orthodontic emergencies
Orthodontic emergencies are rare, but we’re available if they happen!
If you’re experiencing pain or discomfort that cannot be taken care of with the advice below, please call the office. We can schedule an appointment to resolve the issue.
what should i do if i’m experiencing an emergency?
As always, if you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call 911 immediately. If you experience trauma to the face, visit the local emergency room and follow up with our office.
Orthodontic emergencies that may require immediate attention from Dr. Parikh include fixed appliances (expanders) that have become loose or those in severe discomfort or pain.
during business hours
Call our office to determine next steps. We may ask you to email a photo of the area to ensure we’re booking an appropriate amount of time in our schedule to remedy the issue.
Please do not come directly to the office without an appointment. We may not be able to adequately address the broken appliances.
after hours / weekend
If you are unsure whether you’re experiencing a true emergency, you can email Dr. Parikh a photo for clarification - please include the patient’s name!
Alternatively, you can call the office. To leave a message for Dr. Parikh, press 2. For major emergencies, press 3 to be connected directly to the doctor on-call.
Weekend emergency visits are typically comfort appointments. Dr. Parikh can help to alleviate pain but will likely recommend a follow-up appointment during the week to address and fix the issue.
common orthodontic issues
loose bracket
Loose brackets usually remain attached to the wire. Tweezers or the back of a pen/pencil can be used to reposition the bracket if it flips over the wire.
Please call our office to schedule an appointment for repair of broken brackets since repairs of these kinds will take additional time.
pokey wires
A wire can sometimes cause irritation if we are closing spaces, if it slides, or if the last bracket in the mouth breaks. Solutions include:
Tuck the wire against the tooth using a cotton swab or the eraser end of a pencil.
If unable to tuck the wire, a small ball of wax or cotton ball can help resolve the discomfort.
Cuticle trimmers can be used to clip the wire just behind the last bracket.
loose appliances
Appliances that are fixed, such as expanders, need attention if they become loose on one or both sides.
Please call our office to schedule an emergency visit to address any loose appliances as soon as possible.