Patient Information

First Aid

If a wire causes irritation, push the wire away from the area using the eraser end of a pencil or an emory board. If the wire cannot be tucked away, cover the end of the wire with a small piece of wax, a cotton ball, or a piece of sugarless gum until you can see the doctors for an adjustment.

If the main wire has come out of the tube on your back molar tooth, attempt to reinsert the wire with a pair of needle-nosed pliers or tweezers. If the wire is not sticking you, place a piece of wax over the area.  If the wire is sticking you and wax does not help, the wire can be cut with a small wire cutter or clean nail clipper close to the back of the last brace. This is a last resort if professional help is unavailable.

If a bracket becomes loose, it usually remains connected to the main wire by a little rubber colored ring. Eyebrow tweezers can be used to reposition the brace if it flips around the wire and becomes a source of irritation. Call our office and inform us of your situation.

If a piece of your braces breaks, save the piece and call our office to schedule a repair visit.

If a retainer cracks, remove the retainer from your mouth and bring all the pieces to our office for professional repair.

Take Tylenol or Ibuprofen (unless allergic) if your teeth are sore after a monthly visit.

If food becomes stuck between your teeth, use dental floss or a proxy brush to dislodge the food.