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77 W Main St #209
Hopkinton, MA 01748 (508) 435-1200
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Emergency Orthodontist – Hopkinton, MA

Fast, Effective Relief for Braces-Related Injuries

Whether you choose traditional braces or a more discreet teeth-straightening solution like Invisalign, orthodontic treatment inherently comes with some discomfort. After all, your teeth are being shifted into a new position! However, the pain from a braces-related injury is something else entirely and can sometimes cause notable discomfort. To get the immediate relief you deserve, take a few minutes to read over some of the most common orthodontic emergencies. Or feel free to  contact our office  to speak directly with our team!

Teen with braces smiling at orthodontic appointment

Why Choose Simply Orthodontics Hopkinton for Emergency Orthodontic Care?

What to Do During an Orthodontic Emergency

a patient suffering from oral pain

When you experience an orthodontic emergency, it’s important to keep a cool head and quickly take the correct steps toward alleviating the issue. Here’s what you need to keep in mind:

  1. Call Our Office – Every orthodontic emergency is different, but no matter what you’re experiencing, our team can’t help until you let us know what’s going on! Most of the time, we can easily assess the severity of the situation over the phone and provide you with a few initial steps to take, including rinsing your mouth with water or applying orthodontic wax if needed.
  2. Set Up an Appointment – If necessary, we can pencil you in for a same-day appointment; however, many situations can simply wait until your next scheduled orthodontic checkup. If we ask you to come in, you shouldn’t wait to do so.
  3. Get the Urgent Care You Need – Once you’ve arrived, our top priority becomes treating your situation and getting your orthodontic treatment back on track. Whether it’s a broken bracket, protruding wire, or any other type of scenario, we’ll be able to handle it and alleviate any discomfort you might be feeling. In some cases, a follow-up appointment may be necessary, and we’ll be sure to inform you when you’ll need to come back.

The Most Common Orthodontic Emergencies

It’s possible that your situation might not seem very urgent, but it’s still worth contacting us whenever you experience a complication with your orthodontic treatment. Even though a good number of orthodontic emergencies can be handled at home with our assistance over the phone, you should never leave anything up to chance or try to go about things your own way! Here’s a little more about some of the most common orthodontic emergencies that patients encounter, and how they’re generally treated:

Understanding the Cost of Orthodontic Emergencies

a person discussing payment with their orthodontist

Experiencing any type of emergency can be scary—but you should never have to worry about the cost of care when you’re enduring an orthodontic emergency; you already have enough on your plate! That said, no two orthodontic emergencies are exactly the same, meaning that we can’t provide you with a precise cost estimate until you’ve come in for an examination.

Once you’re here, our team will work to quickly analyze the problem and come up with an appropriate treatment plan along with the associated costs. We’re thrilled to accept most major insurance plans and providers, including Medicaid. We’re also pleased to offer affordable financing through CareCredit, a third-party financer that allows qualifying patients to break up their cost of care into affordable monthly installments. Finally, we’re also excited to announce our in-house Preferred Plan, which grants members the peace of mind of never having to worry about the cost of something like a lost retainer or aligner. To learn more about your options , don’t hesitate to contact our team for assistance.

Keys to Preventing Orthodontic Emergencies 

a patient with braces brushing their teeth

As with most things in dentistry, prevention is the key to stopping orthodontic emergencies from causing delays to your treatment process. To keep your teeth and your braces in tip-top shape, make sure to implement these smart practices:

Avoid Foods That Can Break Your Wires or Brackets

a patient with braces brushing their teeth

If you have traditional braces, then you need to steer clear of crunchy, hard, and sticky foods (i.e., raw apples, popcorn, peanut brittle). Instead, you should fill your plate with plain yogurt, hard-boiled eggs, white fish, oatmeal, and other foods that are both low in sugar and braces-friendly.

Note: If you have clear aligners, it’s still a good idea to exercise caution with hard pretzels, raw nuts, celery, and other foods that have a tougher consistency to avoid a chipped or broken attachment.

Brush Your Teeth Twice a Day

a patient with braces brushing their teeth

Remember, the development of a cavity will bring your orthodontic treatment to a temporary stop. So, if you want to avoid treatment plan delays, it’s important that you brush your teeth twice a day! Make sure to use a soft-bristled toothbrush, fluoridated toothpaste, and an interproximal toothbrush (if you need it) so food particles, plaque, and other debris aren’t left behind.

