Dr. Guelff and his experienced team want you to have a comfortable orthodontic experience. We work for you – and we are available when you need us. However, you might be surprised to learn that you may be able to temporarily solve many problems yourself until you schedule an appointment with our office. When working with your appliances, you need to know the names of the parts of your appliances so you are able to identify what part is broken or out of place. After alleviating your discomfort, it is very important that you still call our office as soon as possible to schedule a time to repair the problem. Allowing your appliance to remain damaged for an extended period of time may result in disruptions in your treatment plan.
Issues Related to Orthodontic Appliances
Sometimes, appliances might be broken or bent during your treatment. Yet, true “emergencies” are very rare in orthodontic care. If there are any disturbances, such as loose bands, loose brackets, broken or poking wires, please call our office for an appointment during office hours. In the meantime, here are some helpful hints to remedy some of the problems you may encounter until our office can see you.
- If a tie wire is irritating your mouth, cover it with the wax you were given in your orthodontic survival kit or tuck it under the arch wire with a blunt object like a pencil eraser or Q-tip.
- A loose band or bracket can generally be left in place until seen in our office. Call our office during patient hours, when you notice a loose band or bracket. We will schedule an appointment to reattach the loose appliance, if indicated.
- A broken or poking arch wire can often be bent in with a pencil eraser or cut with nail clippers. Call our office, during patient hours, if you do not feel the problem has been resolved properly.
Direct Injuries to the Mouth and Teeth
Following a direct injury to your mouth or teeth, whether undergoing orthodontic care or not, immediately ice the injured area and contact your family dentist or Dr. Guelff as soon as possible. Usually an x-ray of the involved tooth or teeth is needed to determine the extent of injury. If a tooth has been displaced, knocked out, or fractured, Dr. Guelff will be glad to evaluate the problem. If the appliances are dislodged or displaced, we will need to replace or adjust the appliances as soon as possible, depending upon the comfort level of the patient. However, depending on the severity, you may be referred to another specialist like an oral surgeon, endodontist, etc. for care.
After Office Hours
If an orthodontic problem arises where the patient is in pain after hours, please contact our office at 863-382-2108. Information is available regarding who to contact for further assistance.
