Emergencies

What to Do in Case of Emergencyemergencies

Call our office as soon as possible if you break or loosen any of your appliances. Please do not come directly to the office – by calling us, we can schedule you appropriately. Even if you have a regular appointment scheduled, call us immediately should you need an appliance repaired.

Loose Brackets or Bands

Call our office immediately for advice if a bracket or wire is loosened. The bracket may need re-fitting as soon as possible. You may have a weekend or late night situation requiring wire cutting or sliding a bracket off a wire. In these emergency cases, you may use sterilized fingernail clippers that have been washed in alcohol. Please call our office the next business day so we may schedule an appointment for you.

Wire Irritations

Sometimes discomfort caused by a wire on your braces can be resolved by moving the wire away from the irritated area with a cotton swab or eraser. If the wire will not move, try covering the end of it with a small piece of cotton or wax. If the wire is painful, you can cut it with sterilized nail clippers or scissors that have been washed in alcohol. If you cannot resolve the wire irritation, call our office for an appointment.

Lost Separators

Most patients lose a separator during their treatment. Do not worry about losing a separator but do call our office to determine if it needs replacing.

Discomfort with Orthodontic Treatment

During the first week after your braces are in place and routine adjustments are complete, you will likely feel some soreness or discomfort. You may take acetaminophen or other non-aspirin pain relievers while adjusting to your new braces. A warm wash cloth or heating pad may reduce the soreness in your jaws.

William G. Horbaly, D.D.S., M.S., M.D.S.

  • Charlottesville - 240 Hydraulic Ridge Rd., Suite 202, Charlottesville, VA 22901 Phone: (434) 973-6542
  • Palmyra - 32 Garden Lane, Palmyra, VA 22963 Phone: (434) 973-6542
  • Dillwyn - 15320 N. James Madison Hwy., Dillwyn, VA 23936 Phone: (434) 973-6542

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