Emergency Info

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, call us immediately to notify us if you need an appliance repaired.

Nights and Weekends

We’ve got you covered!

Call our Hixson office. The answering message will give you the number to call for emergencies. Once you’re in contact with our doctors or staff, we will figure out the best way to get you taken care of.

Loose brackets or bands

Can be a bit annoying, but life will go on.

Call our office immediately for advice if a bracket or wire is loosened. The bracket may need to be re-fitted 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

A small amount of wax can work wonders.

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 does 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 and sterilized in alcohol. If you cannot resolve the wire irritation, call our office for an appointment.

Lost separators

Don’t chew gum with these in.

Most patients lose a separator during their treatment. Do not worry about losing a separator, but call our office to see if it needs to be replaced.

Discomfort with orthodontic treatment

Give your mouth a little time to get used to your appliances.

During the first week after your braces are in place and routine adjustments are complete, you will likely feel some pain, soreness, or discomfort. With your parent’s approval, you may take acetaminophen or other non-aspirin pain relievers while you adjust to your new braces. A warm washcloth or heating pad may also help reduce the soreness in your jaws.