Do I Have an Orthodontic Emergency?
Wires break, get lost, and brackets become loose. It all happens, but not everything that goes awry regarding your orthodontic treatment is considered an emergency that requires immediate attention from our orthodontists serving Carmel and Greater Indianapolis.
In fact, a fair number of issues can wait to be solved until the next day or even a few days after the incident occurred. The extent to which you can wait after scheduling an appointment will ultimately depend on the severity of the problem.
Here are some examples of and what qualifies more as an inconvenient problem.
Major Emergencies Defined
For something to be labeled a true , the injury typically needs to be severe. These are instances where the help of skilled professionals, like our orthodontists is needed immediately and waiting is not advised.
In certain scenarios, other individuals may also be necessary such as your general dentist or emergency room doctors.
Call our office ASAP if you have:
- An infection that’s caused swelling in your face or mouth.
- A recent face, teeth, or mouth injury.
- Severe or intense pain in your mouth or face.
Above all else, do your best to remain calm. Start by giving our Carmel orthodontics office a call and reporting your symptoms, how you’re feeling, and what all has happened. With that information, we can then assess the damage and take appropriate action to get you the help you need.
Less Severe or Minor Orthodontic Problems
When you’re not in severe pain but an issue has still occurred, i.e., a broken wire, it’s likely it can wait to be addressed. Granted, this doesn’t mean the problem is happening at a great time and you don’t want it fixed.
Dr. Davila and Dr. Hani still ask that you call our office and tell us what’s wrong. We’ll advise you over the phone how you can remedy the situation until we can schedule an opportunity for you to come in person. Oftentimes, common problems can wait a few days if you as the patient don’t have time to stop into our office right away.
Orthodontic problems that are considered “minor” can include:
- Loose or broken wires
- Loose or broken brackets
- Wires that are poking or sticking out
- Lost Invisalign® aligners
- General feeling of discomfort
How You Can Avoid Accidents
One way you can prevent an unplanned trip to our office is to watch what you decide to snack on or eat for meals. When you have metal braces, ceramic braces, or InBrace®, certain crunchy, sticky, or hard foods can damage the components.
Examples of foods to avoid when wearing braces include popcorn, nuts, corn on the cob, raw crunchy fruits or vegetables (eat cooked instead), caramel, and other sticky candy. Of course, you can eat whatever you want with Invisalign clear aligners. Simply take them out when you’re ready to eat and brush your teeth before putting them back in place.
Be sure to also wear a custom-made retainer if you play a contact sport like basketball, football, soccer, or lacrosse. Having your retainer in place over your braces will protect them (and your teeth!) if you accidentally get hit in the mouth.
Contact Our Carmel Office Today
You are completely warranted in your feelings when something with your braces or aligners goes wrong. Whether it’s an emergency or not, know that our orthodontists in Carmel, IN, are here to help. Call WestClay Orthodontics today at (317) 593-1400 to request an appointment and we’ll take a closer look.