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Frisco, TX 75035
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Prosper, TX 75078
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Emergency Orthodontist Prosper & Frisco

Urgent Care for Your Braces

Two teens with braces smiling
Woman in office who needs emergency orthodontist in Frisco

Actual orthodontic emergencies are very rare, but when they do occur, we are available to help. Oftentimes, patients can temporarily solve many orthodontic issues themselves until they can get to our office. After alleviating any discomfort, it is still important to call our orthodontic office in Frisco or Prosper to see if we need to schedule a time to repair the issue. Keep reading to learn how to handle some of the most common orthodontic emergencies and the best way to prevent them in the first place.

Why Choose Buchwald Orthodontics for Emergency Dental Care?

  • Two Convenient Locations in Frisco & Prosper
  • Board-Certified Orthodontist
  • Convenient Hours & Friendly Team

 

What to Do in an Orthodontic Emergency

patient having dental emergency
  • Call us right away. Time is of the essence in any emergency. If you contact us right away, we can schedule you for a same-day appointment in our Frisco or Prosper orthodontic office and work quickly to get your orthodontic treatment back on the right track.
  • Follow instructions until you reach us. Over the phone, an experienced team member will explain how you can manage your situation until you get to our office.
  • See Dr. Buchwald for an emergency exam. When you get to our office, Dr. Buchwald will see you right away to identify the cause of your emergency and relieve any pain you have.
  • Get the care you need. Following your exam, Dr. Buchwald will review his findings with you and recommend a custom treatment plan to get your smile back to normal. He may be able to completely address the issue right away, but if needed, you’ll have to schedule a follow-up appointment.

 

The Most Common Orthodontic Emergencies

Orthodontic emergencies may be a rare occurrence, but it helps if you know what to do in the event that one happens. Here are some ways you can make yourself more comfortable at home until you can visit Dr. Buchwald:

How to Prevent Orthodontic Emergencies

Fortunately, orthodontic emergencies aren’t too common. That said, it’s possible for a bracket to break or an aligner to crack without the right best practices in place. With this in mind, here are some steps you can take to minimize your risk:

Protect Your Mouth During Sports

If you participate in sports or physical activity, be sure that you’re wearing a mouthguard – even if it’s a non-contact one like riding your bike or lifting weights. That way, your braces (and your teeth!) are protected from impact from a bad fall, consistent clenching, or an accidental elbow to your face.

Note: The mouthguard you wore previously may not accommodate your braces. If that’s the case, let us know! We can have one made to protect your teeth and mouth from injury.

Prioritize Good Dental Care Habits

To put it simply, keeping your smile decay and infection-free will lower your risk of an emergency. So, it’s important that you commit to good dental care habits while you have braces, like brushing twice a day and flossing every night before bed. If you’re having trouble cleaning around the brackets and wires, let us know! We can share helpful recommendations, like using an interproximal toothbrush and pre-threaded floss.

Follow the Treatment Guidelines

Remember to follow all of our instructions regarding care for your orthodontics. For example, if rubber bands are involved in your treatment, wear them as directed. Or, if you’re using clear aligners to straighten your teeth, always care for them in a soft, safe, and clean area.

Avoid Crunchy and Sticky Foods

Whether you have traditional braces or clear aligners, it’s important that you are mindful of what you eat. After all, some foods (like the ones that are loaded with sugar) can quickly lead to tooth decay, bringing your orthodontic treatment to a temporary stop in the process. Conversely, bananas, plain yogurt, and other nutrient-dense foods can help keep your smile healthy without risking a chipped tooth, broken bracket, or loose wire.

Break Bad Habits

Habits like biting your nails, using your teeth to remove plastic wrapping, and chewing on ice cubes may seem harmless. However, they can quickly damage your teeth and your braces. So, it’s important that you stop before that happens.

If you have any questions, or if you think you need same-day care, don’t hesitate to contact our emergency orthodontist in Frisco or Prosper today.

Orthodontic Emergency FAQs 

Close-up of young boy’s teeth with braces

Do you already have a plan in mind for when braces break? It’s a good idea to take the time to talk to Dr. Buchwald during your regular orthodontic appointments so that you can ask about potential emergencies that you might have to deal with in the future. The more you know, the easier it will be to take action when you need to! Let us know if you have any concerns that aren’t covered below.

What Happens If an Orthodontic Emergency is Ignored?

