Loose Band Or Bracket

Call our office for damage assessment to plan a repair. If your band comes off, keep it in a safe place and bring it with you! If you are wearing headgear or elastics attached to the loose band or bracket, stop wearing them.

Loose Or Broken Archwire

If a broken wire can be removed easily, remove the broken piece. If a wire slips out of its tube, replace the wire in the tube or under the tube hook with tweezers. If the wire still pokes, place wax over the wire. Call our office for an adjustment or damage repair before additional problems develop.

Lost Colored Rubber Band On Brace

There is no immediate need to have this replaced. We will replace the lost rubber band at your next visit.

Loss Of Appliance Or Retainer

Call our office as soon as you can.

Lost Separators

Call our office to evaluate if it needs to be replaced.

Poking Wire

Tuck the poking wire under with a pencil eraser. If this is not possible, cover it with wax or a cotton ball and call for an adjustment.

Irritated Cheeks, Lips Or Tongue

Brackets may irritate soft tissues initially until the tissues toughen (as hands callous). Soft wax can ease the discomfort, as does a warm salt water rinse or Orabase B ointment (with Benzocaine).  Orabase can be purchased at a local pharmacy.

Tooth Soreness

Soreness during orthodontic treatment will occur. A warm saltwater rinse (½ tsp. of salt in a small glass of warm water) will help. Eat soft foods for the first few days. Soreness will end in 3 or 4 days. Tylenol or ibuprofen will help alleviate the tenderness.

Loose Teeth

Loosening is common, as teeth must loosen before they can move. They will tighten following appliance removal.

Headgear/Removable Appliance Does Not Fit

If these appliances are not worn regularly as prescribed, they will not fit properly.  Call for an adjustment appointment right away.

Soft Tissue Impingement, Retainer Rubbing Or Causing An Irritation

Call our office for an appointment to relieve the offending portion of the appliance.

Traumatic Accidents

Use ice immediately to reduce swelling. If the teeth are displaced and don't fit together properly, archwires are bent or soft tissue is impaled on the braces, schedule an appointment immediately with our office, your general dentist or oral surgeon.

If You've Run Out Of Elastics

Please call our office or come by to replenish your supply of the rubber bands that are connected from the top teeth to the bottom teeth. Overall treatment time is lengthened without the use of the prescribed elastics. We can mail you a pack if you wish.