Emergency Orthodontist Cumming

Fast Orthodontic Care Right When You Need It

Young woman holding her cheek in pain needing an emergency orthodontist in Cumming

Ninety-nine percent of our patients start treatment and experience absolutely zero problems on their journey toward a new smile, but of course, some encounter bumps along the way. If you or your child find yourself dealing with a damaged appliance or pain, don’t hesitate to reach out to the team at Serenity Orthodontics. Dr. Podray-Donovan, Dr. Lewis, and Dr. Grochowska, your emergency orthodontists in Cumming, GA, can handle every type of urgent situation you can imagine, and we’re happy to schedule same-day appointments as well so patients can get the care they need without delay.

Why Choose Serenity Orthodontics for Orthodontic Emergencies?

  • Same-Day Appointments Available
  • Certified Orthodontists with Years of Proven Experience
  • Advanced Technologies Used In-House

How We Treat Orthodontic Emergencies

Woman talking on the phone and using a laptop while her child colors in the foreground

When an orthodontic emergency occurs, you can count on us for help. Here’s an overview of the steps that will be taken to address your discomfort and keep the orthodontic process on track:

  • Call Our Office: When we receive your call, we’ll ask several questions to make sure that we understand what is going on. Then we will explain what measures you can take at home to try and resolve the problem. Possible solutions may include wax, a saltwater rinse, or an over-the-counter pain reliever.
  • Schedule an Appointment: If your orthodontic issue requires professional attention, we will make arrangements to see you as soon as we can. Same-day appointments are available in particularly urgent situations.
  • Get the Care You Need: We’ll take whatever steps are required to resolve your emergency. Rest assured that most orthodontic emergencies can be dealt with in a timely manner. If any serious oral health issues are found, we may recommend seeing your regular dentist.

The Most Common Orthodontic Emergencies

True orthodontic emergencies don’t occur very often, but you do still need to be able to recognize them so that you can act quickly to have them dealt with appropriately. Below is a brief look at some examples of orthodontic injuries our team can help with; call us immediately if you or your child are suffering from any of these symptoms.

Understanding the Cost of Orthodontic Emergencies

Smiling orthodontic team member handing a clipboard to a patient

Typically, the cost of taking care of an orthodontic emergency is much lower compared to simply ignoring it. Without immediate attention, a relatively small problem can become a large and complicated one that may severely delay a patient’s treatment. We have multiple flexible payment options that can make emergency orthodontic care affordable, including accepting insurance and offering in-house financing.

Keys to Preventing Orthodontic Emergencies

Man holding his cheek in pain while talking to his emergency orthodontist in Cumming

You want to avoid last-minute trips to our office due to broken brackets, loose wires, and other orthodontic emergencies, right? Good news: there are several things you can do to ensure that your braces (or your child’s braces) stay in tip-top shape. Here are a few examples:

Keep Up With Your Orthodontic Checkups

Person placing a clear aligner back into its storage case

No matter which orthodontic treatment you choose, you need to come to our Cumming orthodontic office periodically throughout your teeth-straightening journey. These routine appointments allow us to monitor the movement of your teeth, answer any questions you have, and check the condition of your braces. If we notice anything concerning, like a wire that’s slightly out of place, we will fix it at once, preventing an orthodontic emergency in the process.

Practice Good Oral Hygiene at Home

Child with braces receiving a dental exam

Did you know that cavities can throw off your orthodontic treatment? Just another reason it’s so important to implement a solid oral hygiene regimen. Make sure that you’re using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste to brush your teeth after each meal. You should also floss and rinse with mouthwash to clean between your teeth and prevent plaque buildup.

Tip: If you have traditional braces, buy an interproximal toothbrush!

