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Toothache  

Is a Toothache an Emergency? Throughout your orthodontic treatment, you may feel some soreness stemming from the movement of your teeth. Since it can be hard to distinguish this sensation from a toothache, it’s important to keep an eye out for other warning signs of dental damage, like pain when biting down or a blister or pimple-like bump on your gums.

How You Should Handle Toothaches If any of the above symptoms arise or your toothache persists for more than 24 hours and seems to be stemming from one tooth, you should call us. From there, we can learn more about your symptoms and determine if you should come in for an exam. If restorative care is needed, then we will work with your dentist on your treatment plan to help you stay on-track with your teeth-straightening journey.

Loose Bracket  

Is a Loose Bracket an Emergency? Remember, your brackets play a crucial role in the teeth-straightening process. So, if one comes loose, then it warrants an immediate call to our Dallas orthodontist. We’ll provide you with helpful tips on how to prevent additional damage until you arrive at our office and do our best to schedule an appointment for you.

How You Should Handle a Loose Bracket The last thing you want is for your teeth to come down hard on the loose bracket or for the loose bracket to cut your gums, tongue, or the inside of your cheeks. That’s why we recommend using some orthodontic wax to cover the bracket, protecting your teeth and the soft tissue in your mouth in the process. It also goes without saying that you shouldn’t eat anything crunchy or chew on gum – this will also exacerbate the issue at hand.

Broken Wire  

Is a Broken Wire an Emergency? Broken wires are definitely an orthodontic emergency, and they require an immediate call to our Lakewood office so that we can prevent any delays to your treatment plan. Plus, we want to put the wire back in place before any soft tissue injuries happen!

How You Should Handle a Broken Wire As we touched on in the previous section, a broken wire increases your chances of sustaining a soft tissue injury. So, until your appointment, use some dental wax to cover the sharp edge. It’s also a good idea to rinse periodically with warm saltwater if you do experience a small cut because this will help prevent it from becoming infected.

Protruding/Poking Wire

Is a Poking or Protruding Wire an Emergency? Although it’s not a very urgent situation, you should still see Dr. Simon as soon as you can. If you leave the poking or protruding wire alone, it can lead to irritation and possibly an infection in the soft tissues of your mouth.

How You Should Handle a Poking or Protruding Wire: You can use a Q-tip or a clean pencil eraser to carefully move the wire back into place. If needed, you can even apply orthodontic wax or sugar-free gum over the wire to keep it from damaging your cheeks, lips, or tongue. When you get to our office, Dr. Simon will put it back into place and ensure everything is working smoothly.

Mouth Sores/Irritation

Are Mouth Sores or Irritation an Emergency? It’s incredibly common to develop mouth sores from braces as your soft tissues need time to adjust to the presence of your brackets and wires. Within a few weeks, they’ll heal and you’ll become more comfortable with your orthodontic treatment.

How You Should Handle Mouth Sores or Irritation: If your mouth sores are worsening or becoming more painful, don’t hesitate to give our office a call. We’ll get you seen as soon as possible. Dr. Simon will carefully inspect the area for infection and determine the best treatment method to get you out of pain.

Broken Ligature

Is a Broken Ligature an Emergency? Ligatures, or rubber bands, are designed to hold the wire against the bracket in order to apply force to your teeth. If one or more of them are broken, you’ll need to seek treatment right away to stay on track with your treatment plan. Call our office and make an appointment as soon as you can.

How You Should Handle a Broken Ligature: The first thing you should do is contact our office and schedule an appointment. While you wait, you can try pushing the ligature back into place with a cotton swab or cover it with dental wax. Otherwise, your wire may poke into your gums or cheeks, causing irritation.

Cut Lips, Cheeks, or Tongue

Is a Cut Lip, Cheek, or Tongue an Emergency? Your braces may cut your soft oral tissues if you sustain a blow to the face. Although these cuts may bleed a lot, it’s not typically considered a dental emergency. If the cut is minor enough, we may be able to stitch the wound closed. However, if it’s still bleeding after 5-10 minutes, you should head to your nearest ER for assistance.

