Orthodontic Emergencies

Chorak Orthodontics

Most orthodontic emergencies are relatively minor, and you may be surprised to learn that you may be able to temporarily solve many emergencies yourself until you can schedule an appointment with our office.

If you ever find yourself in what you believe to be an orthodontic emergency, the first step is to determine the severity of the problem: is it really a true emergency or is it a less serious issue that you can fix yourself?

Below are three common orthodontic emergencies you may be able to take care of at home, prior to scheduling a visit to our orthodontic office.

Poking Wires: If a poking wire is causing irritation, push the wire back and away using the eraser end of a pencil or a Q-tip. If the wire cannot be tucked away, cover the end of the wire with a small piece of wax or a cotton ball until you can see us for an adjustment.

Loose Brackets: If a bracket becomes loose, it usually remains connected to the main wire by a little colored rubber ring or a small steel ligature tie. Tweezers can be used to reposition the brace if it flips around the wire and becomes a source of irritation. Call our office and inform us of the problem.

Broken Retainer: If your retainer cracks or breaks, remove the retainer from your mouth and bring all the pieces to our office for professional repair.

After alleviating your discomfort, it is very important that you call either our Fairwood or Mercer Island office as soon as possible to schedule a time to repair the problem. Allowing your appliance to remain damaged for an extended period may result in disruptions in your treatment plan.

For more information on what to do in case of an orthodontic emergency, visit the Chorak Orthodontics website.