Emergency Orthodontist – Cumming, GA
Fast Orthodontic Care Right When You Need It
99% of our patients start treatment and experience absolutely zero problems on their journey towards a new smile, but of course, some encounter bumps along the way. If you or your child find yourselves dealing with a damaged appliance or pain, don’t hesitate to reach out to the team at Serenity Orthodontics. Dr. Podray and Dr. Lewis, your emergency orthodontists in Cumming, GA, are able to 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
- Orthodontist with Nearly a Decade of Experience
- Happy to Help Adults & Children Alike
How to Handle Different Types of Orthodontic Emergencies
What counts as an orthodontic emergency? It’s basically any situation that involves excessive oral pain or discomfort as well as an orthodontic appliance. If you’re having any trouble with your child’s braces or your own treatment, go ahead and give us a call. We’ll let you know if you can handle it yourself or whether you should come see us right away. In the meantime, here are a few things you can do during some of the most common orthodontic emergencies…
Minor Pain & Irritation
After braces have been put on or adjusted, or a patient switches to a new clear aligner, some slight oral discomfort is perfectly normal. This should go away after a few days and taking an OTC medication or rinsing with warm salt water can help in the interim. If the pain persists for about a week, however, you should give our office a call.
Broken or Lost Retainer
Whether a retainer has been broken or mysteriously “disappeared,” the best thing you can do is contact our office as soon as you can. Don’t try to repair it yourself, and don’t think that simply not using a retainer will be OK. Retainers are an essential part of a patient’s overall orthodontic treatment, and without them, the teeth will just move back to their original positions!
Loose Bracket or Wire
If a loose bracket or wire is causing irritation, take the eraser end of a pencil and try to gently push it back into place. Go ahead and give our office a call and try to avoid chewing near the loose bracket or wire until we can see you.
Protruding Wire
Are you being poked by a wire? You can use the eraser on a pencil to gently push it away, but if this doesn’t help, you can simply cover the offending part of the wire with some dental wax. If it is still causing discomfort, go ahead and give us a call, and we’ll make a more permanent adjustment.
Something Stuck in the Braces
Whatever you do, do NOT use scissors or another sharp object to try and remove something that is stuck in the braces. If you can’t get it with floss or by rinsing the mouth, it’s best to just come see us. Trying to vigorously remove something on your own could lead to additional damage to the braces or even oral injury!
Irritation from Headgear
It may take a child a few days to adjust to sleeping with headgear, but most are able to quickly adapt. However, if your child experiences irritation or pain for about a week or more, be sure to schedule an appointment with us. We may be able to tweak the headgear so they will feel more comfortable.
How to Prevent Orthodontic Emergencies
The best ways to ensure you or your child avoid orthodontic emergencies include:
- Brushing and flossing every day to prevent cavities that could throw off a treatment
- Not chewing on hard items like popcorn kernels, ice, or rock candies that can easily snap a bracket.
- Avoiding particularly chewy items like gum, caramels, or taffy that can become stuck in braces.
- Wearing a special mouthguard during sports that is designed to fit over an orthodontic appliance (we can provide one if you need it!).
The Cost of Orthodontic Emergencies
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 this type of care very affordable, including accepting insurance and offering in-house financing.
Orthodontic Emergency FAQs
Broken bracket braces are enough to cause any child, teen, or adult to panic. Whether it is a protruding wire, loose bracket, or both, the result can lead to an orthodontic emergency no one wants to experience. Fortunately, at Serenity Orthodontics, our exceptional team is here to quickly assess the situation and offer timely treatment to help you get back to your normal activity as soon as possible. But if you’re like most people, you probably have many questions and would prefer to be better prepared should this type of situation happen to you or your child. Below are some common questions we’ve received over the years. Should you have additional concerns or questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
When should an orthodontic emergency warrant a visit to the ER?
There are very few instances 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 position. 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 care?
First, no one wants to walk around with an irritating mouth sore or a broken wire sticking out the front of their teeth. Avoiding orthodontic emergency care will only cause your oral health to worsen as well as your facial aesthetic. Even if the injury doesn’t appear to be problematic on the surface, something could be occurring beneath the surface that is only detectable with the help of dental technology and a highly trained eye. By addressing these issues when they happen, no matter how minimal or severe, you can avoid more timely and costly treatment in the future.
What should I do if an 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. Dr. Podray-Donovan and Dr. Kylie Lewis will likely want to make sure everything looks correct, so there are no surprises moving forward.
Will 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. There are stipulations and exclusions that may apply; however, most companies allow for these situations, should they occur. The cost of these 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.