Even though you are careful, you still may occasionally do some damage to your braces.
Below is a guide that can help you with a variety of emergency situations.
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LOOSE BAND -
If a band comes loose from a tooth, CALL OUR OFFICE IMMEDIATELY.
While a cemented band protects a tooth from decay, a loose band is extremely dangerous and decay under it occurs rapidly. Watch what you eat!
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LOOSE BRACKET -
If a bracket comes loose, call our office the next business day and we will let you know if it is needs to be seen or not.
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BROKEN ARCHWIRE -
If the main arch wire breaks (the one that goes all the way around the outside of your braces), call our office for an SOS appointment on the next business day. Of course, if you are in pain, please call our emergency number and either Dr. Middleton or an assistant will call you as soon as possible.
Emergency Phone #: 936.582.7700
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SLIPPED ARCHWIRE -
On the last tooth on either side of the mouth, there is usually a tube attached to the band, into which the archwire is inserted. The archwire could slip from this tube. If this should happen, ask someone at home to put it back in the tube (tweezers may be useful). On the upper, place the archwire into the smallest hole, NOT the larger hole which is where the headgear is placed. If you are unable to replace it, call our office for an appointment.
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BROKEN or LOST WIRE -
If a small tie wire breaks, carefully remove it and call our office. We will then let you know if it needs to be re-tied immediately or if it can wait until your next scheduled appointment.
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STICKING TIE-WIRE -
Sometimes in eating or brushing, the clipped end of a tie wire may become bent out and form a little sticker. Ask someone at home to take an eraser on a pencil, the end of a stick match, or some other smooth, blunt object and tuck the offending wire back in out of the way.
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LOST ELASTIC TIE -
You could lose an elastic tie between scheduled appointments without a concern. These modules hold the archwire in place and there is one around each bracket. Should your archwire pop out due to losing one or more elastic ties, then CALL OUR OFFICE for an appointment.
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LOST OR BROKEN HEADGEAR -
If you should miss your headgear, FIRST make a thorough search of your home and car. Retrace your steps during the time you were not wearing it. Call every place you might have left it. They will probably have found it and are just waiting for you to call. After failing to find it, call our officefor an emergency appointment. If the bow becomes distorted, call our office.
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LOST OR BROKEN RETAINERS -
Should you lose your retainer or it is broken, please call our office immediately so that we can replace it as soon as possible or possibly repair it. Should it become necessary, there will be a replacement charge based on the type of retainer you have, typically ranging from $50 - $250.
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LOST SEPARATOR OR SPACER -
Call our office the morning of the next business day to see if it is necessary to schedule an appointment. |
