Emergency Orthodontic Treatment by Dr. Charles Hulsey, DDS

Please call one of our San Diego Orthodontist offices immediately if any of your dental appliances are loose or broken.  Knowing in advance allows us the ability to set aside time for your dental repairs.  If you arrive without notifying us in advance, we may have to reschedule the appliance repair, even if you have a regular orthodontic appointment.


Loose Brackets or Bands
If a brace comes loose, call Dr. Hulsey's orthodontic office as soon as possible for advice.  Sometimes it is important to re-attach the dental brace right away.  If you have a problem on the weekend or at night and need to cut a wire or slide a bracket off the wire, please feel free to do so and then call our orthodontic office the next business day.  We will evaluate the problem to determine if it is necessary for you to be seen immediately.

Fingernail clippers are a useful home remedy for cutting orthodontic wires.
Please wash and alcohol the clippers before using them.


Wire Irritations
If a wire on your braces is causing an irritation, try pushing it away from the area being irritated by using the eraser end of a pencil or a cotton swab.  If the wire cannot be tucked away, cover the end with a small piece of wax or cotton ball.  You may also cut the wire with scissors or nail clippers.  Call our orthodontic office for an appointment if you cannot solve the problem.

Lost Separators
It is quite common for some patients to lose at least one separator during the process that prepares your mouth for braces.  Most of the time separators do not need to be replaced.


Discomfort Associated With Orthodontic Treatment
Most orthodontic patients experience some pain the first week after their dental braces are placed and after routine adjustments. You can use non-aspirin pain relievers or ibuprofen to ease this discomfort and eat soft foods.  If your braces are causing soreness in your jaw joints, try using a moist heat compress or a warm wash cloth to apply gentle pressure to alleviate the ache.  The discomfort should subside within several days.