Orthodontic Emergencies

Your teeth may be tender for a couple of days after the placement of braces or following an adjustment. The initial soreness is temporary. Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as Advil, are helpful in relieving this initial soreness.

Occasionally, you might notice mild tooth mobility. This is normal and will resolve once the teeth have moved to their correct position.

During treatment as your teeth move, it is possible that a wire can protrude from the back braces causing a "poking wire". Placing wax on the wire will help keep you comfortable. Call our office, (619) 421-5060, if you are having an issue with your braces such as this, and schedule a quick appointment to have the wire clipped.

The cause of broken braces usually occurs from eating foods that are too sticky or hard. Chewing on pencils, fingernails, or pens can also cause broken braces. Please call our office during business hours to schedule an appointment to have them repaired.

Again, eating hard or sticky foods can cause a wire to break. This is not a braces emergency. If the broken wire is poking, you can take a pair of nail clippers and cut the wire as closely as possible to the next brace it is attached to. Call our office during business hours to schedule an appointment to have it repaired.

If an expander becomes loose, we do not want you to activate it until you are seen. Usually the expander can be pushed back onto the tooth until you can get back to our office.