What to do in case of emergency
Call our office as soon as possible if you break or loosen any of your appliances. Please do not come directly to the office – by calling us, you will allow us to create a time to see you. Even if you have a regular appointment
scheduled, please call to notify us if you need an appliance repaired.

Loose brackets or bands
Call our office immediately for advice if a brace or wire is loosened. It is likely that the brace or wire will need to be repaired as soon as possible. You may have a situation that requires cutting a wire or sliding a bracket off a wire at night or over the weekend. If you need to cut a wire in case of emergency, you may use fingernail clippers that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. Please call our office the next business day so that we may schedule an appointment for you.

Wire irritations
Sometimes discomfort caused by a wire on your braces can be resolved by moving the wire away from the irritated area with a cotton swab or eraser. If the wire will not move, try covering the end of it with a small piece of cotton or a small amount of wax. If the wire is painful, you can cut it with nail clippers or scissors that have been washed. If you cannot resolve the wire irritation, call our office or the emergency pager number for an appointment.

Lost separators
Some patients may lose a separator during their treatment. If this happens, simply follow the instructions that were given at the office to replace the lost separator. A lost separator is only an emergency if you cannot get another one in its place.