Stick to the Dietary Guidelines

Person cleaning their braces with an interdental brush

To prevent broken brackets, wires, and attachments, patients are asked to adjust their diet during their orthodontic treatment. That starts with not chewing on hard items (i.e., popcorn kernels, ice, or pretzels) and extends to avoiding particularly chewy items, like gum, caramel, or taffy. The best thing to do is find foods that you genuinely enjoy and are braces-friendly, like oatmeal, yogurt, or soup.

Wear a Mouthguard During Sports

Pile of taffy candies

If you participate in a contact sport, then it goes without saying that you need to wear a mouthguard. We actually recommend wearing one even during non-contact activities, like skateboarding or running. That way, your teeth, your gums, and your braces are protected if an accident happens.

Tip: If you don’t have a special mouthguard that fits over your orthodontic appliance, get in touch with us – we can provide one!

Break Bad Habits

Young boy placing an athletic mouthguard over his teeth

Just like your teeth, your orthodontic appliances are strong, but not indestructible. That’s why it’s so important that you break bad habits like biting your nails, chewing on ice cubes, or using your teeth to remove bottle caps.

Take Good Care of Your Aligner/Retainer

Person refusing an offer of cigarettes

Your aligners play an important role in guiding your teeth into their properly aligned positions, and your retainer is just as crucial in keeping them there. The best way to avoid accidentally losing or breaking them is by placing them in their designated storage case when you aren’t wearing them.

Tip: Always put the case in the same place. You don’t want to lose that either!

Orthodontic Emergency FAQs

When should an orthodontic emergency warrant a visit to the ER?

There are very few situations that should warrant a trip to the ER, simply because your orthodontist is capable of handling most problems. However, should you experience a broken or fractured jaw, continuous bleeding from the mouth, or swelling that does not go down around your mouth, jaw, or throat, get to your local ER immediately.

What happens if I lose my retainer?

Because retainers are removable, it’s not uncommon to accidentally lose or damage one. While it’s important that you do everything possible to avoid this, should you find yourself in this situation, make sure to contact our office as soon as possible. The longer you wait to replace your retainer, the greater the chances your teeth will begin to shift back into their original positions. After spending so much time and money on braces, you don’t want to sabotage your hard work by waiting too long to replace a missing or damaged retainer. We will work quickly to order a new one for you.

Why should I seek emergency orthodontic care?

First, no one wants to walk around with an irritating oral sore or a broken wire sticking out the front of their mouth. Avoiding orthodontic emergency care will only cause your oral health and your facial aesthetic to worsen. Even if the injury doesn’t appear to be problematic on the surface, something could be occurring beneath the gumline that is only detectable with the help of advanced technology and a highly trained eye. By addressing these issues when they happen, no matter how minimal or severe, you can avoid more time-consuming and costly treatment in the future.

What should I do if an orthodontic emergency occurs while I’m out of town?

It is in your best interest to find a local orthodontist who can administer immediate treatment. This will not only allow you to get back to enjoying your time away with family and friends, but it will also prevent a delay in treatment. If an emergency occurs while you’re on vacation, make sure to call and alert us to the situation. We will go over the treatment you received and determine if you should come in when you return. Our orthodontists will likely want to make sure everything looks correct so that there are no surprises moving forward.

Will dental insurance cover the cost of an orthodontic emergency?

Every dental insurance policy is different, so it is ultimately up to you to speak to a representative who can determine whether these visits are covered. Some stipulations and exclusions may apply; however, most companies allow for these situations, should they occur. The cost of emergency orthodontic visits will ultimately depend on the type of treatment you need, but our team will be happy to discuss the planned cost estimate and identify the most feasible way for you to pay while staying within your budget.

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Toothaches

Is a toothache an emergency?

Unfortunately, some degree of dental pain is normal during any type of orthodontic treatment. It is quite common to feel mouth-wide aching and soreness when biting down. This can last a few days after initially getting new braces or aligners, or having wires tightened or advancing to your next set of trays.

However, sometimes a toothache can be unrelated to your orthodontic treatment. If you notice your tooth is becoming discolored, causes a sharp pain when you bite down, or if there is lingering sensitivity, it is considered a dental emergency.

