Emergency Orthodontist in Eugene, OR
Offices in Eugene, Corvallis, Albany, Newport, Lebanon, North Albany & Florence
Although rare, orthodontic emergencies do happen.
Our emergency orthodontists in Eugene, OR are here when the unexpected happens. If you are in pain from an orthodontic appliance, or you have a broken orthodontic appliance that needs to be repaired or replaced, call us today!
What is an Orthodontic Emergency?
If you are in pain, outside of the initial soreness after starting a new treatment or getting braces, your appliance may need to be adjusted. Here are some common orthodontic emergencies we see in our office:
- General Soreness – while not an ’emergency’, we certainly do not want you to be suffering from your braces or orthodontic appliance. For general soreness, especially after you initially get your braces, you can try to alleviate the discomfort at home by doing a warm salt rinse. Simply mix one teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of water and gargle for 30 seconds. You can also take Tylenol or Ibuprofen to help take the edge off.
- Broken, Poking, or Loose Wires – wires can be pokey! If your wire is loose or broken, it can stab your gums or inner cheeks causing a lot of discomfort. Give us a call if this happens to you – but you can also temporarily solve this problem by placing a small bit of wax on the pokey part until you can get an appointment with us. If a wire is just poking out slightly, you can push it back into place by using the end of a pencil eraser, or you can move it into place with tweezers. You can also tie the wire in place with a piece of floss as a temporary fix.
- Broken Brackets– If a bracket is completely broken or has fallen out – be sure to place it in a safe place, such as an envelope, and bring it with you to your appointment.
- Headgear – Sometimes discomfort is caused by not wearing the headgear as instructed by your orthodontist. Please refer to the instructions provided by your orthodontist. If the facebow (metal piece) is bent, please call our office for assistance. The headgear should hurt less the more it’s worn, so be sure you get in the prescribed number of hours.
Don’t Wait in an Emergency
Even if your orthodontic emergency seems small, we want to hear from you. While at-home fixes can work well, they are only temporary solutions. When an orthodontic appliance isn’t functioning, it can greatly affect your progress and treatment. Give us a call or schedule an appointment as soon as you experience an ortho emergency!