What to Know About
Emergency Orthodontic Care

Things happen, we understand! We’ve got all the tips and tricks to help you through those moments.. and we always have one of our awesome assistants on call for you. If you do have an after-hours emergency, just call 775-771-3133 and they will coach you through that pokey wire or make arrangements to meet you at the office and make sure you’re comfortable.

If your emergency happens during office hours, call Personalized Orthodontics at 775-674-1444 and we will be happy to help get you seen by the wonderful A-Team.

After wires are tightened, some patients may also experience wire irritation. If the irritation is mild, it may be possible to “move” the wire away from the irritated area with either a cotton swab or an eraser. If you are unable to move the wire, try covering it with a small piece of wax and contact our orthodontics team. If the pain is severe and you need an immediate solution, you may be able to cut off the offending wire with nail clippers or scissors. Before using either of these tools, be sure to first sterilize them in rubbing alcohol.

While rare, a bracket may come loose and need to be refitted. If this occurs and you require immediate care, you will need to cut the wire or slide a bracket off the wire. Nail clippers or small scissors may be useful for moving the wire and bracket; be sure to first sterilize these tools. Typically, a loose bracket will need to be refitted. Depending on the time of day when this orthodontics emergency occurs, our practice will try to accommodate patients for same-day or next-day urgent care.

Many common orthodontics emergencies occur when eating certain foods, such as biting into fruit, chewing on ice, or cracking nuts. To reduce your risk for orthodontics emergencies, talk to our orthodontist about which foods are safe for you to eat during treatment.

Our goal is to provide patients with the highest quality care. Should you have questions about orthodontic treatments, what to expect while wearing braces, or are worried that you are experiencing an orthodontic emergency, please contact our practice. We are happy to answer any questions and provide immediate urgent care, if necessary.