboro, SC, our friendly orthodontists may adjust, reposition or reattach the existing brackets or wires. If necessary, brackets or wires will be replaced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a broken bracket an emergency?
Usually not. Cover the bracket with orthodontic wax so it doesn’t irritate your mouth, then call us to schedule a visit to repair it.
Should I go to the emergency room for a braces problem?
Go to the emergency room for an injury to your face or mouth, swelling or severe pain. For problems like a loose bracket or a poking wire, call our office instead, since we can repair your braces and the emergency room cannot.
What should I do if my retainer breaks?
Call us soon, because teeth can begin to shift without a retainer. If the damaged retainer still fits comfortably, keep wearing it until we can see you.
Do you offer after-hours emergency care?
Yes. Winning Orthodontic Smiles offers after-hours emergency care for our patients. Call the office where you receive treatment for guidance.