Tip: Floss each morning and evening; it’s just as important as brushing!

Attend Your Routine Orthodontic Appointments

a patient with braces brushing their teeth

Whether your check-in appointments at our Hopkinton office are every four weeks or every eight weeks, each and every one is important. So, make sure that you prioritize them! In addition to adjusting your braces or seeing how your teeth are responding to the aligners, we will examine your brackets, attachments, and any other orthodontic accessories you have to reduce the risk of complications.

Wear a Mouthguard When You Play Sports

a patient with braces brushing their teeth

Whether you play a sport or you participate in a solo activity, like rollerblading, you need to protect your teeth and your braces with a mouthguard. That way, your chances of sustaining a dental or orthodontic emergency diminish considerably. If you don’t have a mouthguard currently (or the one you have doesn’t fit around your braces), then let us know; we can have a custom one made.

Quit Poor Dental Habits

a patient with braces brushing their teeth

Do you chew on ice? Do you bite your nails? Do you use your teeth to remove plastic wrapping when the scissors aren’t within reach? These are all habits you should break ASAP. Not only do they drastically increase the chances of a chipped or cracked tooth, but they also drastically increase your chances of a broken bracket or loose wire.

Store Your Aligners/Retainer Properly

a patient with braces brushing their teeth

If you have clear aligners or a retainer, don’t get in the habit of leaving them on the table or the bathroom counter. After all, they can easily get knocked to the floor, thrown away, or misplaced that way! Instead, be sure to rinse them with clean, cool water and then place them in their designated case.

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Toothaches

Is a Toothache an Emergency? Throughout your orthodontic treatment, your brackets and wires will be applying pressure on your teeth in order to guide them into their ideal positions. Sometimes, this sensation is similar to a toothache, causing patients to wonder if they have a decayed or otherwise damaged tooth. Our Hopkinton team definitely wants to ensure that’s not the case, which is why we recommend scheduling an appointment if the pain has persisted for more than 24 hours or you have another abnormal dental symptom, like a pimple-like bump on your gums.

How You Should Handle Toothaches If an untreated oral health issue is actually the source of your toothache, then the only way to get the long-lasting relief you deserve is by getting the restorative care you need. Until your appointment, however, there are a few things you can do. To minimize swelling and help prevent an infection from developing, rinse your mouth periodically with warm saltwater. Additionally, don’t chew anything crunchy (such as raw nuts or whole apples) since this can exacerbate your discomfort. Lastly, take an OTC pain reliever as instructed.

Loose Bracket

Is a Loose Bracket an Emergency? The short answer is “yes!” Although this orthodontic emergency doesn’t typically result in a lot of pain, it can negatively affect your treatment in a few ways. First, it can cause your teeth to move out of alignment. Second, it can add weeks or months to the backend of your timeline. That’s why we strongly recommend scheduling an appointment with our Hopkinton orthodontist as soon as you can. This will ensure that we repair your bracket before it results in any lasting consequences.

How You Should Handle a Loose Bracket Naturally, one of the first steps we recommend is calling our team to schedule an appointment. Outside of that, however, you should use some dental wax to cover your loose bracket. This will serve several purposes, including preventing a soft tissue injury, like a cut to your gums or tongue. Lastly, don’t eat anything crunchy, especially near that side of your mouth. This can cause the bracket to loosen further or break entirely.

Broken Wire

Is a Broken Wire an Emergency? Yes, a broken wire is an orthodontic emergency! Similar to a loose bracket, a broken wire can pose numerous problems, including an increased risk for a serious soft tissue injury and the potential for your teeth to move out of alignment. That’s why we recommend scheduling an appointment as soon as you notice that it’s broken.

How You Should Handle a Broken Wire In addition to calling our team and scheduling an appointment, you should place some dental wax over the broken wire to protect the soft tissue in your mouth. If a portion of the wire has broken off entirely, then you should store the piece (or pieces) in a small, clean container for safekeeping as well.

