An orthodontics emergency is uncommon but we are here to provide you service.  Call us first when you experience a painful issue.  In general, you may be able to handle many problems till we see you.  Here are common issues that may arise:

Soft tissue irritation/ulcers

You may find that the braces will cause periodic small soft tissue irritations which may enlarge to ulcers over a few days. To minimize this, you need to avoid rubbing your cheeks, lips or tongue on the appliances. Place a small amount of orthodontic wax on the brace and mold it closely to allow the soft tissue to heal more quickly and minimize excessive discomfort for yourself.

Soreness of teeth

After you have the braces placed, there may be some soreness in your teeth and they may feel loose. This nature’s way of telling you the teeth have started to move. The soreness usually goes away after a few days. If you find it too uncomfortable, take an analgesic (preferably ibuprofen – Motrin/Advil or Tylenol) as needed.

Loose Bracket

If the bracket is still attached to the wire, you should leave it in place and place wax on it.

Loose Wire

Try to place the wire back into place with a tweezer or handplier.  If you are unable to do this, use wax to try to secure the wire into place.  A final option is to use a fingernail clipper or small scissor to snip the wire behind the last tooth where it was secured.

Poking Wire

Use a fork prong to push the poking wire down or place wax on the site to reduce irritation.