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Dayville, CT 06241 (860) 774-2008
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Emergency Orthodontist – Dayville, CT

Keeping Your Orthodontic Treatment on Track

Let’s face it; the orthodontic process isn’t always smooth sailing, and sometimes an unexpected broken bracket, snapped wire or lost retainer can occur out of the blue. But these situations are usually relatively easy to address, meaning that there’s no reason to panic! Our knowledgeable team here at Simply Orthodontics Dayville is ready to step in and assist you, no matter what type of orthodontic emergency you’ve experienced. If you or a loved one is being affected by an issue, give us a call right away so that we can ensure that your orthodontic treatment isn’t being jeopardized.

a patient experiencing mouth pain in Dayville

Why Choose Simply Orthodontics Dayville for Emergency Orthodontic Care?

What To Do in an Orthodontic Emergency

a patient with braces receiving emergency treatment

  1. Call our office immediately: This is your first and most important step; we can’t help you if you don’t let us know that there’s an issue! Our team will assess your situation over the phone and advise you on your next steps. Some issues can be assisted over the phone, but we may recommend that you come in for an appointment.
  2. Attend your appointment: When you arrive, we’ll quickly get to work; after examining your situation, we’ll determine if it’s an orthodontic emergency or something that needs to be handled by a general dentist (such as a broken tooth or infection).
  3. Get the care you need: The majority of orthodontic emergencies can be handled quickly during your appointment. You may need to come back for a follow-up appointment if new parts were ordered, such as a new aligner.

The Most Common Orthodontic Emergencies

Even though orthodontic emergencies aren’t usually a common occurrence, it’s still important to know how to identify one—that way, you aren’t delaying treatment at all! Generally speaking, if your orthodontics are broken, missing, causing you pain or otherwise compromised, give us a call right away. Below we’ve gathered some information concerning a few of the most common orthodontic emergencies that we treat:

Understanding the Cost of Orthodontic Emergencies

a patient paying for emergency treatment in Dayville

The bottom line is that when it comes to emergency treatment, the cost of care is always going to vary based on your unique dental needs. That’s why the moment an orthodontic emergency strikes, you should be ready to contact our office, describe the situation, and come in for treatment – without worrying about the relevant finances! Once you’re here, our team can lay out your treatment options and their associated costs. 

Every Orthodontic Emergency Is Different

a teen receiving emergency orthodontic treatment

Truthfully, it’s not possible to predict the total cost of emergency care over the phone – you’ll need to come in and let us take a look at your smile! That said, we will always review all treatment options with you once we’ve gotten to the bottom of the issue. It’s worth noting that sometimes, small problems with braces or wires can be fixed at little to no cost – however, more extensive damage that involves repairing or replacing brackets and wires will likely cost more. Even if your situation seems simple enough to resolve on your own at home, you shouldn't leave anything up to chance – unaddressed problems can worsen and become more costly to handle.  

Does Dental Insurance Cover Orthodontic Emergencies?

a patient being handed a dental insurance form

Dental plans vary greatly from patient to patient; however, the cost of diagnostic care is typically covered. Not to mention, most major procedures receive at least some level of coverage depending on the plan’s policies, as well as the deductible having been met. All of that said, orthodontic coverage can vary widely between dental insurance companies, and you’ll want to review the details of your plan closely before committing to any sort of orthodontic care, emergency or non. It’s also often possible to buy supplemental orthodontic insurance alongside your plan, which would have its own details regarding coverage.

Other Options for Making Orthodontic Emergencies Affordable

an adult with braces receiving dental treatment

Finances should never come between you and emergency care, especially if you’re in pain. However, lacking dental insurance doesn’t mean you’re out of options when it comes to affording urgent, timely orthodontic care. In addition to being insurance-friendly, our practice is also partnered with CareCredit, a third-party financer that helps families find flexible, low-interest payment plans to use for all sorts of services, including emergency care. Don’t hesitate to call our office to speak with a team member about how to make your emergency less of a financial strain.  

Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save You Money

a kid with braces brushing his teeth

The fact of the matter is that it will always be more cost-effective to take care of your smile and prevent the need for emergency care, rather than waiting until a problem cannot go on without treatment. Plus, dental issues like cavities and gum disease don’t just affect your smile’s wellness – they can also prolong your orthodontic treatment. To keep your oral health in pristine condition and to lower the likelihood of experiencing an orthodontic emergency, brush and floss daily, visit your dentist regularly, and adhere to all orthodontic treatment guidelines. You should also avoid unhealthy habits like smoking, wear a mouthguard when playing sports, and stick to your dietary guidelines. These habits may seem small, but they can make a significant impact when it comes to protecting your smile and keeping your treatment right on track.

Keys to Preventing Orthodontic Emergencies

a patient smiling and holding her clear aligner

The truth is, orthodontic emergencies aren’t nearly as common as you may think – modern techniques and technology have made the orthodontic process smoother than ever before! That said, accidents and mishaps can still happen, so it’s best to take preventive measures to ensure that you or your loved one is able to avoid setbacks and painful situations. Here are a few of the best practices you can keep in mind when it comes to preventing orthodontic emergencies.  

Visit Your Orthodontist Regularly

a patient visiting her orthodontist

Throughout your treatment, you or your child will be expected to attend regular check-ins so that we can ensure things are staying right on track. This is important since sometimes orthodontic appliances can sustain damage or need adjustments – by with regular examinations, this is very unlikely to happen, which in turn lowers your chances of sustaining an emergency. We’ll also check for hidden issues like cavities, gum disease, or anything else that would possibly delay your treatment timeline.

Maintain Good Oral Hygiene at Home

a patient with braces holding a toothbrush

Maintaining good oral hygiene throughout your orthodontic treatment is paramount; to put it simply, a healthy smile is at a much lower risk of experiencing dental health issues that might cause treatment setbacks. Do this by brushing and flossing every single day, no exceptions. For patients with braces, special brushes and flossers can be used to make things easier. Additionally, adhere to any specific oral hygiene guidelines relevant to your treatment; for example, if you or your child wears clear aligners, be sure they’re cleaned regularly.

Stick to a Nutritious Diet

an assortment of healthy food

Your diet plays an important role in keeping your teeth healthy and protecting your orthodontic treatment. No matter if you or your child is wearing braces or clear aligners, you’ll want to ensure that, in addition to following any specific restrictions, you’re also making sensible and healthy choices. Skip the sugar and starchy snacks and opt for hearty fruits, veggies, and protein-packed items when possible.

Wear a Mouthguard

an assortment of colorful mouthguards

Do you or your child like to stay active by participating in sports? These activities commonly cause dental injuries, and patients with orthodontics are at risk of all the same dental injuries as patients without braces. Whether it’s a displaced tooth or a broken wire or bracket, you shouldn't want anything to harm your smile or orthodontic appliances. One of the best practices you can establish is wearing a mouthguard when you participate in these sports, or providing one for your child if they’re on the field often. These devices are convenient, accessible, and can prevent a wide variety of injuries.

Don’t Use Your Teeth as Tools

a teen pointing to his braces

One of the worst things you or your child can do during your orthodontic treatment is use your teeth as tools to open wrappers or packaging, unscrew bottle caps, or hold objects. This is an easy way to harm not just your teeth, but also your orthodontic appliances. There are actual tools that exist for all of these tasks – do your smile a favor and don’t put it or your orthodontia in any needless danger.  

Orthodontic Emergency FAQs

What Qualifies as an Orthodontic Emergency?

An orthodontic emergency is any issue with your braces or appliance that causes significant pain, injury, or interferes with your ability to eat, speak, or maintain good oral hygiene. Common examples include a broken wire poking into your cheek or gum, a loose bracket or band, or a lost or damaged retainer or aligner. If a wire has come completely out or you’ve experienced trauma to your mouth or teeth while wearing braces, contact our Dayville office right away. While many minor issues can be temporarily managed at home, it’s always best to let us know so we can determine if you need to be seen quickly to keep your treatment on track and protect your smile.

Are Orthodontic Emergencies Covered by Dental Insurance?

Whether orthodontic emergencies are covered by dental insurance depends on your specific plan. Some dental insurance policies include limited coverage for emergency visits related to braces, like those involving pain, injury, or urgent repairs to prevent treatment delays. However, not all plans offer this benefit, and coverage can vary based on factors like your provider, the type of treatment, and whether the emergency care is considered medically necessary. We recommend checking with your insurance company directly or reaching out to our office; we’re happy to help you understand your benefits!

