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Listed below are guidelines to assist you in resolving orthodontic emergencies.

• Most orthodontic emergencies are "annoyances" for patients.
• An orthodontic appliance difficulty rarely requires immediate attention by an orthodontist. Please refer to "Specifics" for problems & solutions to assist you with an orthodontic appliance difficulty.
• When in doubt, please call the office number either night or day.
• Wax is helpful. It will provide relief for irritating areas in your mouth to promote comfort through an evening or weekend.
• The office number is covered by an answering machine during non-office hours. So, please leave a detailed message. If your concern is a true orthodontic emergency (for example, if you are in pain or are unable to wait for general office hours), then follow the instructions on the answering machine to contact the clinical staff.
• Don't panic when a problem arises. Most difficulties can be resolved by telephone.
• A helpful home "kit" includes the following: wax, small wire cutters and/or heavy nail cutters.
• Keep and Read the "Owner's Manual" that is given to each patient at his/her banding appointment.

The most important aspect to remember is to avoid panic. Calm and collected thoughts in conjunction with the information given at our office will solve most orthodontic-related problems. If in doubt, please simply call us.

Problem	Guideline
Loose bracket from a tooth	If the patient is comfortable, call the office during general office hours. Wax may be helpful. A new appointment may be scheduled.
Loose band from a tooth	The same as for a loose bracket (please see above). If headgear is involved, stop using the headgear.
Ligature band from a tooth	This can be ignored, unless other directions have been given. If a steel ligature tie unravels and is scratching the cheeks, lips or tongue, try to bend the steel tie back with a pencil eraser. You may also cover it with wax or snip the steel tie with wire cutters and/or nail cutters. Please call the office if you do cut the tie.
Arch wire broken or distorted	If the patient is comfortable, call the office during general office hours. If the arch wire is scratching the cheek, cover it with wax. If you are not successful with the wax, then cut the protruding porting of the wire with wire and/or nail cutters. Please call the office at the time of the incident. Sometimes it is possible to bend the wire gently back into the molar tube (if it has popped out of the molar tube).
Bracket/appliance is irritating lip or tongue	Assuming that no "breakage" or distortion is involved, wax will usually be sufficient. If in doubt, call the office during general office hours.
Headgear is not fitting properly	Stop wearing the headgear. Call the office during general office hours.
The retainer or another removable orthodontic device is poorly fitting	Do not ignore this! Call the office at the time of the incident. If it occurs during non-office hours, please leave a detailed message on the answering machine.
Palatal expansion appliance dislodged	Try to push it back into place and call the office. Wax may help to hold the appliance in place.
Major traumatic injury to face, jaws or inside of mouth	Report to the emergency room. Request, or if necessary demand that an oral surgeon examine your mouth for loose teeth, broken jaw, lacerated lips, tongue, etc. Please call our office to inform us of the incident. If the injury isn't sufficiently severe to report to the emergency room, but broken teeth, loose teeth or lacerations in the mouth are present, please call your dentist and/or oral surgeon. Please also call our office to inform us of the incident. Mouth guards should be worn during sports and other related activities. Please just ask and we'll provide you with a mouth guard.