Orthodontic Emergency

San Clemente and Dana Point Orthodontic Care

There are very few true orthodontic emergencies. Most problems can be remedied at home. However, if you have a orthodontic situation that you cannot resolve on your own, call our Orange County orthodontic office in San Juan Capistrano as soon as possible so we can fit you in for a repair appointment. In the meantime, this feature can help resolve minor problems you may encounter during your orthodontic treatment.

If your teeth are sore after a visit… You may take acetaminophen or other non-aspirin pain relievers while you adjust to your new braces. A warm wash cloth, heating pad or warm salt water rinses may reduce the soreness in your jaws.

If your braces cause irritation… Try moving the wire away from the irritated area with a cotton swab or eraser. If the wire will not move, try covering the end of it with a small piece of cotton or a small amount of orthodontic wax. If the wire is painful, you can cut it with nail clippers or scissors that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol.

If the main wire or a bracket comes loose… First, call our orthodontic office in the San Clemente region to see if the bracket needs to be re-fitted. If you have a situation where you must cut the wire or slide a bracket off the wire, you may use fingernail clippers that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. Please call our office on the next business day to schedule a repair appointment.

If a separator comes out… Call our orthodontic office in San Juan Capistrano northeast of Dana Point to see if it needs to be replaced. Some patients may lose a separator during treatment, which is common.

At Olsen Orthodontics in Orange County, your comfort at home during orthodontic treatment is as important to us as it is in our office. If you have an orthodontic emergency, try the solutions above and then call our San Juan Capistrano office or fill out the simple form on this page. We will set up a repair appointment for you as quickly as possible.