Emergency or not, leaving any orthodontic issue alone for too long will cause the problem to grow worse; in the end, it will end up making your treatment more complicated than it needs to be. Damaged or lost brackets and bands, for example, should be repaired or reattached as soon as possible. Otherwise, you’ll likely extend the amount of time you need to wear your braces.  And of course, you won’t find relief from any pain that your emergency is causing you until you visit your emergency orthodontist in Frisco or Prosper. In short, you should never make the mistake of ignoring your orthodontic emergency; call Dr. Buchwald as soon as you can.

Is It an Emergency If Something is Caught in My Braces?

Every once in a while, a bit of food or debris might become trapped in the brackets and wires that make up your braces. As uncomfortable as this situation can be, it’s rarely considered an emergency. All you need is a piece of dental floss with a knot tied to it. Thread it carefully between the wire and teeth, then gently move it back and forth. The knot should push the food out harmlessly. However, in the event that something is caught in your braces that you don’t feel you can safely remove on your own, you should get in touch with Buchwald Orthodontics; we can help you figure out your next steps over the phone.

What Happens If I Develop a Cavity While Wearing Braces?

We will give you tips for brushing and flossing while wearing braces, but even if you follow our directions perfectly, tooth decay could still occur despite your best efforts. While occasionally it might be possible to have a cavity filled while the brackets and wires are still in your mouth, in many situations it simply won’t be possible to place a filling without first removing your braces. Needless to say, this will extend your overall treatment time, so pay especially close attention to your oral hygiene habits during your orthodontic treatment.

Should I Try to Fix Braces on My Own?

It’s never a good idea to try repairing an orthodontic appliance at home. There are steps you can take to try and limit the damage – such as covering loose parts with wax or moving wires so that they don’t damage your gums – but as far as actual repairs go, it simply isn’t worth the risk; leave it to Dr. Buchwald to find a permanent solution for your orthodontic emergency.

More to Explore

Treatments Invisalign Braces

Toothache

Is a toothache an emergency? During any type of orthodontic treatment, it’s completely normal to feel some level of dental pain. For the first few days after getting your braces or advancing to a new set of aligners, your mouth will likely feel achy or sore. Your situation is only considered a dental emergency if you notice any of the following symptoms:

  • Persistent or worsening pain
  • A tooth is starting to look discolored
  • Sharp pain when biting down
  • Lingering sensitivity

How you should handle toothaches: Contact us right away if your tooth pain hasn’t gone away after several days. We’ll see you as quickly as possible to assess the situation and determine what’s causing your pain. Based on our evaluation, we may ask you to visit your regular dentist for treatment. In the meantime, you can ease your discomfort with over-the-counter pain medication and cold compresses. Rinsing your mouth with salt water can also help kill any bacteria from a potential infection.

Loose Bracket or Wire

Is a loose bracket or wire an emergency? This type of emergency doesn’t typically cause pain, which is why it doesn’t require urgent care. Of course, it’s still a good idea to address the issue as soon as possible to ensure your orthodontic treatment stays on track. Give us a call to schedule an emergency appointment at your earliest convenience.

How you should handle a loose bracket or wire: If your bracket or wire completely falls off, do your best to find and bring it with you to your appointment. On the other hand, you can try to hold it in place with orthodontic wax if possible. Rest assured – we’re usually able to reattach it and restabilize your orthodontics right away.

Broken Bracket or Wire

Is a broken bracket or wire an emergency? Yes! Having broken orthodontics can move your teeth into the wrong positions or irritate your soft oral tissues. Over time, this can harm you or throw your treatment plan right off track. If you notice you have a broken bracket or wire, contact us right away to schedule an emergency appointment.

How you should handle a broken bracket or wire: Do not try to resolve the situation on your own! One wrong move could damage your braces or even your teeth. Instead, give us a call to speak to an experienced team member. We’ll provide first aid instructions to help you manage your problem until you get to us. You can try gently pushing the wire into a safer or more comfortable position. Additionally, you can cover up sharp spots with sugar-free gum or orthodontic wax. If any pieces have broken off entirely, keep them in an envelope or small container and bring them with you to your appointment.

Protruding/Poking Wire

Is a Poking or Protruding Wire an Emergency?

Yes. Little irritations caused by an errant wire may not seem like a big deal at first. However, this poking wire could harm your soft tissues, cause an infection, and make treatment much more uncomfortable than it should be. As soon as you notice a wire bothering you, contact our office so we can fix the issue.

How You Should Handle a Poking or Protruding Wire 

Until you are able to come in for your appointment, you have several options to protect your mouth and feel more comfortable. For instance, you may take a cotton swab and gently push the wire back into place. If it requires a lot of force, you may leave it for us to handle. You may also want to cover the end of the wire with dental wax or sugar-free gum to keep it from puncturing your soft tissues.

