Emergency Orthodontist Gilbert
Quickly Addressing Your Smile’s Urgent Needs
Life can seem to come to a screeching halt when there’s something wrong with your orthodontic treatment, and it’s normal to feel immediately concerned and worried. Rest assured, no matter what has occurred, Dr. Larson and our team will be able to quickly and effectively handle the situation and ensure that your treatment remains right on track. If something’s amiss with your braces, aligners, or orthodontic appliance, don’t hesitate to contact our emergency orthodontist at once for assistance!
Why Choose Larson Family Orthodontics for Orthodontic Emergencies?
- Advanced Dental Technology That Streamlines Care
- Instant Communication with Grin Scope
- Multiple Dental Insurance Plans Accepted
What to Do in an Orthodontic Emergency
- Call Us at Once or Use the Grin Scope App! –If you’ve sustained an orthodontic emergency, the best thing you can do is get in touch with our team. From there, we’ll be able to assess the situation over the phone and provide immediate assistance before you come in. Patients can also take a scan with Grin Scope and then text Dr. Larson the scan through the app! He will review what you send and then schedule an appointment ASAP if needed. This allows patients to wait until they have the proper information instead of rushing to the practice right away..
- Attend Your Appointment –If necessary, we’ll let you know if you need to come to our office for same-day care. However, in many cases, the root of the issue can be addressed at your next orthodontic check-in..
- Receive Quick and Urgent Care –We emphasize providing quick and effective treatment when it comes to orthodontic emergencies, so rest assured that once you’re here, we'll quickly get you out of pain and remedy your situation. We’ll replace broken or lost parts as needed, and if there’s an oral health issue present, we’ll be sure you know where and how to get it resolved.
The Most Common Orthodontic Emergencies
No matter the nature of your orthodontic emergency, it’s important to keep in mind that all braces-related injuries require a visit to your orthodontist—these appliances aren’t something that you’re going to be able to repair on your own! Not to mention, neglecting to seek care when the issue first arises might result in further damage, which will only set back your treatment. That said, here are some actions you can take at home to protect your smile while you’re waiting to attend your appointment:
Mouth
Sores
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Broken
Ligature
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Soft
Tissue Cuts
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Something
Stuck Between
Teeth
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Understanding the Cost of Emergency Orthodontic Care
If you ever run into an urgent problem with your braces or other aspects of your orthodontic care, our team is ready to assist you. However, we understand that you might have some concerns about receiving treatment. For example, you may want to know how much it is going to cost! There are multiple factors that can affect the price of your emergency orthodontic care. Continue reading below to learn more.
Keys to Preventing Orthodontic Emergencies
When you need us – whether it’s for a broken bracket or a loose wire – you can have peace of mind knowing our team is just a phone call away. That said, we want to share all of our knowledge, recommendations, and tips on preventing orthodontic emergencies with the goal of you having an obstacle-free journey to a straighter smile. With this in mind, read on!
Orthodontic Emergency FAQs
How Should I Sleep with Tooth Pain?
In the hours after getting your braces, leaving your adjustment appointment, or transitioning to a new set of aligners, it’s normal to feel some soreness and sensitivity. Fortunately, there are several ways you can alleviate symptoms like these, allowing you to get a good night’s sleep. Eating soft foods, like cottage cheese, and using a cold compress for 10 minutes at a time are great places to start. You can also take OTC pain medication about 30 minutes before bed (just make sure to never take more than the recommended amount).
What Does Chronic Bad Breath Mean?
Patients often assume that the odor on their breath is stemming from an untreated oral health problem, like gum disease. While that’s certainly possible, it could also be due to your diet or oral hygiene regimen. After all, the brackets, wires, and spaces between your teeth can easily trap food particles.
The best thing to do is eliminate pungent foods from your diet and implement a solid oral hygiene regimen. When it comes to the latter, consider buying special tools to help you thoroughly clean your teeth and your braces, like an interproximal toothbrush and pre-threaded floss.
Should I Visit the Emergency Room First for Orthodontic Emergencies?
Since hospitals don’t typically have dentists or orthodontists on-staff, we don’t recommend going there if you’re struggling with a painful toothache, one of your wires is loose, etc. We do, however, recommend going to the ER (or calling 911) if you’re experiencing any potentially life-threatening symptoms, like uncontrollable bleeding.
Are Swollen Gums an Emergency?
Swollen gums are often a side effect of gum disease. During orthodontic treatment, however, it’s normal. To alleviate inflammation, we recommend sipping on cool water, rinsing with warm saltwater, and eating soft foods, like cottage cheese and plain yogurt. If the swelling persists for several days, or you start to experience other warning signs of gum disease, like bleeding when you floss, then call us ASAP.
Is It Safe to Use A Toothpick?
If you get something stuck between your teeth or wires, try rinsing with warm saltwater. Then, use floss (pre-threaded floss is often helpful for patients with braces!) to gently remove the debris. The reason we recommend this approach is because toothpicks can irritate your gums, push the debris further into position, and even be fatal if swallowed.
Important note: Don’t use any other sharp objects, like tweezers, either! If you’ve tried rinsing and flossing, but the debris remains firmly in position, give us a call.