Emergency Dental Care
True orthodontic emergencies are rare, but when they occur we are available to you. As a general rule, you should call our office when you experience severe pain or have a painful appliance problem you can’t take care of yourself. We’ll be able to schedule an appointment to resolve the problem.
You might be surprised to learn that you may be able to solve many problems yourself temporarily until you can get to our office. If there is a loose piece that you can remove, put it in a plastic bag or envelope and bring it with you to your next appointment. If your braces are poking you, put soft wax on the piece that’s sticking out. If the wire has slid to one side, you can pull it back to the other side with needle-nosed pliers, replacing it in the tube on the back tooth.
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 to your treatment plan.
Tips that can temporarily help
General soreness
When you get your braces on, you may feel general soreness in your mouth, and teeth may be tender to biting pressures for three to five days. Stick to a soft diet until your teeth do not hurt to chew. Irritated gums and other sore spots can be relieved by rinsing your mouth with a warm salt-water mouthwash. Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in eight ounces of warm water, and rinse your mouth vigorously. If the tenderness is severe, take Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or whatever you normally take for headache or similar pain. Aspirin, Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) and Naproxen Sodium (Naprosyn, Anaprox) actually slow the tooth movement, so it is not advisable to use them frequently while wearing braces.
The lips, cheeks, and tongue may become irritated for one to two weeks as they learn a new posture and become accustomed to the surface of the braces. You can put wax on the braces to lessen this. We’ll show you how!
Headgear
Sometimes discomfort is caused by not wearing the headgear as instructed by your orthodontist. Please refer to the instructions provided by your orthodontist. If the facebow (metal piece) is bent, please call our office for assistance. The headgear should hurt less the more it’s worn, so be sure you get in the prescribed number of hours.
Loose appliance
If your appliance is poking you, place wax on the offending part.
Loose bracket
If your bracket or band is still attached to the wire, you should leave it in place and put wax on it if needed for comfort. If the bracket or band can be removed easily, place it in an envelope and save it to bring to your next appointment.
Loose wire
Using a pair of tweezers or needle-nosed pliers, try to put your wire back into place. It is okay to use a piece of floss to tie the wire into place: tie the floss around the bracket in place of the missing colored o-ring. If you cannot put the wire into a comfortable position, and covering the end with wax doesn’t help, as a last resort use a small fingernail clipper to clip the wire behind the last tooth to which it is securely fastened. If the end of the wire is still sharp place wax on it.
Poking wire
Using a pencil eraser, push the poking wire down or place wax on it so that it is no longer poking.
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Latonya Hill2023-09-29I absolutely loved my experience if your someone looking to get braces and arent 100% sure they will help you everyone is very knowledgeable everyone is so nice and pleasant i didn't feel 100% confident in my smile before i came due to some minor issues and after i did my consultation i left feeling more confident in moving forward with getting braces from the staff to the doctors they are all great all smiles all happy great vibe i cant wait to go back to get my braces Im excited and I'm glad i found a great place to help me even when it came down to explaining how much things would cost it was broken down great i highly recommend anyone to go here great place and you wont be disappointed ❤️Laurenton Ghent2022-09-16Braces by Barnes staff including both Dr. Barnes were very professional and down to earth at the same time. They made me feel comfortable and confident about my braces. The process was detailed from consultation to every visit. Well worth the review.Sharon Cooper2022-09-13I love Dr. Ashley Barnes! She’s extremely professional and caring. I love how my Invisaligns. Would definitely recommend her officeTorry Dunbar2022-05-29Everytime I visit Braces by Barnes my experience Is very welcoming. The best experience from a Dentist I ever been to. Everybody is professional, pleasant and eager to address all of my Dental concerns. Very clean place Thank you Braces by BarnesEricka Oliver2022-05-27I’m not sure why they only have 4.7 stars, because they definitely deserve 5 stars. The environment is amazing. Everyone is friendly which makes your experience even better. You feel more at home then at a dental appointment. The facility is very clean and the staff is just amazing. The prices are affordable, an they work with you with no hassle. My mouth was shaped like a horse because how far my teeth stuck out an now my mouth is shaped like a human mouth. Lbvs. I refer them to everyone looking to get corrections. If your looking for a place to call your orthodontist to home, stop looking an join the Barnes family.Wendy Embry2022-05-26Friendly! Accommodating! Professional! Everyone here is so nice and the office is very clean!
