Orthodontic emergencies can be truly unpredictable. That’s why we call them emergencies, after all. Having helped create thousands of amazing smiles in Texas, we’ve seen just about every possible orthodontic emergency there is. More importantly, we’re here to help our patients and their families get through these treatment “speed bumps” and get back to their busy lives with minimal upset. We cover some of the most common issues here, and we invite you to call us if you need help with an orthodontic emergency of any kind.
What Causes Orthodontic Emergencies?
Orthodontic emergencies, though obviously unexpected, tend to happen in conjunction with some common situations. From routine daily activities like brushing/flossing or enjoying a meal to recreational pursuits like sports or playing certain instruments, an orthodontic emergency isn’t always preventable. Emergencies may even occur following the initial application of orthodontic appliances or after an adjustment appointment.
So, while it’s important to be mindful about your braces and to protect yourself from potential injury during contact sports with a mouthguard, some kind of unexpected event will happen to nearly all our patients at least once, and remaining calm is your best first step until you can either resolve the problem or give us a call to help. Depending on the issue, you will be relieved to know that many of these urgent matters can be easily handled from home until you can make it into our office.
Smile & Co. Family Orthodontics Reviews
Best orthodontist ever! The entire staff is perfect!
I had such a pleasant experience visiting this office and would highly recommend them! The staff was all so joyful and welcoming and Dr. Tongco was very thorough and explained everything I needed to know to me. This is definitely a dental office you would be pleased to be a patient at!
Amazing office and doctor! My teeth are straight just as I imagined. Thank you
Very clean, up beat facility. The staff is friendly, fun, and supportive.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If I could give more than 5 stars, I would!I honestly don’t even know where to begin. As a mother of a daughter with autism and an intellectual disability, finding someone willing to truly take the time and have the patience to work with her has not been easy.Before coming here, I took my daughter to about five different orthodontists trying to get her the care she needed. I was told more than once that braces probably wouldn’t work for her and that she may not tolerate them. As her mom, that was heartbreaking because I wanted her to have the same opportunity as any other child to have a beautiful, healthy smile.Then we found Dr. Tongco and Smile & Co. Family Orthodontics, and our experience was completely different.Dr. Tongco didn’t just look at my daughter’s disability and decide what she couldn’t do. She was willing to TRY. She took her time with her, had patience with her, and gave my daughter a chance when other places wouldn’t. That alone means more to me than I can put into words.Has having braces been easy? Absolutely not. When you have a child with special needs, things that may seem simple to other familieslike brushing thoroughly, keeping braces clean, sitting through appointments, and following instructions—can be a real challenge. But Dr. Tongco and her team have continued to work with us through it all.And when I look at my daughter’s teeth now… WOW. ❤️ The difference is amazing. Her teeth are so much straighter, and seeing the progress in her smile makes everything we have gone through worth it.Dr. Tongco gave my daughter an opportunity that several other orthodontists weren’t willing to give her.Thank you, Dr. Tongco, for your patience, compassion, and for taking the extra time my daughter needed. Thank you for believing that she could do this. You have made such a difference in her smile and in our experience as a family.If you are a parent of a child with special needs and you’re nervous about orthodontic treatment, I HIGHLY recommend giving Smile & Co. a chance.Thank you from one very grateful mama. ❤️🦷😁
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Help for Some of the Common Orthodontic Emergencies
General Discomfort
It’s far from the positive, confident vibes you’re going to feel after treatment, but experiencing soreness following the application or adjustment of your orthodontic appliance is perfectly normal. You can expect tenderness in your teeth and gums over the next few days as your mouth adjusts to the new level of pressure exerted by your appliance. To alleviate any discomfort during this time, we recommend an over-the-counter pain medication such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
If your discomfort is caused by gum sores or ulcers formed by friction between your gums and appliance, we suggest rinsing your mouth with warm salt-water and applying wax to any protruding appliance components. We can show you how to do this in the office!
Loose Appliance
When any part of your appliance has become loose but is still attached, place orthodontic wax over any protruding, extending pieces and contact our office to schedule a repair appointment.
Loose Bracket
In the case of a loosened bracket, we recommend that you place wax over the area and contact our office for repairs. If the bracket can be easily detached, simply remove it from the mouth and bring it with you to your repair appointment.
Loose Wire
If your wire becomes loose, you may be able to secure it at home using tweezers and a small piece of dental floss:
- First, pull the wire back into place over the bracket using tweezers.
- Simply hold the wire firmly in position and tie the floss around the bracket to hold the wire.
- Contact our office to let us know of the situation.
If you are unable to secure the loose wire, you can use wax to minimize irritation until you can visit our office for repair. When you contact our team, we may also be able to provide further detailed instructions on managing the situation from home before you come in.
Protruding Wire
When wires become broken, they may protrude and cause pain by poking the gum tissue. In order to resolve this, push the wire down and adjust it into a position where it no longer pokes the gums. You may then place wax over the end of the wire.
Contact our office to schedule an appointment for repairs.
Looking Out for You During Your Time of Need
If you are dealing with an orthodontic emergency, our experts at Smile & Co. Family Orthodontics promises to be here for you! Our professionals make every effort to keep the entire orthodontic process smooth and enjoyable. Still, emergencies happen — it’s just part of the process. What sets us apart is that we have plans in place to ensure that when emergencies do happen, you never feel caught off guard or alone.
You can trust that if you can’t handle the situation from home, we have a team of experts here to get you back to smiling in no time! If you are experiencing an orthodontic emergency, please do not hesitate to give us a call! We will be more than happy to help you.
