Orthodontic emergencies
True orthodontic emergencies are very rare, but when they do occur, we are available to you. As a general rule, you should call the office when you experience severe pain or when you have a painful appliance problem that you can’t take care of yourself. We’ll be able to schedule an appointment to resolve the problem.
What to do in case of EMERGENCY
You might be surprised to learn that you may be able to temporarily solve many problems yourself until you schedule an appointment with our office. When working with your appliances, you need to know the names of the parts of your appliances, so you are able to identify what part is broken or out of place. After alleviating your discomfort, it is very important that you still call our office to schedule a time to repair the problem. Allowing your appliance to remain damaged for an extended period of time may result in disruptions in your treatment plan.
General Soreness
When you get your braces on, you may feel general soreness in your mouth and teeth may be tender to biting pressures for three to five days. This can be relieved by rinsing your mouth with a warm saltwater mouthwash. Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in eight ounces of warm water and rinse your mouth vigorously. Placing Orabase on the affected area may help; this can be found in a pharmacy. If the tenderness is severe, take aspirin or whatever you normally take for headache or similar pain.
The lips, cheeks and tongue may also become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and become accustomed to the surface of the braces. You can put wax on the braces to lessen this.
General Soreness
When you get your braces on, you may feel general soreness in your mouth and teeth may be tender to biting pressures for three to five days. This can be relieved by rinsing your mouth with a warm saltwater mouthwash. Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in eight ounces of warm water and rinse your mouth vigorously. Placing Orabase on the affected area may help; this can be found in a pharmacy. If the tenderness is severe, take aspirin or whatever you normally take for headache or similar pain. The lips, cheeks and tongue may also become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and become accustomed to the surface of the braces. You can put wax on the braces to lessen this.
Loose Appliance
If any part of your braces are loose it might need to be adjusted or repaired. Place wax on the offending part of your appliance and call us for an appointment.
Loose Bracket
If you notice that one of your brackets or bands have become loose and is still attached to the wire, you should leave it in place and put wax on it to provide stability.
Loose Wire
Using a tweezers, try to put your wire back into place and add wax. If this doesn't help, use a small fingernail clipper to clip the wire behind the last tooth to which it is fastened. If your discomfort continues, place wax on the clipped wire.
Poking Wire
Using a pencil eraser, push the poking wire down or into its original position until it is no longer irritating the surrounding tissue. Place wax on it to alleviate the discomfort
Loose Appliance
If any part of your braces are loose it might need to be adjusted or repaired. Place wax on the offending part of your appliance and call us for an appointment.
Loose Bracket
If you notice that one of your brackets or bands have become loose and is still attached to the wire, you should leave it in place and put wax on it to provide stability.
Loose Wire
Using a tweezers, try to put your wire back into place and add wax. If this doesn't help, use a small fingernail clipper to clip the wire behind the last tooth to which it is fastened. If your discomfort continues, place wax on it.
Poking Wire
Using a pencil eraser, push the poking wire down or into its original position until it is no longer irritating the surrounding tissue. Place wax on it to alleviate the discomfort
FROM THE HOUSE ON THE HILL
400 S 38th Ct, Ste A, Renton, WA 98055 / hello@evergrins.com / 425-255-6008
Mon-Thu 7:30 am – 4:30 pm / Fri-Sun CLOSED
FROM THE HOUSE ON THE HILL
400 S 38th Ct, Ste A, Renton, WA 98055 / hello@evergrins.com / 425-255-6008
Mon-Thu 7:30 am – 4:30 pm / Fri-Sun CLOSED
The goal of phase one treatment is to help the jaw develop in a way that will accommodate all of the permanent teeth and to improve the way the upper and lower jaws fit together. Children often exhibit early signs of jaw problems as they grow and develop. An upper jaw that is growing too much or is too narrow can be recognized at an early age. If children, over the age of six, are found to have this jaw discrepancy, they are candidates for early orthodontic treatment. Also, if children around the age of 8 have crowded front teeth, early treatment can avoid the need to extract permanent teeth later.
When most people think of retainers, they’re thinking of removable retainers. Removable retainers are most commonly made of clear, thermoplastic material that is adapted to fit exactly over the teeth. The retainer encases the teeth in a clear, semi rigid, thin plastic shell that prevents any shifting of the teeth. These retainers are typically worn for a month or two full-time and then night-time long term.
The palatal expander “expands” (or widens) your upper jaw by putting gentle pressure on your upper molars each time an adjustment is made. Your orthodontist will instruct you about when and how to adjust your expander. When you achieve the desired expansion, you will wear the appliance for several months to solidify the expansion and to prevent regression.
