4 Signs You Need to Make an Emergency Orthodontist Appointment

According to one study, about 4 million people in the United States have braces.

If you’re one of those people, there may come a time where you need to make an emergency orthodontist appointment. But what constitutes an emergency?

Thankfully, we’re here to let you know when you should go see your local orthodontist. Keep reading to find out when you need to go!

Loose Brackets

At any point in time, you could have a loose band, wire, or even a bracket. It could happen when you’re eating sticky food or hard candy, but sometimes it could even just be loose and then break.

If it’s causing you pain, you should definitely see an orthodontist. However, if it’s just attached to the wire and a little bit loose, you may be able to wait until your next appointment.

You might want to make one sooner if it’s scraping your mouth or irritating it. In the meantime, you can try using some wax to cover the wire and bracket and hold it in place.

Tooth Pain

However, keep in mind that some pain is okay, especially after you’ve had your braces adjusted. This can make it hard to eat, but you should be able to take some pain relievers.

If the pain starts suddenly or doesn’t go away, you may need to call your orthodontist.

Poking Wire

Sometimes the assistant doesn’t properly cut the wire that is at the back of your mouth. This can cause it to poke your cheek.

Sometimes, you can take a clipper or scissors and cut the wire yourself. You may also be able to put wax on it so that it doesn’t hurt as much.

If you still can’t cut it, make an appointment with your orthodontist.

Broken Retainer

After you’ve gotten your braces off, you’ll likely get a retainer to keep your teeth straight. This could either be a permanent or a temporary retainer.

If your permanent retainer breaks, it may be causing you discomfort or pain. Or it could just be uncomfortable. However, you should go to your orthodontist as soon as possible to get it glued back onto your teeth.

If you break your temporary retainer, you may not need an emergency appointment. However, you should still make one as soon as possible so that your teeth don’t shift to their original positions again.