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Category Archives: Orthodontic Emergency
Types of Orthodontic Emergencies
There are various types of orthodontic emergencies. However, these emergencies are not common. In this article, you will learn about different types of orthodontic emergencies. Before we go any further, you should know what orthodontics is.
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Orthodontics is the method for straightening the teeth. This specific medical practice provides an amazing smile and improves the functionality of your teeth. The orthodontist will use braces to perform their procedures and align your teeth. If you want to undergo the procedure, the professional orthodontist will apply various components to your mouth. These components can include metal and rubber pieces. This article is about types of orthodontic emergencies and how you can solve them.
Types of Orthodontic Emergency
1. Broken Bands, Brackets, or Wires
Sometimes, after placing the braces, you suffer from pain because of misuse. For instance, you constantly play with your braces or eat foods such as candy or bubble gum. The result of your eating habits loosens the wires, bands, and brackets in your teeth. When this happens, it pokes inside your mouth and causes injury.
Also, these issues will waste a lot of your time. You will need to visit the orthodontist again, so they can fix them. However, you can reduce the issue by consuming safe foods and following the guidelines suggested by the orthodontist.
When the bracket or band shows signs of breaking from the wire, then you should avoid touching it. If you feel irritation from the wire sticking out, then apply some orthodontic wax. Orthodontic wax provides instant relief until you visit the orthodontist. If the piece completely breaks off, then keep that piece along when going to visit the orthodontist. Moreover, if you “fix” the problem at home, you still need to visit the doctor. They will permanently solve the problem.
2. Tie, Bracket, or Wire Moves from its Place
When you chew or move your mouth to talk, your teeth will start to adjust with the braces. Your teeth contain an archwire that moves from its place inside the mouth and starts to poke into your cheeks. Before it leads to any injury, divert the tip of the wire to a comfortable position.
For that, you need a pencil eraser or a Q-tip. You can also use tweezers for adjusting the ties or wires, bringing them back to the original position. When you place the wires in the right position, it will reduce the risk of injury. And then, you can rush to the doctor without any additional damage.
3. Tooth Loosening or Tooth Pain
Many people will find it frightening when their teeth loosen up. However, loosening teeth indicates that the process is working fine. When your teeth start to move from the old position into the new one, they tend to move. This causes them to loosen up. Because your teeth move, your mouth will feel tender for a while. The best way to find relief is by adding a teaspoon of salt to the water and rinse your mouth for 30 seconds. You can soothe your jaw with a warm washcloth or heating pad. Furthermore, anti-inflammatory and pain relievers can help you reduce the pain in the tooth. Medicines such as ibuprofen or Tylenol also tend to help.
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4. A Broken Retainer
The metal or plastic pieces of the retainers might move from the position, bend, or break into pieces. If that happens, you should collect all the pieces and visit the orthodontist. Orthodontists can repair the retainer if they have original pieces. So place the pieces in a plastic bag to keep all of them together. Furthermore, if you feel that the retainer is improperly fit or strain, you should remove the retainer and head to your doctor. They will fix the problem and place back the retainers.
5. Swallowing the Part
It is possible that you may swallow the pieces from your retainer. But, there is no need to panic about it. Retainers usually pass through your digestive system and exit the body without any harm. However, if you are choking or unable to breathe due to blockage, you should immediately seek medical help.
Types of Orthodontic Emergencies: Conclusion
Orthodontic treatment is a safe and comfortable procedure to straighten your teeth and bring that hollywood-style smile that you always wanted. However, it is possible that you may feel tender, sore, pain, and irritation in the jaw, mouth, and teeth. Especially when the first time an orthodontist places the braces, they will give your teeth and mouth to adjust with the changes. With time, your mouth will adjust with the braces making you feel normal.
At Manhattan Family Orthodontics, we offer a comfortable environment and perform the procedures with modern and high-quality tools and instruments. Our highly qualified team of dentists will provide the best service to protect your teeth.
If you have an orthodontic emergency, contact us as soon as possible at one of our NYC locations:
MFO Uptown
133 East 58th Street
(Bet. 58th & 59th Street)
New York, NY 10022
(646) 760-8028
MFO Downtown
11 Fifth Avenue
(Bet. 8th & 9th Street)
New York, NY 10003
(212) 477-3871
What is an Emergency Orthodontist?
Do you think you’re in need of an emergency orthodontist? If you’re experiencing dental problems, you visit your dentist as early as you can. But what if you encounter an oral issue on a weekend, holiday, or past midnight? If you experience a serious problem past your clinic’s open hours, you need an emergency orthodontist or a visit to an emergency room.
You should know the difference between a normal dentist issue and an orthodontic emergency. For normal issues, you can wait until morning, and no serious issue occurs if you wait. However, in an orthodontic emergency, you risk losing a tooth or any other health issue. When you are in such a condition, you must visit an emergency orthodontist. But before you encounter such a situation, you need to understand what oral problems fall under orthodontic emergencies.
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Minor Orthodontic Emergencies
Most problems related to your orthodontic treatment will be minor if you can solve it with proper directions over the phone. Still, some minor problems may become an orthodontic emergency. These minor problems can impair your treatment and cause severe discomfort. In such cases, you need to visit an emergency orthodontist so they can diagnose and handle the problem without any further consequences. The following problems constitute a minor orthodontic emergency:
· Broken or Loose Braces
If a bracket, band, or wire of your braces loosens or breaks, you should immediately contact your orthodontist. If the piece from your braces is still intact, avoid touching it until your orthodontist repairs it. If that piece has fallen off, you need to keep the piece with you and bring it to your appointment with an emergency orthodontist. If that piece is causing any discomfort, apply dental wax in that area and visit the emergency room for immediate repair.