How You Should Handle a Cut Lip, Cheek, or Tongue: Gently clean the area with a wet washcloth or carefully rinse your mouth out. You can apply pressure to the area to stop the bleeding. If needed, you can take over-the-counter pain medication and use a cold compress to further ease your discomfort.

Something Stuck Between Teeth

Is Having Something Stuck Between the Teeth an Emergency? Even for people without braces, it is pretty common for food to get stuck between their teeth. This issue is even more frequent among orthodontic patients. It is important to remove any stuck objects because failing to do so can cause discomfort. It may also increase your risk of dental decay, bad breath, and other oral health issues.

How You Should Handle Something Stuck Between Your Teeth: First, try to dislodge the food debris by vigorously swishing warm water around your mouth. If that does not work, you can use floss, an OrthoPick, or an interdental brush to try to push the object out of place. You should never try to poke the debris out of place with something sharp, like a knife or toothpick. If your efforts to remove the object are unsuccessful, give us a call so we can assist you.

Broken/Lost Aligner or Retainer

Is a Broken or Lost Aligner or Retainer an Emergency? While a broken or lost aligner or retainer is not technically an “emergency,” it is an urgent situation. If you do not wear your aligner or retainer as directed, it could allow your teeth to start regressing toward their former positions. It could significantly slow down your treatment or even derail it altogether. Therefore, you should contact us within a day or two of losing or breaking your accessory.

How You Should Handle a Broken or Lost Aligner or Retainer: Do not try to wear a broken retainer or aligner; it could damage your soft oral tissues. It might even end up moving your teeth in the wrong direction! If your aligner or retainer is lost, try to retrace your steps. Did you accidentally throw it away? Did you leave it at a restaurant? Could a pet have knocked it off a table?

If you cannot use your aligner or retainer, call us. We may need to order a new one for you. In the case of aligners, we may advise you to temporarily wear a previous one or move onto the next aligner a bit earlier than originally planned.

Loose Teeth

Are Loose Teeth an Emergency? As your braces apply pressure to your teeth, it is normal for them to feel a bit looser than usual. However, if any of your teeth are very loose, you should certainly seek professional care. You may have gum disease or another oral health condition that requires treatment.

How You Should Handle Loose Teeth: Try to avoid chewing with your loose teeth, and do not purposefully wiggle them with your tongue or fingers. You want to avoid doing anything that could weaken the tissues holding them in place.

When you visit us, we can take X-rays and check the health of your gums and other tissues. It is possible that you will need to visit your general dentist or another specialist. You might need to undergo a bone graft, gum disease treatment, or another form of restorative care. Such treatments might slow down your orthodontic care, but they can be vitally important for your long-term oral health.

Emergency Orthodontist - Dallas, TX

Need Urgent Orthodontic Care? We’re Here for You!

If you experience an orthodontic emergency, please don’t hesitate to contact your emergency orthodontist in Lakewood, Dr. Patricia Simon here at Lakewood Orthodontics right away. We can schedule an appointment for you as soon as possible so that the problem can be alleviated. If you are in need of urgent care after hours, please contact our emergency line at:  214-509-8620 . In the meantime, many problems can be solved through temporary solutions until you’re able to reach us. Read on as we go over some of the most important information you need to know about orthodontic emergencies in Dallas.

boy in need of orthodontic emergency care holding cheek

Why Choose Lakewood Orthodontics for Emergency Orthodontic Care?

  • #1 Experienced Team of Caring Orthodontic Professionals
  • #2 Emergency Appointments Available for Existing Patients
  • #3 We Welcome All Ages

What to Do in a Dental Emergency

Girl with braces visiting her emergency orthodontist in Dallas

Some orthodontic emergencies are irritating, and others can be scary. No matter what your situation is, you should seek care right away, even if you are unsure if your situation counts as an emergency. If you are experiencing pain or a broken appliance, follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Give Us a Call Right Away! Whether it’s during the day or after business hours, give our practice a call so we can schedule you for an emergency appointment as soon as possible.
  • Step 2: Follow Our First-Aid Instructions. Over the phone, one of our experienced team members will listen to your situation and help you take the next best steps to handle it until your appointment.
  • Step 3: Get an Emergency Exam. We’ll do everything we can to see you right away, and when you arrive, we’ll quickly get to work evaluating your situation and alleviating any pain.
  • Step 4: Create a Treatment Plan. We’ll review our findings with you and go over what we recommend doing next. We may recommend that you go visit your general dentist for certain dental issues, but our team here at Lakewood orthodontics is well-equipped to handle practically any orthodontic emergency.

