Orthodontic emergencies occur occasionally and, although they may be a little upsetting for the patient and parents, they are usually fairly simple to treat. For some emergencies, you may need to contact your orthodontist.
Emergency Treatments
The following orthodontic emergencies and their treatments are listed in the order of the least severe to the most severe. Only the most severe emergencies will require immediate attention by an orthodontist or medical doctor. The majority of these are easily treated with a follow-up by the patient¡s orthodontist.
Food Caught Between Teeth
This is not an emergency, but can be a little uncomfortable or embarrassing for the patient. It is easily fixed with a piece of dental floss or use an interproximal brush or toothpick to dislodge food caught between teeth and braces.
Lost Wire or Ligature
Tiny rubber bands or small, fine wires, known as ligatures, hold the wire to the bracket. If a rubber or wire ligature is lost, notify the orthodontist who will advise whether the patient should be seen.
Ligatures Come Off
If a rubber ligature should come off, you may be able to put it back in place using sterile tweezers. If a wire ligature comes loose, simply remove it with sterile tweezers. If the wire ligature is sticking out into the lip but is not loose, it may be bent back down to eliminate the irritation.
Of course, when one ligature pops off or breaks, others may follow. Missing or broken ligatures should be brought to the attention of the orthodontist.
Discomfort
It ¡s normal for a patient to have discomfort for a day or two after braces or retainers are adjusted. But it can make eating uncomfortable. Reassure the patient that the discomfort is both normal and temporary. Encourage soft foods. Have the patient rinse the mouth with warm salt water. If the patient is allowed to have over-the-counter pain relievers, these may be effective.
Irritation of Lips or Cheeks
Sometimes new braces can be irritating to the mouth, especially when the patient is eating. A small amount of non-medicinal relief wax makes an excellent buffer between metal and mouth. Simply pinch off a small piece and roll it into a ball the size of a small pea. Flatten the ball and place it completely over the area of the braces causing irritation. The patient may then eat lunch more comfortably. Let the patient know that if the wax is accidentally ingested it¡s not a problem. The wax is harmless.
Protruding Wire
Occasionally the end of a wire will work itself out of place and irritate the patient¡s mouth. Use a suitable implement to push the wire so that it is flat against the tooth. If the wire cannot be moved into a comfortable position, cover it with relief wax. (See Irritation of Cheeks or Lips above for instructions on applying relief wax.) The orthodontist should be notified of the problem.
In a situation where the wire is extremely bothersome and the patient will not be able to see the orthodontist anytime soon, as a last resort, you may clip the wire.
Reduce the possibility of the patient swallowing the snipped piece of wire by using folded tissue or gauze around the area. Use a pair of sharp clippers and snip off the protruding wire. Relief wax may still be necessary to provide comfort to the irritated area.
Loose Brackets, Wires or Bands
If the braces have come loose in any way, the the orthodontist should be notified.
A Bracket is knocked off
Brackets are the parts of braces attached to teeth with a special adhesive. They are generally positioned in the centre of each tooth. The bracket can be knocked off if the patient has eaten one of those hard or crunchy foods orthodontic patients are instructed to avoid, or if the mouth is struck while at play. (Encourage the patient, especially if he or she is wearing braces, to wear a protective mouth guard while playing sports.)
If the loose bracket has rotated on the wire and is sticking out, and the patient cannot immediately be taken to the orthodontist, you can do a temporary fix to alleviate discomfort and prevent further damage. But take care to prevent swallowing or other injury.
To put the bracket back in place, use sterile tweezers to slide the bracket along the wire until it is between two teeth. Rotate the bracket back to the proper position, then slide it back to the centre of the tooth.
Piece of the appliance is swallowed or aspirated
If a piece of the appliance it is swallowed, there should be no coughing or difficulty in breathing. Usually the conservative approach is taken and the piece is allowed to pass naturally. Notify your orthodontist and follow his or her advice.
Very rarely, a piece of the appliance can be aspirated (caught in the airway). If the patient is coughing excessively or having difficulty breathing, the piece could have been aspirated. When this happens, it can be fairly alarming to the patient. Encourage the patient to remain calm.
If you are able to see the piece, you may carefully attempt to remove it. But do not make the attempt if you would cause harm.
If you are unable to see the piece and believe it may be have been aspirated, call the appropriate emergency number for your area, then notify the parents and the orthodontist immediately. The patient should be taken to an A&E facility for an x-ray to determine the location of the piece. A physician will have to determine the best way to remove it.
If appropriate under the circumstances, examine the patient’s braces for problems that may result from the missing piece, such as looseness or irritation, and treat as specified above.