Emergency Care

Occasionally, some patients will experience an orthodontic concern or injury to the mouth during treatment. Dental emergencies while wearing braces or other orthodontic appliances generally fall into two categories.

Emergencies Related to Orthodontic Appliance

Sometimes, appliances might be broken or bent during your orthodontic care. If there are any disturbances, such as loose bands, loose brackets, or broken or poking wires, please call our office for an appointment during patient hours. For your convenience and the convenience of scheduled patients, it is not possible to handle emergencies on a walk-in basis. In the meantime, here are some helpful hints to remedy some of the problems you may encounter until our office can see you.

Direct Injuries to the Mouth and Teeth

Following a direct injury to your mouth or teeth, whether undergoing orthodontic care or not, immediately ice the injured area, and you should contact your regular dentist as soon as possible. Usually, an x-ray of the tooth involved is needed to determine the extent of the injury. If a tooth has been displaced, knocked out, or fractured, it is best to contact your family dentist first since we may not have the necessary materials or anesthesia to treat these injuries. If the appliances are dislodged or displaced, we will need to replace or adjust them as soon as possible after you have seen your general dentist, depending on the comfort level of the patient.

After Office Hours

If an orthodontic emergency arises where the patient is in pain after hours and you cannot wait until the next business day, please contact our office at (503) 439-6566 or (503) 359-5408. Information is available regarding who to contact for further assistance.