There are very few orthodontic emergencies. Most problems can be remedied at home with some of the suggetions below. However, if you have a situation that you cannot resolve on your own, call us as aoon as possible, so we can fit you in for a repair appointment.

Rubber spacer falls out
Wire irritation
Main wire out of pipe on back molar
Bracket loose
Piece of braces falls out of mouth
Swallowed brace
Retainer cracks
Teeth sore
Food stuck between teeth
Cut inside mouth
Tooth breaks
Tooth loose
Permanent tooth knocked out
Broken jaw
Bite tongue or lip
 

If a rubber spacer fall out, take two pieces of dental floss and insert them through the spacer. Then pull on both pieces of floss to stretch the spacer and slide the spacer back and forth between the two teeth where it belongs. When the bottom half of the spacer slips under the tight spot between the teeth, release and remove the floss and the spacer should now be back in place.

If a wire is causing irritation, try pushing the wire away from the area being irritated using the eraser end of a pencil or a Q-tip. If the wire cannot be tucked in, cover the end of the wire with a small piece of wax, a cotton ball, or a piece of sugarless gum, until you can see your orthodontist for a adjustment. Cutting the wire should only be done as a last resort if professional help is unavailable.

If  the main wire has come out of the tube or pipe on the back molar tooth, you may attempt to reinsert the wire with a pair of needle nosed pliers or tweezers. If you are having a difficult time and the wire is not sticking you, place a piece of wax over the area.  If the wire is sticking you and wax does not help, the wire can be cut with a small wire cutter or toenail clipper close to the back of the last brace. Cutting the wire should only be done as a last resort if professional help is unavailable.

If a bracket (the small rectangular brace) is loose or moves off center, in most cases, it will remain connected to the main wire by a little rubber ring that is often colored. You may use a pair of eyebrow tweezers to reposition the brace if it flips around the wire and becomes a source of irritation. Call your orthodontist's office to inform them of your situation.

If a piece of your braces breaks, save the piece and call your orthodontist to schedule a repair visit.

If you swallow a piece of your appliances, try to remain calm. A swallowed piece will usually go either into the stomach or the lungs. Most of the time it will go in the stomach and pass out of the body in a bowel movement. However, if difficulty breathing is experienced, you should seek immediate medical attention. X-rays will be taken to determine the position of the swallowed piece and your physicians will counsel you on your options concerning retrieval of the stray piece.

If a retainer cracks, remove the retainer from your mouth and bring all the pieces to your orthodontist for a professional repair.

If your teeth are usually sore after a monthly visit at your orthodontist and you weigh over 88 pounds, take 400 mg ibuprofen 1 hour before your office visit. Rinsing your mouth with a teaspoon of salt dissolved in a glass of warm water can also be soothing. Placing a numbing agent on your gum such as Orabase - B can also help. If you teeth get sore suddenly in the middle of the month, give your orthodontist a call because it is unusual for the teeth to get sore several weeks after your last office visit.

If food becomes stuck between your teeth, use dental floss or a proxy brush to dislodge the food. It sometimes helps to tie a small knot in the middle of the floss and then slide the floss back and forth through the food mass.

If you cut the inside of your cheek, gums or tongue, apply finger pressure to the bleeding site for several minutes. If the bleeding won't clot, call your orthodontist or primary care family dentist.

If you break off part of your tooth, locate the broken piece and take it to your primary care family dentist immediately. He or she can place a medication on the damaged tooth and can sometimes glue the broken piece back on

If a permanent tooth get loose, call your orthodontist to discuss the movement. A little movement is normal when wearing braces, but if a tooth can be pushed upward towards the gums with just finger pressure, that is unusual.

If a permanent tooth is knocked out of your mouth completely, TIME IS CRITICAL! You must get to a dentist WITHIN ONE HOUR. Pick the tooth up by its top or crown, not by its root(s). Inspect the tooth. If the tooth is clean, place the tooth back into its socket immediately. If the tooth is dirty, rinse the tooth off by jiggling it in a cup off water or milk before slowly pushing the tooth back in its socket. Do not scrub the tooth because the living tissue on the tooth must be protected if the tooth is to survive and recover . It may take 30-60 seconds to get the tooth seated completely into its socket. Often it is best to allow the injured person to put their own tooth back in because they may be more comfortable if they are in control. Compare the appearance of the tooth to neighboring teeth to make sure the tooth is not turned around backward. Hold the tooth in its socket and immediately go to your primary care family dentist. If it is not possible for you to reinsert the tooth in its socket, place the tooth in a container of milk or cool water and carry it to your dentist immediately. If the tooth remains outside of the mouth for over 15 minutes, it will seldom survive. Use cold compresses if there is facial swelling. For more information visit the International Association Of Dental Traumatology.

If you think that you have broken your jaw, immobilize or support your jaw by any means (handkerchief, necktie, towel). If swelling is present, apply cold compresses. Call your primary care family dentist or go immediately to a hospital emergency room. Have relatives bring any picture of your smile to the hospital to aid the surgeons in re-establishing your bite and smile.

If you have bitten your tongue or lip, clean the area gently with a cloth and apply cold compresses to keep the swelling down. If there is excessive bleeding or the bleeding doesn't stop in a short time, go to a dentist or a hospital emergency room.

You may schedule an orthodontic appointment with Dr. William Trepp in his Severna Park, MD office by calling 410.696.4624 or in his Clinton, MD office by calling  301.868.6200. Written inquiries should be mailed to: 69 Robinson RD, Severna Park, MD 21146, USA or 8918 Woodyard RD, Clinton, MD 20735, USA