Orthodontic Emergencies | Edmond Orthodontist | OKC Braces
You probably won’t experience a true orthodontic emergency during your time with Farrow & Dewbre Orthodontics because they’re pretty rare.
But, as they can occur from time to time, our Western Oklahoma patients should know what to do.
Dr. Farrow and Dr. Dewbre always wants your treatment to be as comfortable as possible. If you ever experience any discomfort, give us a call to see what can be done for you.
You might be surprised to learn that you may be able to solve many problems yourself temporarily until you can get to our office. If there’s a loose piece that you can remove, put it in a plastic bag or envelope and bring it with you to your next appointment.
If your braces are poking you, put soft wax on the piece that's sticking out. If the wire has slid to one side, you can pull it back to the other side with needle-nosed pliers, replacing it in the tube on the back tooth.
After alleviating your discomfort, it’s very important that you still call our office as soon as possible to schedule a time to repair the problem. Allowing your appliance to remain damaged for an extended period of time can disrupt your treatment plan.
Here are some basic issues that can happen during your orthodontic treatment and what to do.
Stick to a soft diet until your teeth do not hurt to chew.
Irritated gums and other sore spots can be relieved by rinsing your mouth with a warm salt-water mouthwash.
Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in eight ounces of warm water, and rinse your mouth vigorously.
If the tenderness is severe, take Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or whatever you normally take for headache or similar pain.
Aspirin, Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) and Naproxen Sodium (Naprosyn, Anaprox) actually slow the tooth movement, so it is not advisable to use them frequently while wearing braces.
The lips, cheeks, and tongue may become irritated for one to two weeks as they learn a new posture and become accustomed to the surface of the braces.
You can put wax on the braces to lessen this. We'll show you how!
Sometimes discomfort is caused by not wearing the headgear as instructed by Dr. Farrow or Dr. Dewbre. Please refer to the instructions provided by your orthodontist.
If the facebow (metal piece) is bent, please call our office for assistance. The headgear should hurt less the more it's worn, so be sure you get in the prescribed number of hours.
Separators are often used to open a space between your teeth so that bands can be placed on molar teeth. The separators are usually only in place for 7-14 days before they are removed and replaced with bands.
It’s not usual for the separators to become loose and fall out. Don’t worry about losing one but please call our office to see if it needs to be replaced.
Wires can move around when braces are placed, so while it is not common, wires can poke and irritate your cheeks.
Dr. Farrow and Dr. Dewbre suggest putting wax over the wire or pushing the wire down with the end of a pencil eraser to alleviate the discomfort.
Brackets are the individual brace that is placed on a tooth. Should a bracket fall off, please place the bracket in a Ziploc bag and call our office.
If you cannot put the wire into a comfortable position, and covering the end with wax doesn't help, as a last resort use a small fingernail clipper to clip the wire behind the last tooth to which it is securely fastened. If the end of the wire is still sharp place wax on it.
Invisalign: Lost Tray
If you are in Invisalign treatment and you accidentally lose an Invisalign tray, please give us a call to see what can be done.
Everyone's treatment is prescribed differently, and resolutions can vary between patients.
Invisalign: Broken Attachment
Attachments are used in Invisalign treatment to help the tray fit your teeth and help move your teeth throughout treatment.
If an attachment is displaced or broken, the tooth does not move in the tray effectively, which may prolong treatment.
Call us immediately to see what can be done.
At Farrow & Dewbre Orthodontics, we prioritize patient education because you should always know what’s going on with your treatment.
At your first free consultation, we’ll take as much time as you need to help you understand your diagnosis, the benefits of treatment, and the options available for you. Then, you’ll see a totally custom treatment plan tailored to meet your individual needs and smile goals.
From your first visit throughout your entire treatment, Dr. Farrow and Dr. Dewbre will keep you informed of your progress.
The relationship between the patient and doctor is truly a partnership in striving for a common goal: to achieve and maintain a beautiful, healthy smile that will last a lifetime!
Finances should never stand in the way of an award-winning smile through high-quality orthodontic care. Our Western Oklahoma offices offer flexible financing options to fit any budget and we’ll always do our best to keep your treatment affordable.
We also take most major insurance plans and will assist in filing any claims. You won’t have to stress about cost at Farrow & Dewbrew Orthodontics!
Our four locations feature extended hours to better serve the greater Western Oklahoma area.
With offices in Edmond, Oklahoma City, Clinton, and Deer Creek, expert orthodontic care is only a few minutes from your home, work, or school.
Start Your Treatment the Right Away
The orthodontic treatment process involves a series of orthodontic visits to Farrow & Dewbre Orthodontics.
We value your time, and we know you want to make the most of every visit, so once you feel like we've answered all of your questions and concerns, we’ll schedule a time to start your Invisalign or braces right away—sometimes even the same day!