Emergency Info
The team at Doctor Smiles Orthodontics strives to provide the best orthodontic treatment to patients of our Tucson office. During your visits with us, we do everything we can to ensure your orthodontics treatment is going smoothly and your orthodontic appliances are in good shape.
However, we know that sometimes unexpected problems may occur between visits that require immediate attention and quick fixes. If you experience such a problem, refer to our orthodontic emergency info below.
In Any Orthodontic Emergency:
Call our Tucson office as soon as possible if you break or loosen any of your appliances. Please do not come directly to either office; call first. By contacting us before coming in you will be giving us the notice we need to create time for the orthodontist to see you. Meanwhile, if you have a regular appointment coming up, contact us immediately to notify us if you will be needing an appliance repaired.
Specific Emergencies
Loose Brackets, Bands, & Wires
If a bracket, band, or wire is loosened on your braces, call our Tucson office right away for advice. The bracket, band, or wire may need to be replaced as soon as possible. If the emergency occurs at night or over the weekend and you are unable to get in touch with your orthodontist immediately, you may need to cut a wire or slide off a bracket on your own. To do this, you may use fingernail clippers that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. Please call our Tucson office the next business day so that we may still schedule an appointment for you as a follow up.
Wire Irritations
If a wire on your braces is causing you discomfort, you can resolve this issue 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 it is painful to move the wire, you can cut it with nail clippers or scissors that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. If you cannot resolve the wire irritation on your own, then please call our Tucson office for an appointment.
Lost Separators
Sometimes patients lose a separator during their treatment. If you have a regularly scheduled appointment within a day or two of losing your separator, there is no need to panic. Normally we don't need to replace the separator right away. However, if your appointment is more than two days away, we will most likely need to replace it, so contact our team and schedule an appointment to see if the separator needs to be replaced.
Discomfort with Orthodontic Treatment
During the first week after your braces are put in place and after routine adjustments are made during an appointment, you may feel some pain, soreness, or discomfort associated with your orthodontic treatment. If you do, you may take acetaminophen or another non-aspirin pain reliever while you adjust to the feel of your braces. A warm washcloth or heating pad placed against the face may reduce the soreness in your jaws as well.
Contact Doctor Smiles Orthodontics Today!
Dr. Marisela Bedoya and her team are here to provide all of the information and support you need to feel comfortable and confident throughout your orthodontic treatment process. If you have any issues that require immediate attention, please contact our Tucson office as soon as possible so our staff can help address your problem. We are proud to offer quality orthodontic care to all of our patients and encourage you to reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns.