Orthodontics Emergency in Sacromento
Let’s talk about how the team at Markham Orthodontics can help you treat orthodontic emergencies in Sacramento, CA.
Fortunately, orthodontic emergencies are not common, but whenever they do occur, you should know we’re available for you. Unlike dental emergencies, these situations are not life-threatening. Still, if you experience severe pain or have to deal with a problem you can’t deal with on your own, you can schedule an appointment with us to solve the problem.
Did you know many of these orthodontic emergencies have DIY solutions you can try at home? You can read more about how to identify and deal with orthodontic emergencies in our blog.
A word of caution for all our patients: if you notice there are any loose pieces that can fall off, you should remove them as they could prove to be a choking hazard. Keeping some orthodontic wax handy is also a good practice because they can help reduce the discomfort that comes from poking braces’ in Sacramento parts. Tweezers and pliers are excellent tools in your arsenal too. Relocate, tuck away, cover, and slide any loose parts that bother you.
Even if you’ve already managed the immediate discomfort and pain caused by your orthodontic emergency, please give us a call and set an appointment at our office as soon as possible for a definitive solution to the problem.
When you let the problem remain unresolved for a long time, you risk setting back all your hard-earned results and unnecessarily extending your orthodontic treatment in Sacramento. Trust us; you should contact us online or call our office at (916) 924-8970 to repair or replace your orthodontic appliance and avoid disruptions to your treatment plan.

GENERAL SORENESS
Braces and clear aligners are not supposed to hurt.
Whenever you get braces installed by a professional, or even after an adjustment appointment, you can expect some general soreness and loose teeth. Your teeth will be a bit tender to the biting pressure and may feel more sensitive to extreme hot or cold temperatures for the first three to five days.
Please remember to stick to a soft diet. Think of old people food that includes purees, soups, rice, pasta, minced meat, steamed fish, and all those goodies. Then, you can go back to eating normal as your teeth won’t hurt when chewing.
As this feeling of discomfort is common among patients, you should keep at hand some over-the-counter painkillers or use saltwater rinses to help with irritated gums and sore spots.
Your friends here are Acetaminophen (Tylenol), Aspirin, Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), and Naproxen Sodium (Naprosyn, Anaprox) to help with severe tenderness. Please keep in mind to let your orthodontist know of every medication you’re taking as some of them could slow down your orthodontic treatment and may not be useful in the long run as you use your braces or clear aligners.
Remember we said you should have some orthodontic wax handy? Well, one of the uses is to help avoid lip, cheek, and tongue irritations after an adjustment to your braces. Our team will gladly show you how to put on that wax over your appliance to avoid any damage to your tissues.

LOST CLEAR ALIGNERS OR RETAINER
What happens if I lose my aligners? As a removable appliance, there’s always the risk that a patient may accidentally lose their aligner trays. A recurring scenario is patients who forget their aligners’ case, go out for a meal, take off their aligners, wrap them on a napkin, and then throw everything away along with their aligners.
Don’t worry; a simple call to our office will get you in touch with our team to find a replacement set of trays and avoid any delays to your treatment. Please give us a call as soon as possible, as a treatment with aligners requires a constant application of force for maximum efficiency.

LOOSE BRACKET
A very real possibility is that, after eating something we told you not to eat (we’re looking at you, popcorn), your bracket may come off from the tooth it’s supposed to guide and slide over the wire connecting all brackets. You can try to slide it to the right position and put some wax on it. If it can come off, you should just remove it and bring it with you to the next appointment.

LOOSE OR POKING WIRE
Another common orthodontic emergency Sacramento residents may experience is a loose archwire whose ends come off at just the right angle and start poking the inside of their cheeks. We know this can be discomforting, annoying, and painful, as they cause mouth sores. You can just push the end of the wire with a blunt object or dab some orthodontic wax onto the ends of the wire to prevent it from causing any damage.
Get in Touch With Your Orthodontist
Orthodontic emergencies can be alarming, but our team is on standby to help you overcome the problem and get the solution you require as soon as possible. Get in touch with us and set an appointment to start or continue your treatment with a team that knows how to help you when you need it most!
Not exactly. A broken or loose bracket is not necessarily an orthodontic emergency. You can try and cover your broken or loose bracket with orthodontic wax, and you should schedule an appointment to see your orthodontist as soon as possible and get your bracket replaced.
Signs of an acute dental emergency can include any of the following symptoms: Traumatic Injury. Infection or Unmanageable Pain, Swallowed Appliance, Food Stuck in Gums, a Poking Wire, Broken Bracket, or an Irritation in the Mouth.