What to Do in Case of Repair
Sometimes parts of your appliances may become loose or cause irritations to your gums, lips or cheeks. Many of these situations you can take care of yourself, while others need to be addressed in our office. Calling will help us determine how urgently the repair needs to take place. Please do not come directly to the office – by calling us, you will allow us to create a time to see you.
Loose Brackets or Bands
Call our office for advice if a brace or wire is loosened. The brace may need to be re-fitted within a week. You may have a situation that requires cutting a wire or sliding a bracket off a wire at night or over the weekend. If you need to cut a wire in case of emergency, you may use fingernail clippers that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. Please call our office the next business day so that we may schedule an appointment for you. Please remember to bring any broken parts to the office when you come in for the repair.
Wire Irritations
Sometimes discomfort caused by a wire on your braces can be resolved by 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.
Herbst Appliance
If the arms on the Herbst appliance come loose, you may put them back on with the Allen wrench which was provided to you at the cementing of the appliance. The small screw goes into the hole of the band that is around the tooth. Take the arm and attach the Allen wrench in the screw, place in the hole and screw in the arm; it is similar to an everyday screw. If the arms seem to be sticking you can use olive oil and rub it on the arms of the Herbst.
Other Appliances
Sometimes a band on one side of appliances can come loose or both of them could come loose and the appliance may come off the teeth. Please keep all parts of the appliance and call us on the next business day to have it repaired. If it is poking, use wax on the area bothering you until an appointment can be scheduled on a regular business day.
Hooks for Elastics
If a hook should come off, please give our office a call and we can replace it for you. If this is on a non-business day, stop wearing elastics and call our office on the next business day.
Lost Separators
Sometimes a separator will come out before your next appointment. This usually means that it has done its job and enough space has been created. A call to our office on a business day can be made to determine whether it needs to be replaced or not.
Discomfort with Orthodontic Treatment
During the first week after your braces are placed, you will likely feel some pain, soreness or discomfort. You may take Ibuprofen, or what you normally take for pain, while you adjust to your new braces. A warm wash cloth or heating pad may reduce the soreness in your jaws. Warm salt water rinses can be done 3 times per day to help with canker sore prevention and healing.
Please be advised our team will assist you over the phone with most repairs, as needed. It is highly unlikely that a visit in the evening or over a weekend will be required. If you need assistance please call the general office number, 608.783.8333.
