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We’re Here to Help!
Sometimes your orthodontic appliances might feel a little uncomfortable or parts may become loose, causing irritation to your gums, lips, or cheeks. Don’t worry—many of these situations can be handled at home, while others may need attention in our office. To help us determine how urgent the repair is, please give us a call before coming in. This way, we can schedule the right time to see you and ensure we’re ready to assist.
Our team is happy to guide you through most minor fixes over the phone. It’s rare that an evening or weekend visit will be necessary. If you need assistance, please call us at 608.783.8333, and we’ll help get you back on track!
Discomfort
During the first week after getting your braces—and sometimes after adjustment appointments—it’s normal to feel some pain, soreness, or discomfort as your mouth adjusts. To help ease the discomfort, you can take Ibuprofen or your usual pain reliever. Applying a warm washcloth or heating pad to your jaw can also reduce soreness. Additionally, rinsing with warm salt water three times a day can help prevent and heal canker sores, making the adjustment period more comfortable. Hang in there—your smile is worth it!
Loose Brackets
Had a bracket break? Give us a call the next business day so we can determine if we need to make an appointment to fix or if it can wait. The bracket may need to be rebonded within a week to avoid adverse shifting depending on its position.
Poking Wire
When we are straightening teeth, the wires in the back will start to feel long and can be uncomfortable. Sometimes you can resolve the discomfort by simply moving the wire away from the irritated area with a cotton swab or eraser. If the wire will not move, try covering the end of it with a small piece of cotton or a small amount of wax. If the wire is painful, you can cut it with a nail clippers or scissors that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. If you cannot resolve the wire irritation, call our office for an appointment the next business day.
Loose Appliances
Sometimes a band on your appliance may come loose, or the entire appliance might detach from your teeth. If this happens, please keep all parts of the appliance and contact us on the next business day to schedule a repair. If any part is causing discomfort or poking, apply orthodontic wax to the area until we can see you during regular office hours.
Lost Aligner
If you lose your aligner, please give us a call by the next business day to determine if you are able to move into the next aligner or if we will need to schedule an appointment.
Hooks for Elastics
If a hook comes off, please call our office so we can replace it for you. If this happens on a non-business day, stop wearing your elastics and contact us on the next business day.