· Discomfort from Pointy Brackets, Ties, or Archwires
Sometimes, archwires, the metal, springy, and thin wires on your braces shift from their position and start poking in your mouth. If this is happening to you, use a Q-tip, pencil eraser, or a pair of tweezers to bring it back to a comfortable position. If that doesn’t work, cover the area with the dental wax and visit an emergency orthodontist.
· Toothaches or Loose Teeth
When braces move the teeth, you may feel minor soreness and discomfort in your gums or teeth. This happens to everyone and shows that the braces are working properly. Usually, the discomfort alleviates in few days and becomes mild in intensity. To managing the discomfort, use warm water with salt to rinse out that area. You can also take OTC painkillers such as Tylenol. However, if you cannot handle the pain and notice that the situation is getting worse, contact an emergency orthodontist as this can be a serious issue.
Major Orthodontic Emergency
These types of emergencies are very rare and only happen when there is possible damage to the mouth, jaw, or teeth. Here are some main major orthodontic emergencies that require an immediate visit to the emergency orthodontist:
- Infected or swollen gums or other serious swelling or infection in your mouth
- Any trauma or injury to the face, teeth, and mouth
- Unmanageable and severe pain inside your mouth or face
If you are experiencing such problems, call us at (212) 207-8028 immediately. Our experienced orthodontist will discuss how you can handle the situation and arrange an emergency appointment.
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How to Know if you Need an Emergency Orthodontist
The American Family Physician suggested that almost 22% of people experience oral or dental pain in only the last six months from the report. This shows how common orthodontic emergencies are in the US (Source).
Still, not all dental situations constitute an orthodontic emergency. Ask yourself the following questions before deciding to visit an emergency orthodontist:
- Is the pain you are experiencing severe? Bleeding and severe pain can be an orthodontic emergency.
- Is your tooth lost? If you seek immediate help from an emergency orthodontist, you can save your tooth.
- Are your teeth loosening up? You should never lose your teeth. Even if you did not feel any pain in losing your teeth, the problem could be serious.
- Do you have an infection? A serious mouth infection can be life-threatening, and you should immediately seek help from an emergency orthodontist. In infections, you may notice knots or swelling around your gum and face.
- Is your mouth bleeding? This is a possible sign of an orthodontic emergency.
Generally, any oral problem that requires immediate help from an orthodontist, such as severe pain, bleeding, a loose tooth, is an emergency.
Emergency Orthodontist: Conclusion
If you are suffering from these symptoms, you need an experienced emergency orthodontist immediately. Call us at 212-207-8028 and describe your condition. You can also visit either of our 2 Manhattan Family Orthodontics locations in New York City.
For further information on how we help our patients, visit our website.
How to Deal with Orthodontic Emergencies before you can get to your Orthodontist?
Orthodontic emergencies should not be ignored and should be taken care of in the right way. Not all dental conditions are the same. Ignoring signs of pain, bleeding and numbness near the root of the teeth can lead to an emergency such as bleeding and unbearable pain.
The first preventative measure is to maintain a healthy dental hygiene and visit the dentist on a monthly or bi-monthly basis. Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing can make a world of difference when it comes to maintaining or enhancing your oral health.
Here are a few examples of dental emergencies and what you can do before you reach your dentist.
1. Extreme toothache
When experiencing severe toothache, immediately rinse your mouth with warm water and then apply a cold compress or frozen gel-pack to the outside of your mouth. Do not, in any case, put painkillers near the aching tooth as it may lead to burnt gum-tissue.
2. Chipped tooth
If one of your teeth chips, rinse your mouth with warm water and keep the chipped pieces with you. If you experience bleeding keep a gauze or damp cotton ball on the area until the bleeding stops. Immediately visit the doctor in cases of bleeding. Apply a cold press to the outside of the mouth where the chipped and bleeding tooth is.
3. Partially dislodged tooth
This can be very uncomfortable and in some cases very painful. Apply a cold compress outside your mouth and take a mild painkiller until you reach your dentist.
4. Dislodged filling
Fillings are temporary and hold up to a certain amount of time. If one of your fillings falls out, take a sugar-free piece of gum chew it a little and lodge it into the cavity. Immediately see your dentist for further measures.
5. Dislodged Crown
If the crown of your tooth falls off, apply a little clove oil to the affected area with a cotton swab until you reach your dentist. Try to bring the crown with you to the dentist. Clove oil is easily available in any spice or grocery store. Till you are able to reach your doctor, you can put the crown back into place with an over-the-counter tooth adhesive or toothpaste. Do not force the crown back onto the tooth if it doesn’t go on easily.
6. Broken Braces
Broken braces can be extremely harmful to your cheeks and may even result in bleeding and can also tear the soft tissue inside your cheeks. If the wires poke out try using a clean cotton swab to position them in at a comfortable angle or try covering the sharp end with orthodontic adhesive or wax until you see your dentist.
7. Soft Tissues
Soft tissues in the mouth can get easily damaged. To prevent further damage rinse your mouth with mildly salty water, use a slightly damp gauze or tea bag to hold at the affected area and apply a cold press to the outside positioning it against the exact affected area. See your orthodontist immediately.
Bottom Line
Don’t hesitate or procrastinate when it come to dental complications and contact us today to schedule an appointment with the best Orthodontist in New York.