Orthodontic Emergencies — Marlborough, MA

Toothaches

Is a toothache an emergency? It’s normal to experience some level of pain during any type of orthodontic treatment. After all, your teeth are constantly being guided to new positions! You may have aching and soreness for a few days after getting your braces tightened or moving on to the next set of aligners.

However, if your tooth pain doesn’t go away or seems to be getting worse, you should schedule a visit with your emergency orthodontist in Marlborough. Keep an eye out for symptoms like lingering pain, a discolored tooth, sharp pain when biting down, or sensitivity.

How you should handle toothaches: The first thing you should do is try flossing around the painful tooth to dislodge any debris that may be causing your discomfort. You can also manage your symptoms by taking an over-the-counter pain reliever as directed.

If you’re experiencing swelling, apply an ice pack for 10 minutes at a time. Rinsing with salt water can also help kill bacteria from a potential infection. If none of those tips help, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We’ll schedule an appointment for you at your earliest convenience!

Loose Bracket

Is a loose bracket or wire an emergency? Having a loose bracket or wire doesn’t typically cause pain, which is why it doesn’t usually require urgent care. Regardless, you should still seek help right away to ensure your treatment stays on track. Give us a call, and we’ll see you as soon as possible to address your situation.

How you should handle a loose bracket or wire: When a bracket or wire becomes loose but is still attached, dental wax can cover the area and prevent possible irritation to your soft tissues. If a bracket ever comes off and is no longer attached to your wire, be sure to bring it with you to your next appointment. Any time a piece of your oral appliance comes off, you’ll need to call us and come in as soon as possible so there are no delays in your treatment.

Broken Wire

Is a broken wire or bracket an emergency? If you have a broken wire or bracket, you should contact us right away for assistance. Broken braces in Marlborough require more urgent care than a loose wire or bracket because they can start poking your soft tissues and irritate your mouth.

How you should handle a broken wire or bracket: Do not try and resolve the situation on your own! Doing so could lead to further damage or irritation. You should try and collect any pieces that have broken off and take them with you to your appointment. In the meantime, you can cover any sharp spots with dental wax or sugar-free gum to protect your soft oral tissues.

Protruding/Poking Wire

Is a poking or protruding wire an emergency? A poking wire is something that should be corrected as quickly as possible, as it has the potential to injure the soft tissues inside your mouth. In some cases, this irritation might seem minor, but if the protruding wire is causing significant discomfort or appears suddenly, you should contact us right away.

How you should handle a poking or protruding wire: You can use a Q-tip or cotton swab to gently move the protruding wire back into place. You might also consider using orthodontic wax or sugar-free gums to cover the wire and prevent it from damaging your cheeks, lips, or tongue. Our team will help you put it back into place if you’re unable to do it yourself—but don’t try to force it if you’re being met with resistance, as this might cause further damage.

Mouth Sores or Irritation

Are mouth sores or irritation an emergency? Modern orthodontic appliances are designed to be as comfortable as possible, but sometimes, the brackets and wires of braces can rub up against your tongue, lips or cheeks and cause sores to form.Although this is totally normal and happens to most patients who wear braces, it can still be uncomfortable! That said, unless the sores aren’t healing, they usually aren’t considered an emergency.

How you should handle mouth sores or irritation: If your sores aren’t healing or are becoming more painful, you should give us a call right away so that we can inspect your mouth for signs of infection and put together a game plan to help you out! However, you can help your mouth out with the healing process in the meantime by rinsing with warm salt water, using dental wax to cover any sharp areas of your braces, and following a solid oral hygiene routine at home. Cold compresses and over-the-counter pain relievers can also be used.

Broken Ligature

Is a broken ligature an emergency? Often referred to as rubber bands, ligatures are a pretty important component of your braces since they help to keep the wire in place. If you’ve suffered a snapped or broken ligature, you should contact us.  In many cases, the issue can be addressed during your next checkup; however, in serious instances, such as if several ligatures are missing or broken, there might be an underlying issue that needs to be handled.

How you should handle a broken ligature: If you’ve broken one of your ligatures, don’t fret; they can often be easily reattached using a pair of tweezers. However, if the ligature has snapped entirely, you won’t be able to correct it on your own and need to visit us. You should also pay attention to your brushing habits and chewing tendencies, as there might be something you’re doing that’s disrupting your ligatures.

Cut Lips, Cheeks, or Tongue

Is a cut lip, cheek, or tongue an emergency? When you sustain a blow to the face, there’s a possibility for your braces to accidentally cut the inside of your mouth. Since these types of soft tissue injuries tend to bleed a lot, you might be inclined to think they’re emergency situations. Fortunately, they often don’t require emergency attention; however, if you cannot control the bleeding, you should head to your nearest emergency room.

How you should handle a cut lip, cheek, or tongue: If you have an oral soft tissue injury, the first thing you should do is rinse your mouth, either with water or a lukewarm saltwater mixture. You can also apply gentle pressure to the area with a piece of gauze or a clean washcloth. If there’s swelling, a cold compress can be applied to the outside of the cheek and over-the-counter pain relievers can be taken.

Something Stuck Between the Teeth

Is Having Something Stuck Between the Teeth an Emergency? Having debris lodged between your teeth can be extremely distracting and quite uncomfortable. Although it doesn’t typically necessitate a same-day visit to our office for treatment, it is important that you alleviate this issue before it negatively impacts your oral health. So, if you have tried to remove the debris but had no success, don’t hesitate to give us a call.

How You Should Handle Something Stuck Between the Teeth First, put away the tweezers, toothpicks, and any other sharp objects. These often do much more harm than good, and they can result in an actual emergency if you sustain a soft tissue cut in the process. Instead, rinse with a mixture of salt and warm water. This will help loosen the debris. Next, use a piece of floss to gently clean between your teeth. If the debris remains firmly in place, call our office – our Marlborough emergency orthodontist is here to help!

Broken/Lost Aligner or Retainer

Is a Broken/Lost Aligner or Retainer an Emergency? A broken retainer or aligner should not be ignored. After all, both have the potential to negatively impact the position of your teeth. That’s why we recommend giving our team a call ASAP. Once we have a better understanding of your situation, we can share what steps you should take next.

How You Should Handle a Broken or Lost Aligner/Retainer If you believe your retainer or aligner is lost, try this age-old advice: retrace your steps. Remember, it may have fallen into a small crevice, so make sure to look in unexpected places, like between your couch cushions. If you can’t find it after diligently looking, then give us a call.

As for broken retainers and aligners, do NOT attempt to remedy the situation with super glue or any other household items. Instead, give us a call right away so we can get the process started of ordering you a replacement.

In both cases, our Marlborough orthodontic team is here to help, not judge. So, don’t put off getting in touch. The sooner you do, the sooner we can get you back on track with your treatment plan!

Loose Teeth

Are Loose Teeth an Emergency? As a kid, a loose tooth is exciting. As an adult, a loose tooth can incite panic. As your teeth are being moved into their new and improved positions, it’s common for them to feel loose. It is, however, a dental emergency if you feel like one of your teeth is going to fall out or if you are experiencing inflamed gums or other warning signs of gum disease.

How You Should Handle Loose Teeth If you are worried that your tooth is going to fall out, then give us a call. We can schedule a time for you to come in for an exam and determine if an underlying oral health concern is to blame. However, if your teeth just feel slightly loose from the pressure of your braces, then you can help alleviate that sensation by avoiding extremely hard and crunchy foods, like tortilla chips, raw nuts, and whole apples.