Orthodontic emergencies don’t often happen, but it’s important to have a team you can trust with your family’s health for situations when immediate care is necessary. Braces Braces has a team of capable, compassionate orthodontists on staff with years of experience treating a variety of orthodontic cases, from broken brackets to jaw trauma. Our offices also offer the latest in innovative dental technology, so you can be sure you or your child are receiving best in class care.
Braces Braces provides emergency orthodontic care for patients in Atlanta. Our comprehensive services help ensure your oral and overall health and wellbeing.
Common Orthodontic Emergencies
For patients with braces, being familiar with your orthodontist can be a big help if you ever need emergency orthodontic care. An orthodontic emergency can look and feel different depending on the patient. Braces shouldn’t cause pain, but there may be some uncomfortable moments while your mouth, teeth and gums are adjusting to treatment. If you’re experiencing normal discomfort, our office is always available to call but it’s likely not an emergency.
Common orthodontic emergencies include loose or broken brackets, poking arch wires, and general soreness that cannot be relieved with over-the-counter pain relief.
Loose or Broken Brackets
There are many causes for loose or broken braces, but it’s generally an easy fix. If you feel that a part of your braces is loose or about to break, make an appointment to come see our team. You can use wax to hold your hardware in place or, if that’s not possible, wrap it in a tissue and bring it to the appointment.
Discomfort from Arch Wires and Brackets
Discomfort from displaced arch wires or loose brackets can happen. If a wire is poking painfully into your cheek, call us to make an appointment. In the meantime, try placing wax over the sharp wire or using a blunt object like a spoon to temporarily shift it while you wait. Patients can also carefully attempt to clip the wire, but the best thing you can do is come in and have a board certified orthodontist make any necessary adjustments.
General Soreness
Like we mentioned earlier, general soreness is common, especially when the braces are first placed or after adjustment appointments. The discomfort caused by this pressure can be relieved by over-the-counter pain relief like ibuprofen. Other home treatments include icing to lessen inflammation and swishing with a salt water rinse. If the soreness persists for more than a few days, call our office and we’ll set up an appointment for you.
Severe Orthodontic Emergencies
If you’re in intense, unmanageable pain, we recommend making an emergency orthodontic appointment as soon as possible. Serious emergencies should be taken care of immediately. Braces Braces has eight locations that provide a variety of services and we work with patients to get you help quickly, but if our office is unavailable, it’s best to visit the nearest hospital if you feel emergency care is necessary.
Severe orthodontic emergencies include traumatic dental injuries, serious pain, and swollen or infected gums.
Braces and Dental Injuries
If you’ve experienced orthodontic trauma to the mouth, teeth or gums, we recommend receiving emergency orthodontic treatment as soon as you can. Please don’t hesitate to call our office immediately—the Braces Braces team is available, often on the same-day the injury occured. Dental injuries can result in broken, lost or displaced teeth, as well as damaged orthodontic appliances, fractured roots, and more. If your tooth falls out, if possible, try to keep the tooth in the socket or in a glass of milk. This will preserve the tooth until your orthodontist can assess the situation accordingly.
Intense Pain
There is a major difference between general soreness and intense pain. If it can not be resolved by over-the-counter treatment or ice, it’s time to visit our office. Pain can be scary and frustrating—it helps to have a team you trust with your care. Whether it’s a result of injury or a problem happening beneath the surface, if you’re in an unmanageable amount of pain, we recommend making an appointment to see our orthodontists in Atlanta immediately.
Infected Gums
Swollen and infected gums not only cause pain and tenderness, but also have the potential to eventually damage the gums and jawbone if left untreated. Poor oral hygiene is the biggest cause of infection, but allergic or negative reactions to your orthodontic mouthware can also result in problems. There are over-the-counter medications that may help, but we recommend scheduling an appointment for evaluation. If it’s an infection, our team will determine the cause and help solve this quickly.
Contact Braces Braces Immediately for Emergency Orthodontic Treatment
Your health is important. If something seems off, the experienced team at Braces Braces is available to help. When you experience an orthodontic emergency, we’ll do our best to see you as soon as possible. There are often same-day appointments available, and many of our offices offer extended weekday and weekend hours.
Patients can call our office at (770) 222-2322 or contact us by filling out this online form. We recommend calling our office in the event of a serious emergency. Our team is available to answer any questions or address any concerns. We’ll help schedule an emergency orthodontic appointment if necessary, and provide assistance with what to do in the interim. Before your appointment, the best thing you can do is stay calm and manage your pain as much as you’re able to.
There are offices located around the Atlanta area, so you have easy access to the care you need. Braces Braces has eight convenient locations in Acworth, Alpharetta, Covington, Hiram, Atlanta – Madison Yards, Marietta – East Cobb and McDonough.