Mouth Sores/Irritation

Are Mouth Sores or Irritation an Emergency? 

With modern braces, treatment is more comfortable than ever before! As a result, soft tissue irritation from the brackets and wires is less common these days, but it’s not necessarily abnormal, especially right at first. This type of reaction is not considered an orthodontic emergency and can be handled at home—unless the sore doesn’t heal properly.

How You Should Handle Mouth Sores or Irritation 

When dealing with a mouth sore, you should be able to handle the situation on your own. First, rinse your mouth with warm saltwater, which will help to keep your mouth free from harmful oral bacteria. You also need to make sure you’re brushing and flossing as you were instructed so that bits of food and plaque don’t lead to an infection. To lessen the irritation, you may also apply dental wax to sharp edges or points that come into contact with your soft tissues.

Broken Ligature

Is a Broken Ligature an Emergency? 

In orthodontia, the term ligature refers to the rubber bands that hold the wire within the brackets. Needless to say, ligatures are critical for your treatment’s success! They may be small, but spending prolonged time with a broken ligature can interfere with your timeline, which means the problem needs to be fixed quickly.

How You Should Handle a Broken Ligature 

Sometimes, a ligature can come off or fall out without breaking. If you run into this situation, use a pair of tweezers to carefully put it back over the wire and metal bracket. If the ligature snaps and breaks, reach out to our team as soon as possible, and we will provide a new one. In the meantime, to protect your soft tissues (e.g., your lips, gums, and cheeks), you may apply dental wax onto sharp areas.

Cut Lips, Cheeks, or Tongue

Is a Cut Lip, Cheek, or Tongue an Emergency? 

Unfortunately, when the soft tissues of your mouth bleed, they tend to bleed a lot, which may make it seem like an emergency. However, most of the time, it stops within 5 to 10 minutes. If you find that you are still bleeding after this point, you’ll need to visit an emergency room because it could mean you have a serious medical problem. Otherwise, you should be able to manage the situation on your own.

How You Should Handle a Cut Lip, Cheek, or Tongue 

Using a clean cloth rinsed with clean water, try to keep the area clear of food and other debris. Apply gentle pressure to the cut to control the bleeding. If necessary, you may place a cold compress on your face to reduce swelling and take an over-the-counter pain reliever to manage your discomfort.

Something Stuck Between the Teeth  

Is Having Something Stuck Between the Teeth an Emergency? Having something stuck between your teeth may not require a same-day visit to our Frisco or Prosper orthodontic office, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t act quickly. If the debris is left alone for too long, it can result in numerous problems, from pain when biting down to tooth decay that temporarily pauses your orthodontic treatment.

How You Should Handle Something Stuck Between the Teeth: Fortunately, there are a few simple steps you can take to dislodge the debris. First, dissolve some salt in warm water and rinse with the mixture. Second, use some floss to gently clean between your teeth. Never, under any circumstances, should you use a sharp object, like tweezers or a toothpick. If you can’t seem to remove the debris, then call us so we can help.

Broken/Lost Aligner or Retainer  

Is a Broken/Lost Aligner or Retainer an Emergency? Remember, pain isn’t the only sign that you need to schedule a same-day appointment. If you’ve broken an aligner or lost a retainer, then you should call our team ASAP. That way, we can provide you with instructions on what to do next before this orthodontic emergency negatively impacts your treatment plan or the position of your teeth.

How You Should Handle a Broken or Lost Aligner/Retainer: One of the biggest mistakes you can make in this situation is attempting to fix your aligner or retainer with super glue. Instead of trying to repair it at home, call our orthodontist in Frisco and Prosper. Over the phone, we can learn more about what happened and give you step-by-step instructions on what to do next. If your retainer or aligner is broken, then you can place the pieces in a clean container for safekeeping. If the damage is relatively minor, we may be able to repair it for you at your appointment.

Loose Teeth  

Are Loose Teeth an Emergency? As your teeth move into their properly aligned positions, they may feel a bit loose. That’s completely normal. What isn’t normal, however, is feeling like your teeth are on the brink of falling out. If that’s the case, then you need to schedule an appointment with our team right away. That way, we can make sure an untreated oral health issue isn’t to blame, like gum disease.

How You Should Handle Loose Teeth: Once you notice that your tooth is loose, schedule a same-day appointment with us. Until then, do your best to prevent further damage to your tooth. For example, don’t wiggle it with your tongue or chew on that side of your mouth. We also recommend taking an OTC pain reliever to alleviate discomfort and rinsing with clean, lukewarm water to help prevent bacteria from collecting around it.