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, call 425-641-3451 immediately to notify us if you need an appliance repaired.
Loose brackets or bands
Call our office immediately for advice if a bracket or wire is loosened. The bracket may need to be re-fitted as soon as possible. You may have a situation that requires cutting a wire or sliding a bracket off a wire at night or over the weekend. Call our after hours emergency number first for specific advice on your emergency. If you need to cut a wire in case of emergency, you may use fingernail clippers that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. Please call 425-641-3451 the next business day, so that we may schedule an appointment for you.
Wire irritations
Sometimes discomfort caused by a twist-tie wire on your braces can be resolved by moving the wire away from the irritated area or tucking the twist-tie 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 you cannot resolve the wire irritation, call 425-641-3451 for an appointment.
Lost separators
Occasionally, patients lose a separator during their treatment. Call our office to see if it needs to be replaced immediately or on the next business day.
Discomfort with orthodontic treatment
During the first week after your braces are in place and after adjustment appointments, you will likely feel some soreness or discomfort. You may take acetaminophen or other non-aspirin pain relievers while you adjust to your new braces.
Lost or broken retainer
If you lose or break your retainer, please call 425-641-3451 so we can have a replacement retainer made as soon as possible to keep your teeth from moving. Call us during regular business hours to schedule an appointment.
Loose or broken Herbst appliance
Call us to schedule an appointment to have your appliance fixed. In the meantime, you can try to tie the broken side to the upper or lower archwire with a string or thread. This will keep you comfortable until your appointment to fix the appliance.