Dr. Ann Reopelle wants to make sure her patients have all they need to complete their treatment, including professional solutions during orthodontic emergencies. Patients of all ages can require emergency orthodontic services if their appliance gets damaged.

Whenever you feel you have a problem, you can ask Dr. Reopelle for help, but we wanted to go over a few of the most common cases of orthodontic emergencies so you know what to expect, how to react and to feel comfortable getting help from the best orthodontist Roanoke has available.

Will I Suffer From a Common Orthodontic Emergency?

Unfortunately, there is no way to predict who will have to deal with an orthodontic emergency. So you should keep in mind what counts as a true orthodontic emergency and how you can deal with them.

Pain and Discomfort

Sometimes the movement of teeth can be accompanied by tenderness, especially after a Roanoke orthodontist first places your braces or adjusts them. For minor soreness, you can use your regular over-the-counter pain reliever.

Orthodontics should not be painful. If you’re feeling constant or throbbing pain, please refer to an ER and call your orthodontist, as the pain could be indicative of a more severe problem.

Loose Brackets

Occasionally during orthodontic treatment, you will get a loose bracket. Many of these situations are the result of the wrong choice of food while wearing braces. Many hard foods break into smaller pieces and could help peel away your brackets. Learn more about what foods to eat with braces here. Avoid accidentally swallowing the brackets, and contact your orthodontist for a definitive solution.

Poking Braces Wire

Few things are as annoying as a poking wire. It may happen completely out of the blue, so we will suggest you keep some orthodontic wax handy and use it to cover the poking end of the wire. Call your orthodontist to have them fix the wire.

Fixing Orthodontic Emergencies in Roanoke

These are minor problems that can occur as you are advancing through treatment. At Reopelle Orthodontics, we suggest that you leave your appliance or braces as is and schedule an appointment to see us as soon as possible. You can try some DIY solutions too. Be sure to bring any parts that have detached with you to the visit so that we can reattach them as necessary.

Undergoing Orthodontic Emergencies? Call us at 540-344-2758

FAQ

What to Do in An Orthodontic Emergency?

The first thing we recommend doing is getting in touch with your orthodontist to let them know you’re undergoing an orthodontic emergency. There are several DIY solutions you can try, and they will offer some quick and temporary solutions, but you should still consult with a professional to get a solution that ensures everything stays on track with your treatment.

What Constitutes a True Orthodontic Emergency?

Real orthodontic emergencies are not life-threatening; instead, they’re situations where your orthodontic appliances might suffer damage or when you have a problem that can delay your treatment. Please pay close attention to the most common types of orthodontic emergencies, so you prepare in advance and know how to react.

What Qualifies As An Orthodontic Emergency?

A few recurring situations are definitely orthodontic emergencies. One such orthodontic emergency includes loose brackets that are no longer fixed to their target tooth and slide freely over the archwire. Another situation involves poking wires that can cause mouth sores or slight bleeding as they scratch directly on the inside of your cheeks. Please call your orthodontist to receive information on what other situations qualify as an orthodontic emergency.

How Do You Handle Orthodontic Emergencies?

There are two things you can do. Number one is calling your orthodontist because only they can provide you with a definitive solution that prevents additional complications. Number two includes case-by-case DIY solutions that deal with discomfort and prevent further damage.