Occasionally, a bracket breaks loose or part of the braces becomes detached. Although these problems may seem minor, they can often result in lengthening your treatment time if not corrected soon. Therefore, it is important that you call our office to report a problem soon after it happens. Our office staff will evaluate your needs and advise you what to do.

Wire Irritation

The cheeks and gums may be scratched or irritated by wires during treatment. When a wire jabs your cheek or tongue, gently try to move the wire in place with a pencil eraser. Otherwise, cover the wire with soft wax or a wet cotton ball and call for an emergency appointment. Please do not try to cut any wires yourself without consulting with our office first.

Lost Separator

If a separator falls out within 24 hours, please call our office so that we may reinsert it. If it falls out after 24 hours, take a double strand of floss and slide it between the teeth. If it slides easily, it is not necessary to replace the separator. If the space between the teeth is tight, however, please call our office so we may reinsert it. If the separator falls out within 48 hours before your next appointment, no replacement is necessary.

Treatment Discomfort

Some tenderness should be expected after each adjustment and the period of tenderness varies with each patient and procedure. Over-the-counter pain relievers can relieve this discomfort. Studies show that medication taken ½ to 1 hour prior to the start of the pain can reduce the amount of discomfort you experience. Staying with one medication may also improve relief because of the build-up of the medication in your system. Please take all medications only as recommended on the label or as directed by your doctor.

Lost or Broken Retainers

Retainers are designed to hold your teeth in place. Not wearing retainers as directed will result in shifting of teeth. Please call immediately if you lost your retainer or if your retainer doesn't fit, so another one can be made for you. If you wait too long, often the changes that result cannot be corrected with a new retainer and may require additional braces.