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Orthodontic Repairs

What is an orthodontic emergency?

Something related to your braces or appliance which is causing you pain.

An important key to completing your orthodontic treatment in a timely fashion is making sure that braces and retainers are not broken. A tooth without a brace is a tooth that is not moving the right direction or even the wrong way! This is why we ask that you be very careful with your orthodontic devices. Other consequences of breakage include:

  • Increased treatment time.
  • Longer appointments required to do repairs.
  • Greater number of appointments.
  • Discomfort caused by poking wires.
  • Increased cost if repairs to appliances are required.
  • If a breakage problem is persistent, you will likely be required to schedule a separate appointment to have the repair work done. Additional fees may also apply.

What should you do?

  • Keep any braces or appliance pieces.
  • Try wax to protect sore cheeks and gums. If you need more wax, we will gladly give you more!
  • If you are not in pain, please call the next business day between 8:00 and 4:30. We can then determine how quickly your problem must be solved.
  • If you are calling after hours and your problem is not urgent, please leave a message and someone will respond to your call.
  • If your problem is urgent and a prompt response is required, note that Dr. Dumore's personal numbers are listed on our voicemail messages.

What to do if you have a problem…

  1. Loss of a separator:
    If one of your separators falls out please try to replace it yourself with the help of the handout provided for you from our office. If you are still unable to replace it please call the office as soon as possible.
  2. Mild tooth mobility:
    It is not uncommon to notice mild tooth "looseness" during the course of your treatment. As your tooth loosens from the bone in order to move to its new position, the bone becomes soft. Once your tooth is in its proper spot for a while, the bone will harden and the mobility will disappear.
  3. Wire Poking:
    During the course of your treatment it is possible for a wire to poke from your last brace on the molar. Please place some orthodontic wax on the area and call the office so we can help.
  4. Forsus Rod comes out of spring:
    In this situation you must compress the spring, open your mouth wide and re-insert the rod into your spring. If you are unable to do so, please call the office.
  5. Broken Bracket:
    If a bracket breaks off the tooth it can be left there if is not uncomfortable to you. Please call the office to have it repaired as soon as possible. It is important to recognize that breakages cause delays in treatment. The most common cause of breakages is eating hard or sticky foods as well as chewing on pens, pencils and fingernails.
  6. Broken Wire:
    If a wire breaks in your mouth please call the office so we can give you a new wire. Like the brackets, this usually occurs due to eating hard foods.
  7. Expander is loose:
    If your expander becomes loose please DO NOT continue to activate it. Call the office ASAP so we can recement the bands before food becomes stuck in between the band and the tooth causing decay.
  8. Loose band:
    Please call the office if you notice a band is loose to ensure the tooth the band is around does not decay.
  9. Broken or loose retainer:
    If you lose or break your retainer, it is imperative you call the office immediately. After all your hard work, discontinuing retainer wear will result in relapse of the teeth.

Your well-being is our primary concern. Please feel free to call us should you have any concerns.

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