There are very few “TRUE” emergencies while wearing braces, but when they occur we are available to you. If a tooth has been knocked out, severely displaced or fractured, your dentist will have the necessary materials needed to treat these injuries. Please contact your primary care dentist as soon as possible regarding injuries to your mouth or teeth. As a general rule, you should call our office when you experience severe pain or have an appliance problem you can’t take care of yourself. You may be surprised to learn that you may be able to solve many problems yourself temporarily until your next appointment. An orthodontic assistant can make you comfortable if you are experiencing any discomfort. If you wish to see your resident doctor, we can schedule you based on their availability.
What to do in case of emergency
We are here for you from 7 AM to 7 PM weekdays, so please call us at 770.351.7737 so that we can determine the urgency of the orthodontic emergency and schedule an appointment accordingly. Should you have an orthodontic emergency after office hours, please dial the number above and press 9 to page the on-call team member for immediate assistance. Calls received after 7 PM will be returned the following morning after 7 AM.
When you first get your braces, we realize that there is some discomfort for the first few days as your lips, tongue, and cheeks get used to all the braces and wires that are attached to your teeth! This is perfectly normal, rinsing your mouth with warm salt water or taking an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as Tylenol or Advil are recommended to help with this initial discomfort, as long as you are not allergic to these medications. We also provide orthodontic wax to cover braces or attachments that may bother you at first until your mouth tissue toughens up and you get used to everything…then you don’t need it anymore!
Not an emergency! Do not worry about any major changes because of a loose bracket, as it does not have to be repaired immediately. It is only an emergency if it hurts by poking your gums or cheek. Please call during regular office hours and we will schedule an appointment to repair or remove it.
Poking in the back on the ends or some other area: Not an emergency! Using a pencil eraser, push the poking wire down or place wax over the area. Call the office during regular office hours and we will schedule an appointment to clip the wire for you. Wire comes out of one brace (bracket) or out completely: Not an emergency! Call our office during regular office hours and we will schedule an appointment to correct the problem.
Small “donut” like rubber ties are placed on each brace individually or in a connected rubber chain (called “power chain”) to secure the wire to the braces/bracket. Rubber tie comes loose: Not an emergency! Call our office during regular office hours and we will schedule an appointment to replace the rubber tie.
This depends on the appliance that is causing the problem. Please call our office, describe the problem as best you can to the team member. It is sometimes helpful to take a picture so the doctor may assess how we may best assist you. Your doctor (or another doctor on our team) will return your call at their earliest opportunity.