How you should handle toothaches:

If your tooth pain doesn’t go away within several days, call Serenity Orthodontics for an urgent appointment. We will ensure that you are seen as soon as possible so we can determine what’s causing your tooth pain. In some cases, we may instruct you to contact your dentist for an emergency visit.

In the meantime, take an over-the-counter pain reliever, apply an icepack, and stick to cold foods and beverages to ease swelling and discomfort. To keep your tooth clean, rinse your mouth with salt water, which will kill any bacteria lingering from infection. You can also floss your teeth to dislodge debris.

Loose Bracket

Is a loose bracket or wire an emergency?

If your loose bracket or wire is not causing you any pain, it is not considered a dental emergency and does not need urgent care. However, it still does need to be fixed as soon as possible so your orthodontic treatment stays on track, so be sure to call us as soon as possible for an appointment.

How you should handle a loose bracket or wire:

If the bracket or wire falls completely off, do your best to locate it and bring it along with you to your appointment. If it is still somewhat in place, you can attempt to stabilize it with orthodontic wax. In most cases, once you arrive at your visit, we can easily reattach it and send you on your way!

Broken Wire

Is a broken bracket or wire an emergency?

A broken bracket or wire may require more urgent attention than a loose wire or bracket because it could pose a risk to your soft tissues. If this type of problem occurs, do not attempt to fix it yourself. Call Serenity Orthodontics as soon as possible for further assistance.

How you should handle a broken bracket or wire:

Locate any pieces that may have broken off and bring them with you to your appointment. Be sure to protect your soft tissues by covering sharp spots with dental wax or even sugarless gum.

Poking Wire

If a wire is poking the cheeks or lips, covering it with dental wax can provide quick initial relief. For wires that are intact but just causing discomfort, a patient should attend an appointment at their earliest convenience. But, if the wire has been broken or knocked out of position, then it’s best to come see us as soon as possible.

Mouth Sores

It’s fairly common for the lips and cheeks to develop minor sores after getting braces as the brackets and wires rub against the soft tissues of the mouth. Eventually the mouth will adapt, creating thicker, stronger tissue where it’s needed, but placing dental wax on trouble spots can help make things easier while this is happening.

Broken Ligature

A ligature is another term for the rubber bands that hold the wire in place on the brackets. They can be broken or dislodged due to any number of situations, such as trying to eat sticky or hard foods. One broken ligature is not a cause for concern, but if several are damaged or missing, then it’s time to schedule an immediate appointment with us.

Soft Tissue Cuts

An unexpected impact to the mouth can lead to braces accidentally cutting the inside of the lips and cheeks. Applying pressure with gauze or a tissue should help control any bleeding, but if it doesn’t slow down after 10-15 minutes, then a patient should go to the emergency room. Thankfully, this situation can largely be prevented by having a patient wear a mouthguard that is specifically designed to go over orthodontics while playing sports.

Something Stuck Between the Teeth

Should food get stuck in the teeth and braces, trying to rinse or floss it out is the best first course of action. Patients only need to come see us if they can’t remove the offending object this way. We strongly recommend NOT using sharp items like scissors or a knife as this can accidentally injure the patient and/or damage their appliance.

Broken or Lost Retainer

The best way to prevent a lost retainer is to make sure it only goes two places—the mouth or its specific container. Life happens, however, and you should give us a call if a retainer goes missing or is broken. It’s important to replace relatively quickly as not using it regularly can allow the teeth to start shifting back to their starting positions. Once you give up searching, reach out to our team.

Loose Teeth

The teeth might feel a little loose after receiving braces or having them adjusted, and this is fine! It’s just a sign that the treatment is doing exactly what it needs to—shifting the teeth. However, if the teeth become noticeably looser, experience pain, and never seem to stabilize, then it’s time to schedule an appointment with us right away.