Braces Emergencies

Poking Wire

First, you can try to bend the poking wire with your fingernail or the back of a pencil.

If this does not succeed, the wire should be covered with wax or a piece of (naturally sugar-free) chewing gum or a pellet of tissue or pulp, and then an emergency appointment should be made as soon as possible under: 06172-23456.

As a last-resort rescue, if no telephone is at hand and no orthodontist can be reached for miles, it is possible to try to shorten the end of the wire with a pair of fingernail clippers.

We will gladly lend you a set of pliers and show you its handling in a case of braces emergency.

Loose Bracket

If a bracket has detached from the tooth, but the bow is fixed well, leave everything as it is. When brushing your teeth, please move the loose bracket along the bow so that you can clean the part underneath properly.

Please arrange an emergency appointment as soon as possible under: 06172-23456 in order to fix the loose bracket again.

Retainer with Loose Glue Point

Oh dear, a quick relapse is imminent. Please arrange an emergency appointment as soon as possible under: 06172-23456.
If you wear an additional removable retainer: Please do not panic! Simply wear these braces every night until you will have your next appointment at our orthodontic practice.

Loose Band

If a band has detached from the tooth, but the bow is still fixed well, leave everything as it is. When brushing your teeth, please move the loose band upwards so that you can also clean its inside and slide it back onto the tooth after cleaning.

Please arrange an emergency appointment as soon as possible under: 06172-23456 to fix the band again.

Fixed Braces or Parts of them Loosen

Without connection to the wire

Please keep all the parts (especially those patients with lingual appliances) and bring them along to your emergency appointment (phone: 06172-23456), in order to fix your braces safely.

Bow Slipped out

Try using your fingers or tweezers to push the loose bow back into one of the tubes on the band. If this does not succeed and the bow is bothersome, the poking end should be covered with wax or a piece of (naturally sugar-free) chewing gum or a pellet of tissue or pulp. Please make an emergency appointment under: 06172-23456 as soon as possible. As a last chance, if no telephone is at hand and there is no orthodontist to reach for miles, one can try to shorten the end of the wire with a pair of fingernail clippers.

Palatal Bow

If, exceptionally, the otherwise secured palatal bow has loosened, it can often be reinserted into its lock with your fingers.
If the palatal bow is really bothersome or both sides are loose, please arrange an emergency appointment as soon as possible under: 06172-23456.

Lost Ligature

Please inform your orthodontist or one of our assistants at the next visit. If a tooth starts moving, please arrange an emergency appointment as soon as possible under: 06172-23456 in order to fix the ligature again.

Lost Separator

First of all, you can try to thread the small rubber ring on two pieces of floss and then carefully replace it where it has come out. If this does not succeed, please arrive 15 minutes earlier for your next appointment and inform our receptionist, so that we can replace the separator before the normal check-up.

Discomfort After Adjustment of a New Apparatus or Wire

Sometimes the teeth have to get used to the gentle movement. Especially, when chewing hard food you can feel the tension that expresses itself as a chewing sensitivity. We call these days “soup or yogurt days”, because soft food is more comfortable. If the chewing sensitivity is bothersome despite soft food, you can use a mild painkiller, such as paracetamol (please abide by the dosage instructions). If you have any doubts, please contact our emergency number: 0171-3207878.

Another trick is the rinsing of the mouth with cold water, or the sucking of an ice cube. This will decrease the power of the super-elastic wires for a while. If the complaints don’t stop for more than 48 hours, or if there is a reinforcement of the complaints instead of improvement, please arrange an emergency appointment as soon as possible under: 06172-23456.

Soreness / Aphthae

If, despite all precautions, the cheek or tongue mucosa becomes sore, the healing can be accelerated by rinsing with Kamillosan, sage tea or Pyralvex (application as provided by the manufacturer!). In case of persistent complaints, the covering of the sore points with prosthetic adhesive cream also helps. Simply apply a large amount of the prosthetic adhesive cream to the sore parts of the mucosa – this works fine and even helps with aphthae.

Tooth Gaps

As your orthodontist will explain to you, small tooth gaps in the front tooth area can occur temporarily at the beginning of the treatment with fixed braces. Don’t panic, this is normal and shows that the teeth can be moved. These gaps will disappear in the course of further treatment.

Exception:
Patients with Wilson appliances: If gaps occur in the front tooth area it means that the rubbers are worn far too little. Remember: Wear them 24 hours, change them 3x daily and only take them out for brushing and eating.

Bleeding and/or Swelling when Brushing your Teeth

If your gums start bleeding when brushing your teeth or using dental floss, this indicates a gum inflammation. Our orthodontists recommend: pay careful attention to the removal of all small particles of food and dental plaque. For safety, check it weekly with dye tablets after brushing your teeth and continue to clean the teeth, the interdental spaces and the gums. Additional rinsing solutions are also helpful, such as Meridol to protect teeth and gums.

If a gum swelling occurs locally, please arrange an emergency appointment as soon as possible under: 06172-23456.
Please talk to our prophylaxis assistants in Kronberg, Kelkheim or Bad Homburg. They will be happy to inform you about the latest and most effective dental care devices.

Broken Brace

If in fact a crack or rupture of the removable appliance has arisen despite careful production and attentive use, there are two possibilities:
1. Brace still fits and there is no discomfort – carry on and make an emergency appointment without a hurry.

2. Brace no longer fits and there is discomfort – please make an emergency appointment as soon as possible under: 06172-23456.

Lost Brace

Oh dear, a quick relapse is imminent. Please arrange an emergency appointment as soon as possible under: 06172-23456.