Orthodontic Emergencies — Cleburne, TX
We Are Here To Help!
Why Choose Hart Orthodontics for Emergency Orthodontic Care?
- Same-Day Emergency Appointments Available
- Compassionate Orthodontist With Decades of Experience
- Your Comfort Is Always Our Top Priority
What to Do in an Orthodontic Emergency
When it comes to any sort of emergency involving your smile, knowledge is power. Being prepared ahead of time will let you react quickly and appropriately whenever an urgent issue with your braces arises. At Hart Orthodontics, we’ll make sure yours doesn’t throw off your treatments plan thanks to fast, efficient, and professional care. If you ever have a problem with your orthodontics and need help, be sure to give us a call right away. Also, remember that you can TEXT our office phone number (817.760.2484) and send us a picture along with an explanation about your concern.
Over the phone, we’ll schedule you for a same day appointment and give you first aid instructions. Rinsing with salt water at regular intervals can help your mouth heal from any cuts or sores caused by your broken appliance. Avoid hard or sticky foods that might make the problem worse. If a bracket has come loose but is still attached to the wire, you can secure it to an adjacent bracket with dental wax (although this is obviously just a temporary solution). In some cases, the bracket might come off entirely. If this happens, be sure to save it so that it can be reattached.
When you arrive for your appointment, we’ll see you right away for pain relief and evaluation. Once we’ve reviewed our findings with you, we’ll either make a plan to fix your orthodontic emergency right here in our office or refer you to your general dentist to treat an underlying issue.
The Most Common Orthodontic Emergencies
In general, if any of the components that make up your braces (such as the wire, the brackets or the bands) become loose or broken, you should make an appointment with Hart Orthodontics right away. Waiting too long to correct these issues could greatly extend your treatment time. You should also call us for issues that are causing pain; it’s normal to feel some tenderness and pressure when you first get braces, of course, but severe discomfort that doesn’t go away is not normal and should be addressed as quickly as possible.
If you have any questions or concerns about your treatment or possible issues that could arise, feel free to call our office. Below, you’ll find important information about some of the most common orthodontic emergencies we treat.
Understanding the Cost of Treating Orthodontic Emergencies
Orthodontic emergencies can be stressful to deal with, but we’re here to help! We aren’t able to determine the cost of your emergency until we examine your smile in person. Once we take a look, we can discuss the financial aspects in detail and put together a plan to keep you on track toward a straighter smile. Until your visit with us, here are some things to take into consideration.
Every Orthodontic Emergency Is Different
It is very difficult to predict the overall cost until we see you in person and determine the root of the problem. For instance, some emergencies can be quickly treated with a quick inexpensive solution, like a new bracket or wire. However, more extensive damage requires more complex treatments, therefore resulting in a higher cost. We will always review all of your options and their costs with you before getting started. This way, you won’t run into any surprises.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Orthodontic Emergencies?
This depends entirely on the details of your orthodontic coverage. This varies quite a bit depending on which dental insurance company you have a plan with. The best way to determine whether insurance will cover part of your treatment is to reach out to them directly. We would also be happy to assist you with this process. Dental insurance can be confusing to navigate, so our team is here to help!
Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save You Money
Some orthodontic emergencies result from unavoidable accidents, but others can be avoided. By sticking to the specific guidelines of your orthodontist, you can stick to your treatment plan and avoid problems along the way. For instance, by avoiding foods that are too hard or crunchy, you can keep brackets and wires from becoming damaged.
As soon as you realize that something is wrong, it is best to take care the of issue as soon as possible. Even if you are concerned about the cost, it’s important to remember that the cost is likely to increase the longer you wait. For example, if one of your brackets breaks and you don’t have it addressed immediately, it could mess with the timeline of your treatment. By addressing the problem now, we can get you back on track as soon as possible!
Keys to Preventing Orthodontic Emergencies
Fortunately, orthodontic emergencies are relatively rare. Of course, if one does arise, you need to know exactly what to do to protect your smile from harm, alleviate discomfort, and avoid delays to your treatment plan. For that reason, we’re sharing some helpful tips on how to prevent orthodontic emergencies right here. If you would like additional information on the topic, give our Cleburne dental team a call!
