When something goes wrong with your smile, it’s important that you know who to call for emergency orthodontic care. Orthodontic treatment can take several months or even years to complete. Any damages to the dental hardware or mouth injuries can cause your treatment plan to be even further prolonged if not addressed promptly. Dr. Sodhi is your local orthodontist in Irving, TX. She provides emergency orthodontic services to patients in need of timely and compassionate care. Learn more about our emergency orthodontic services below.
Emergency Orthodontic Care in Irving, TX
An orthodontic emergency is anything that cannot wait until your next scheduled appointment to be resolved. If you are undergoing orthodontic treatment, any intense, unexplained dental pain should be reported to your dentist as an orthodontic emergency. Even if you are unsure about whether or not what you are experiencing is an orthodontic emergency, we still recommend contacting us just in case. We would hate to see our patients suffering the consequences from an untreated orthodontic emergency, and will gladly examine your smile to ensure that it is good to go.
Examples of Orthodontic Emergencies
If your braces are broken, this is considered an orthodontic emergency. Broken braces lead to longer treatment times, so it is best to report these damages as soon as they occur. This includes:
- broken brackets
- broken wires
- loose bands
- loose brackets
- wires poking out/sticking into your gums*
*to immediately reduce discomfort, try placing orthodontic wax around the affected area.
If your Invisalign aligner becomes cracked or broken, this is also considered an orthodontic emergency. Call our office for case-specific instructions. Dr. Sodhi may suggest using the next tray in the treatment plan if the crack occurred at least eight days into the tray cycle. Otherwise, patients may be able to use the previous tray in order to maintain their current progress.
If you experience a mouth injury while undergoing orthodontic treatment, you should visit the emergency room before contacting our office. You may need stitches if you are cut and bleeding heavily from the mouth, If you have lost a tooth or sustained a gum injury due to oral trauma, contact our office so we can best adjust your treatment plan.