Emergency Care

Occasionally, some patients will experience an injury to the mouth during treatment. Dental emergencies while wearing braces or other orthodontic appliances generally fall into two categories.

Emergencies Related to Orthodontic Appliances

Occasionally, appliances might break or bend during your orthodontic care. If there are any issues, such as loose bands, loose brackets, broken or poking wires, please call our office to schedule an emergency appointment. For your convenience and the convenience of scheduled patients, it is not possible to handle emergencies on a walk-in basis. In the meantime, here are some helpful hints to remedy some of the problems you may encounter until you are seen in the office.

  • If a tie wire is irritating your mouth, cover it with beeswax or tuck it under the archwire with a blunt object like a pencil eraser or Q-tip.
  • A loose band or bracket can generally be left in place until you return to the office. Please call Great Neck Orthodontics, when you notice a loose band or bracket. We will schedule an appointment for you to have the loose appliance reattached, if indicated.
  • A broken or poking archwire can often be bent in with a pencil eraser or cut with nail clippers. Call our office, during office hours, if you do not feel the problem has been resolved properly.
  • If you are not sure if you need to come in before your next appointment for a specific situation, you can take a picture of the area in question and email it to info@greatneckortho.com
  • Watch the video below that shows how to handle an orthodontic emergency.

Direct Injuries to the Mouth and Teeth

Following a direct injury to your mouth or teeth, whether undergoing orthodontic care or not, immediately ice the injured area and contact your regular dentist as soon as possible. Usually an x-ray of the involved tooth or teeth is needed to determine the extent of the injury. If a tooth has been displaced, knocked out, or fractured, it is best to contact your family dentist first, since we may not have the necessary materials or anesthesia required to treat these injuries. If the appliances are dislodged or displaced, we will need to replace or adjust the appliances as soon as possible.  After you have been seen by the general dentist, schedule an appointment with us for repairs when the pain is more manageable.

After Office Hours

If an orthodontic emergency arises where the patient is in pain after hours, please contact our office. Please leave a detailed voicemail, as we check it often and will return your call ASAP.