When you experience trauma to the mouth and feel that emergency care is needed, please call us at (423) 624-8217 immediately. If you can’t get hold of us, please don’t hesitate to call 911. We will make every effort to see you same-day as we always set aside some time every day for emergency issues.
It’s completely normal to experience soreness and irritation for a few days after braces have been placed and after they have been adjusted. Soreness is not an emergency, but we understand that it can be uncomfortable. We recommend a low dosage of painkillers like Ibuprofen or acetaminophen to help relieve discomfort. Being careful with foods during times of sensitivity can help to reduce discomfort as well. Sticking to soft foods like soup, stews, gelatin, and mac and cheese can help a lot.
Braces are made to withstand the intense forces of chewing food, but now and then you might experience some part of your braces coming undone. This is nothing to worry about, and it’s not an emergency as most issues can be easily fixed with a trip to our office. Here are some common issues that can arise with braces.
The ligature band is the very small band that is wrapped around the bracket which keeps the wire attached to the bracket. If the band comes off and you can find it, you might be able to place it back around the bracket with some tweezers. If you can’t find or replace the band, you may have to bend the ligature wire a bit so that it does not poke your lip. Give us a call to that we can fix the problem as soon as possible.
Brackets are the part of the braces that are affixed directly to your teeth, which provide an anchor for the rest of the braces. We affix brackets with very strong dental adhesive, and normally they have no issues staying on your teeth for the full duration of your treatment. If you eat very sticky or hard foods, brackets can come loose. They can also loosen if you take a blow to the face, a common occurrence in many sports. Remember to always wear a dental guard if you participate in sporting events. If a bracket comes loose, make sure to refrain from sporting events and sticky/hard foods and give us a call to schedule an appointment at (423) 624-8217.
The wires are held in place by the bands on the brackets and rarely come loose. When a wire does come loose, it can cause irritation or pain when it rubs against or pokes your gums. To deal with loose wires, use a Q-tip or pencil eraser to bend the wire into a position where it won’t cause your discomfort and give us a call to set up an appointment. When you have braces, it’s always a good idea to keep a container of braces relief wax handy for situations just like this.
Much like traditional metal braces, Damon braces use metal brackets and wires to correct the alignment of your teeth. However, instead of the wire attaching to the brackets using elastic O-rings, the wire is attached to Damon braces through small metal doors with sliding mechanisms. Where traditional metal braces need to be manually tightened, Damon braces are self-ligating or self-tightening.
Straighten your teeth with a clear alternative to metal braces. (For Example: Invisalign®)
Clear aligners are a removable, discreet orthodontic treatment. They consist of a series of trays that you wear for several weeks at a time. As your teeth gently move into position, you start using the next set of trays.
Damon Clear is a type of Damon braces that uses self-ligating brackets. Much like regular Damon braces, the brackets have small doors that hold the wire in place and tighten as your teeth move. However, instead of silver brackets, Damon Clear uses ceramic or clear brackets.
Most issues that involve braces or some other orthodontic device will not be so serious that they qualify as an emergency. At Sawrie Orthodontics, we care about your health and want you to call us immediately if you experience an injury involving your braces or orthodontic appliance.
After you have completed your orthodontic treatment and your teeth are properly aligned, our orthodontist will provide you with a retainer. Retainers are a type of custom-made oral appliance designed to help keep your teeth in their newly straightened positions so that they do not shift out of alignment. (For Example Hawley Retainers, Clear -Essix Retainers & Fixed Retainers)