Can I Fix Broken Braces Myself?

It’s never a good idea to try to fix broken braces yourself. While it might be tempting to bend a wire back into place or glue a bracket, doing so can damage your braces further or slow down your treatment progress, or even harm the inside of your mouth. Orthodontic appliances are delicate and precisely adjusted, so even small changes can interfere with how your teeth are moving. If you’re experiencing a broken bracket, loose wire, or any other issue, call our office right away. We’ll walk you through any steps to take and schedule a repair appointment if needed. In the meantime, orthodontic wax can help cover sharp or irritating edges to keep you comfortable until we can take a look.

What Are the Best Ways to Prevent Orthodontic Emergencies?

The best way to prevent orthodontic emergencies is to follow your orthodontist’s instructions closely and be mindful of how you care for your braces or aligners. Avoid hard, sticky, or crunchy foods that can break brackets or bend wires, such as popcorn, chewing gum, ice cubes, hard candies, taffy, and other similar items. Also, always wear a mouthguard when playing sports, even if it’s just for fun. Furthermore, you’ll want to maintain excellent oral hygiene that prevents issues like gum irritation or tooth decay, which can complicate your treatment. And lastly, do not skip your scheduled appointments; we use these visits to catch and correct small problems before they turn into bigger ones. With the right habits, you can keep your treatment on track and avoid unexpected setbacks!

Toothache

Is a toothache an emergency? Generally speaking, it’s normal to experience some level of dental pain during most types of orthodontic treatment. It’s fairly common to feel mouth-wide aching and soreness when biting down after first getting your braces or aligners or having them tightened/advancing to a new set of trays. However, this usually only lasts for a few days. But if things don’t improve or seem to worsen, or if a tooth is starting to look discolored,  or if you are experiencing lingering sensitivity or sharp pain when biting down, you should contact your orthodontist promptly.

How you should handle toothaches: After you’ve called us, we’ll be able to schedule an appointment as soon as we can to determine what’s causing the problem. We can also instruct you to call your regular dentist if the situation calls for it. We’ll also instruct you to take over-the-counter pain relievers if you’re dealing with pain, and cold compresses and saltwater rinses can also be helpful. You might also try using floss to carefully remove stuck debris if that seems to be the source of your pain.

Loose Bracket or Wire

Is a loose bracket or wire an emergency? In most cases, this type of emergency doesn’t typically cause much pain, and it often doesn’t require urgent care. That said, you still need to have the issue fixed swiftly in order to prevent complications with your orthodontic treatment’s timeline!

How you should handle a loose bracket or wire: If you’ve noticed a loose bracket or wire, don’t hesitate to call us right away! If the bracket or wire has completely come off, you should try to find it and bring it with you. If it’s still partially in place, you can try to stabilize it with some orthodontic wax—the same useful stuff you use for poking or protruding wires! In the majority of cases, during your appointment we can simply reattach the bracket or wire with ease.

Broken Bracket or Wire

Is a broken bracket or wire an emergency? Broken brackets and wires are generally much more urgent than loose brackets or wires, simply because broken orthodontic appliances have the potential to harm the inside of your mouth! This means that you should have it fixed quickly by us—and you shouldn’t try to fix it yourself, as you might damage your orthodontics further!

How you should handle a broken bracket or wire: If you’ve broken one or more of your brackets or wires, you should try to collect any scattered pieces and bring them with you to your appointment. After collecting these pieces, do your best to cover any sharp spots on your braces with dental wax; sugarless gum will also do the trick.

Protruding/Poking Wire  

Is a Poking or Protruding Wire an Emergency? When your wire is out of place, you’re at an increased risk of experiencing a soft tissue injury. So, a poking or protruding wire is absolutely an orthodontic emergency and warrants a call to our Dayville office.

How You Should Handle A Poking or Protruding Wire Until you arrive for your appointment, there are a few ways you can handle this orthodontic emergency. First, you can attempt to push the wire into a better position with a sterile eraser or clean Q-tip. If that doesn’t work, don’t force it. Instead, simply use some orthodontic wax to cover the wire in the meantime.