Poking Wire

Is a Poking or Protruding Wire an Emergency? A poking or protruding wire definitely warrants a call to our Hopkinton office. If needed, we can schedule an appointment the very same day to come in and have your braces fixed.

How You Should Handle A Poking or Protruding Wire If the wire is only slightly out of place, the solution may be as simple as placing some dental wax over it to protect your gums, cheeks, and tongue in the meantime. You might also be able to use a Q-tip to gently push it back in place.

Mouth Sores

Are Mouth Sores or Irritation an Emergency? In most cases, mouth sores and irritation don’t require a visit to our Hopkinton office. With that said, you’re more than welcome to give us a call if it seems to be the result of a bracket or wire that’s out of place.

How You Should Handle Mouth Sores or Irritation There are a few things we recommend, starting with using dental wax to cover any sharp edges of your brackets and wires. It’s also helpful to rinse periodically with warm saltwater and avoid spicy, acidic, and sugary foods.

Broken Ligature

Is a Broken Ligature an Emergency? If one of the rubber bands that’s holding your braces in place snaps, then it’s important that you call us. That way, we fix it before any problems occur, like uneven pressure distribution that causes your teeth to move into the wrong positions.

How You Should Handle a Broken Ligature The best thing to do is to schedule an appointment with us so we can provide you with a new rubber band. To prevent this orthodontic emergency from occurring in the future, do your best to follow the treatment guidelines, like avoiding crunchy foods.

Soft Tissue Cuts

Is a Cut Lip, Cheek, or Tongue an Emergency? If the cut has resulted in uncontrollable bleeding or is present in tandem with any potentially life-threatening symptoms (like trouble swallowing), then you need to seek medical attention at the ER or call 911.

How You Should Handle a Cut Lip, Cheek, or Tongue Typically, soft tissue cuts can be handled in two simple steps: rinsing your mouth thoroughly with clean water and applying pressure to the cut with a damp washcloth. If the bleeding doesn’t stop within 10 minutes, seek medical attention.

Something Stuck Between the Teeth

Is having something stuck between the teeth an emergency? Food debris or other particles can indiscriminately become stuck between your teeth, whether you have metal braces or wear clear aligners. Since the teeth are being moved, this is to be expected! Luckily, it can almost always be safely handled at home.  

How you should handle something stuck between your teeth: You have a few options here, but the last thing you should do is reach for a toothpick to dislodge whatever’s stuck between your teeth, as this might cause further harm. Instead, use a mixture of salt and warm water to gently rinse your mouth. You might also consider using dental floss to carefully clean between your teeth. If these options aren’t working, you can give our office a call for assistance. Of course, it’s worth noting that regularly brushing and flossing, especially after meals, will reduce the likelihood of this happening in the first place!

Broken or Lost Retainer

Is a broken or lost aligner or retainer an emergency? A broken or lost aligner or retainer might not seem like a huge deal at first, but these situations warrant immediate action. You should call our office at once; the longer you wait, the more likely your treatment will experience setbacks!

How you should handle a broken or lost aligner or retainer: You should never try to fix or replace a broken aligner or retainer yourself using household materials and items, as it’s a surefire way to cause more damage. You also shouldn’t try to simply advance to your next set of trays or abandon the situation entirely. Contact us and explain what happened – we aren’t going to judge you or make a fuss, but instead, we’ll determine the quickest way of addressing the problem. It’s relatively easy to replace lost or compromised aligners and retainers; these things happen, and we’re ready to help!

Loose Teeth

Are loose teeth an emergency? It’s common for your teeth to feel a little loose during orthodontic treatment; after all, they’re literally being pushed and pulled around your mouth! That said, you shouldn’t panic if you notice. However, if a tooth feels like it’s on the brink of falling out, you need to contact us at once – this isn’t normal at all!

How you should handle loose teeth: You’ll want to be a little extra careful with your loose teeth, as messing with them or overusing them could make things worse. Continue to practice great oral hygiene to help fight off bacteria that might be weakening your gum tissue. Don’t eat anything overly hard, crunchy, chewy or sticky, and opt for softer foods that are easy to chew (which lines up with your dietary guidelines). If you’re very concerned, you can visit our office for a comprehensive examination; we’ll double-check the health of your jawbone and determine if you need further treatment.

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