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
In short, your biannual dental checkups and cleanings benefit your oral health and your overall well-being in more ways than one. During the exam, your dentist will carefully check the condition of your teeth, gums, tongue, and existing dental work to make sure that warning signs of oral cancer, cavities, and gingivitis aren’t present. Of course, if they do find anything concerning, they can create a treatment plan to eliminate the root of the problem, improving the look, health, and function of your smile in the process.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene At Home
Taking care of your smile can reduce your risk of tooth decay, prevent stubborn stains, and keep your breath fresh, but it can also prevent delays to your treatment timeline! So, if you want to see the results as quickly as possible, it’s important to implement a solid oral hygiene regimen at home. That starts with brushing twice a day (for a full two minutes each time!) and extends to using an antimicrobial mouthwash to rinse each evening. If you have traditional braces, consider investing in some oral hygiene products to make these tasks easier, like an interproximal toothbrush.
Avoid Foods That Can Damage Your Braces
Although brackets, wires, attachments, and other orthodontic devices are durable, they can break, become loose, or fall off entirely. That’s why it’s so important that you avoid the foods that can damage your braces! A few examples include cashews, whole apples, raw carrots, popcorn, thin pizza crust, and tortilla chips.
Note: See Dr. Hart as quickly as possible if something becomes loose or broken. Your compliance can literally take months off of your overall treatment time!
Wear a Mouthguard During Sports
People undergoing orthodontic treatment can still play sports, but we recommend always hitting the field, mat, or court while wearing a protective mouthguard. Dental injuries are very common during sports, and with an orthodontic appliance in your mouth, the risk of injury to your soft tissues is even greater. So, ask us about our Premium Custom Mouthguards! In case of a sports emergency, be sure to immediately check your mouth for damage. If you notice any loose teeth or broken braces, please contact our office right away. You can temporarily relieve the discomfort by applying wax.
Use Tools to Open Packages, Not Your Teeth
Although your teeth are strong and your braces are durable, both have the potential to break. For that reason, you should never use your teeth as tools. That includes opening chip bags with your teeth, removing plastic wrapping with your teeth, taking off a bottle cap with your teeth, and even holding your keys in your mouth because your hands are full. On a similar note, you should avoid chewing on ice cubes, biting the back of your pen/pencil, and biting your nails.
Orthodontic Emergency FAQs
Should I visit the emergency room first for orthodontic emergencies?
If you’ve fractured your jaw, you’re experiencing extreme facial swelling, or you’re bleeding uncontrollably, then you should absolutely visit the ER. If, however, a bracket is loose, a wire is out of position, or you’re dealing with a similar orthodontic emergency, you shouldn’t go to the hospital. That’s because they rarely have dentists on-staff, so there’s little-to-no chance that an orthodontist will be available to provide the care you need. Instead, we recommend getting in touch with us ASAP to explain what happened and schedule an appointment.
How should I sleep with tooth pain?
If your teeth feel a little sore from the pressure of your brackets and wires, try taking an OTC pain reliever 30 minutes before bed. Patients often find it helpful to sip on cool water and use a cold compress for 10 minutes at a time as well.
Are toothpicks safe to use?
If you have something caught between your teeth or around your brackets, do NOT use something sharp, like a toothpick. Not only can this push the debris further into position, but swallowing a toothpick can be fatal. That’s why we recommend rinsing your mouth thoroughly with clean water before using an interproximal toothbrush and pre-threaded floss. If you continue to have trouble, give us a call – we can help too.
Can I pop a dental abscess on my own?
If you have a pimple-like bump or blister on your gums, you shouldn’t mess with it. This can cause the bacteria to spread further, negatively impacting your oral and overall health in the process. We recommend instead contacting your dental team ASAP to schedule an exam, perhaps even for the same day.
What does chronic bad breath mean?
If your diet is filled with garlic, pickles, onions, and other pungent foods, then tweaking your meals may be the solution. Of course, if you’re struggling with chronic bad breath with seemingly no trigger, that’s a different story. In that case, you should schedule an exam with your dentist and do what you can to keep your breath fresh in the meantime, like having sugar-free mints on-hand.
What Should I Keep in My Dental Emergency Kit?
Just like you have a first-aid kit, you should have a dental emergency kit! Good items to include are gauze, cotton balls, an OTC pain reliever, and your dentist’s contact information. During your teeth straightening journey, you should make a few additions, including dental wax and the contact information of our office.
Types of Braces Pediatric Treatment Adult Treatment Clear Braces & Aligners Orthognathic Surgery Advanced Technologies Orthodontic Appliances Pediatric - Phase 1 Pediatric - Phase 2 View Our Services