Mouth Sores/Irritation  

Are Mouth Sores or Irritation an Emergency? There’s no denying that mouth sores and irritation can be quite a nuisance and uncomfortable. However, they don’t typically require a same-day visit to our office (unless it’s the direct result of a broken bracket, protruding wire, or another problem with your braces). Important note: if the sores in your mouth don’t seem to be healing, then you should schedule an appointment.

How You Should Handle Mouth Sores or Irritation First, rinse with warm salt water. This will help in two ways: it will reduce inflammation and help prevent an infection. After you’ve completed this step, cover your braces with some orthodontic wax to prevent additional discomfort. Within a few days, the sores should heal and the irritation should subside.

Broken Ligature  

Is a Broken Ligature an Emergency? Absolutely! Your ligatures play a crucial role in guiding your teeth into their proper positions, and a broken one can negatively impact your treatment. So, don’t wait to give our team a call and schedule an appointment.

How You Should Handle a Broken Ligature You can use a cotton swab or clean eraser to guide the ligature back into place, but don’t do so if you need to apply a lot of force. When you arrive at our office, we will repair your braces and get your orthodontic treatment back on-track.

Cut Lips, Cheeks, or Tongue  

Is a Cut Lip, Cheek, or Tongue an Emergency? Since soft tissue injuries can produce a lot of blood, many patients assume that a same-day visit to our office is necessary. However, the bleeding should stop after 10 minutes of applying pressure. If it doesn’t, then head to the ER. After you’ve received the medical attention you need, you can give our team a call so we can fix your braces (if necessary).

How You Should Handle a Cut Lip, Cheek, or Tongue To clean the wound and get a better idea of how severe the damage is, rinse your mouth with clean, room-temperature water. Next, use a damp washcloth or piece of gauze to apply pressure to the cut. Within 10 minutes, the bleeding should stop. At this point, you can use a cold compress to help reduce swelling.

Something Stuck Between the Teeth

Is Having Something Stuck Between the Teeth an Emergency? Getting something caught between your teeth may happen frequently throughout your time with braces. Although you don’t necessarily have to drop everything and head to our Dayville orthodontic office, we don’t recommend dismissing this situation either. Otherwise, the debris can result in tooth decay, gum disease, or another oral health problem that puts your treatment temporarily on hold.

How You Should Handle Something Stuck Between the Teeth First, try rinsing your mouth with water, particularly warm saltwater. Then, use some floss to gently clean between your teeth. If the debris remains firmly in place, don’t try to use a sharp object, like a toothpick, instead. After all, this can push the debris even further between your teeth. That’s why we recommend calling us if rinsing and flossing doesn’t do the trick.

Broken or Lost Retainer

Is a Broken/Lost Aligner or Retainer an Emergency? Retainers are an essential component of preserving your hard-earned results. Neglecting to wear it for even a day can cause your teeth to begin shifting back into their previous positions. Therefore, we recommend calling our Dayville orthodontist as soon as it breaks or you realize it’s missing. That way, we can guide you through what to do next and get your retainer replaced or fixed ASAP.

How You Should Handle a Broken or Lost Aligner/Retainer If your retainer sustains a small chip, breaks in two, or shatters into multiple pieces, gather the fragments in a plastic bag and bring it with you to your appointment. If you’ve lost your retainer, then do your best to retrace your steps and call us when you confirm that it is truly missing. From there, we can take the necessary steps to have it repaired or replaced altogether.

Loose Teeth

Are Loose Teeth an Emergency? If your teeth feel loose, you may begin to panic. However, it’s normal for them to feel slightly loose as your teeth are being shifted into their new and improved positions. What isn’t normal, however, is feeling like your teeth are going to fall out entirely. If that’s the case, then you should get in touch with us immediately so we can make sure a serious oral health problem, like gum disease, isn’t present.

How You Should Handle Loose Teeth If your teeth feel slightly loose, it’s best not to exacerbate the sensation by eating anything particularly hard or crunchy. Instead, stick to soft, smile-friendly foods, like scrambled eggs, plain yogurt, and oatmeal. If you’re concerned about your teeth, then we encourage you to give us a call so we can learn more about your symptoms and schedule a time for you to come in for an exam. If at any point you are in pain, you can take an OTC pain reliever as instructed.

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