The Most Common Orthodontic Emergencies

Orthodontic emergencies come in a wide variety, ranging from minor annoyances that can be handled at home to serious issues that need to be addressed by your orthodontist right away. If you are uncomfortable or worried about your braces/aligners, we encourage you to give us a call right away, even if you are unsure if your situation counts as an emergency. We’ll help you assess your symptoms over the phone, plan your appointment accordingly, and give you step-by-step instructions on what to do next. For your convenience, we’ve gathered important information about some of the most common orthodontic emergencies we treat below so you can learn more about how to handle them should one occur.

Orthodontic Emergency FAQ’s 

young patient wondering about pain with braces in Dallas

When should you visit the emergency room? What should you do if you lose your retainer? How should you handle an orthodontic emergency if you’re out of town? All of these are worthwhile questions to ask your orthodontist in Dallas. Dr. Patricia Simon and her team at Lakewood Orthodontics understand that when it comes to wearing braces, there are numerous questions involved. Fortunately, we’ve compiled some of the most common inquiries in the hopes you will have a better understanding of what to do when faced with a crisis. If you need additional assistance or want to learn more about what to do should you or your child face an orthodontic emergency, don’t hesitate to contact our office.

Why Should I Seek Emergency Care?

Whether it is a poking wire, broken bracket, or serious discomfort, avoiding the problem is never the right solution. Wearing braces is an investment of time and money, so if an issue occurs, it’s in your best interest to have your orthodontist in Lakewood take a look. No matter how minor or serious the problem might be, Dr. Simon can easily identify the problem and work to fix it so that you do not face a delay in treatment.

When Should I Go to the ER for an Orthodontic Emergency?

You’ll be pleased to learn that Dr. Simon is skilled and trained to administer timely care should you face a serious orthodontic emergency. However, there are instances when you should skip the orthodontist’s office and instead, head straight to the ER. If the injury you’re experiencing is causing excessive bleeding that does not cease after ample application of pressure, increased swelling, or you have broken or fractured your jaw, make sure to seek immediate medical attention.

What Should I Do If I Lose My Retainer?

Retainers are a necessary part of any orthodontic treatment. If you want to make sure your teeth stay in place once you are finished with your braces, it’s important that you take proper care of your retainer. However, should you accidentally lose or damage it in the process, you’ll need to contact Dr. Simon as soon as possible. Waiting to have it replaced will only undo the time and money spent to shift your teeth into their new and proper place. By allowing us to quickly replace your retainer, we can ensure your teeth stay in place, and you can continue to enjoy the many benefits of a healthier, more aesthetically pleasing smile.

What Should I Do If An Emergency Occurs While I’m Out of Town?

You’ll want to contact our office and alert us to your situation.  Many times, we can talk you through a solution to get you comfortable until you return home.  In some cases, you may need to find an orthodontist nearby who can deliver timely care. Make sure you let us know so that we can schedule an appointment for you to come in when you return from your trip. It will be necessary for Dr. Simon to check your appliances to ensure you do not need additional treatment to fix your braces.

Will Insurance Cover the Cost of an Orthodontic Emergency?

In most cases, there are not additional charges in our office for an emergency visit. However, lost or broken appliances or retainers will be billed. Most orthodontic policies do not cover these expenses once the life-time maximum has been met. When visiting our Lakewood Orthodontics office, our team will file any claim on your behalf and help you understand any out-of-pocket expenses you might incur as a result. Should you need assistance paying for any or all of your treatment, we are pleased to work with Lending Club should you choose to apply for flexible financing. We also offer in-house financing to make the payment process easier for you.

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