We reserve a limited amount of time each day so that emergency patients may be scheduled quickly. If you have a problem requiring emergency treatment, please call us as early in the day as possible.
Should you have an orthodontic emergency after-hours or on weekends, our paging service can be reached by calling (260) 414-4455. You will be able to speak directly with a member of our team.
What to do in case of emergency
Call our office as soon as possible if you break or loosen any of your appliances. Please do not come directly to the office – by calling us, you will allow us to create a time to see you. Even if you have a regular appointment scheduled the next day, call us immediately to notify us if you need an appliance repaired.
Loose brackets or bands
Call our office immediately for advice if a bracket or band is loose or broken. If it is after hours please call our office the next business day. The bracket or band may need to be replaced as soon as possible, and we will need to schedule an appointment for you to do so. You may have a situation that requires cutting a wire or sliding a bracket off a wire at night or over the weekend. If you need to cut a wire in case of emergency, you may use fingernail clippers that have been cleaned and disinfected in alcohol. Cut the wire as close to the remaining bracket as possible. This will minimize any further discomfort, until we can get you into the office.
Wire irritations
Sometimes discomfort caused by a wire on your braces can be resolved by moving the wire away from the irritated area with a cotton swab or eraser. If the wire will not move, try covering the end of it with a small piece of cotton or a small amount of wax. If the wire is painful, you can cut it with nail clippers or scissors that have been cleaned and disinfected in alcohol. If you cannot resolve the wire irritation, call our office for an appointment.
Lost separators
Most patients lose a separator during their treatment. Do not worry about losing a separator, but call our office to see if it needs to be replaced. You will most likely be instructed to come to the office twenty minutes before your next scheduled appointment. When you arrive early at your next appointment be sure to let the front desk staff know that you have lost a separator, so that we may replace it right away!
Loose Expander
Call our office immediately for advice if the expander is loose or completely out of the mouth. The expander will need to be replaced as soon as possible.
If the patient is able to remove the expander completely, do not replace the expander yourself. Place the expander in a zip-lock baggie and bring it with you to your next appointment.
Lost or Broken Retainer
Call our office immediately if your retainer is lost or broken. If it is after hours or on the weekend, please call our office the next business day. If the retainer is broken, please bring any remaining pieces into your appointment with you. Often times we are able to repair a broken retainer.
If the retainer is lost we will need to schedule you for an appointment so a replacement retainer can be made.
There may be a charge for repairing or replacing retainers.
Discomfort with Orthodontic Treatment
During the first week after your braces are in place and routine adjustments are complete, you will likely feel some pain, soreness or discomfort. You may take acetaminophen or other non-aspirin pain relievers while you adjust to your new braces.