Broken Appliances: What’s a True Emergency and What’s Not? A Tarzana Guide

Starting orthodontic treatment with braces or Invisalign is an exciting step toward achieving a beautiful smile, but sometimes minor issues arise. This guide from Kahan Orthodontics explains the difference between a minor issue you can fix at home and a true orthodontic emergency that needs immediate attention. We will walk you through common situations, such as a poking wire or a lost aligner, and provide you with simple home remedies to keep you comfortable. Knowing these simple steps means you will feel confident and prepared, ensuring your treatment stays on track and you know exactly when to call Dr. Kahan’s office right away. Remember, some soreness is normal, but severe pain, trauma, or swelling are always reasons to seek professional care immediately.

Understanding a True Orthodontic Emergency

Not every unexpected problem with your braces or aligners is a major emergency. Most issues are minor and can be fixed right where you are!

A true orthodontic emergency requires you to contact Kahan Orthodontics immediately. These are serious situations that involve trauma or severe symptoms and cannot wait for your next scheduled appointment.

Call Our Office Right Away If You Notice:

1. Trauma or Injury: If you have had an injury to the face, mouth, or teeth from a fall or a sports accident. Braces can sometimes make the impact of these events worse.
2. Severe Pain or Swelling: If you have severe pain that does not get better with simple over-the-counter medicine, or if you notice swelling in the gums, mouth, or face.
3. Excessive Bleeding: Any sign of bleeding that will not stop.
4. Infection: If you see any signs of infection, which might include persistent swelling or a bad taste in your mouth.
5. Lost Appliance Affecting Your Bite: If a major appliance, such as a retainer, is lost or broken. Or a specific mouth appliance component that controls your jaw function is broken or completely lost.

In these severe cases, please call our Tarzana office immediately for guidance.

Common Braces Issues and Simple Home Fixes

Braces are strong, but sometimes a small metal piece can move out of place. Here is how to handle the most common minor issues at home until you can visit our office.

1. Poking Wire

A wire sometimes slips and begins to poke the inside of your cheek or gums. This is very common, but it can be annoying!

What to Do at Home:

1. Use Wax: The quickest fix is to take a small piece of orthodontic wax, roll it into a ball, and press it directly over the sharp end of the wire. This creates a smooth cushion to protect your mouth.
2. Use a Pencil Eraser: You can gently use the clean eraser end of a pencil to push the wire back down or out of the way, making it less bothersome.
3. Call the Office: If the wire is poking severely and causing cuts or bleeding, call us right away for an emergency appointment. If it is just annoying, you can schedule an appointment for the next business day.

2. Loose or Broken Bracket

Brackets are the small metal squares glued onto your teeth. They can come loose if you eat hard or sticky foods you are supposed to avoid, like hard nuts or caramel.

What to Do at Home:

1. If the Bracket is Spinning on the Wire: Leave the bracket where it is and cover it with orthodontic wax to keep it from moving around or irritating your mouth.
2. If the Bracket Comes Off Completely: If it is completely detached from the tooth, carefully remove it and save it to bring to your next appointment.
3. Call the Office: If a bracket or band has completely fallen off the tooth, please get in touch with our office promptly for guidance. A broken bracket can slow down your progress, so we will need to schedule a repair soon.

3. Loose Bands or Spacers

Bands are metal rings that go around your back teeth. Spacers are small elastic rings placed between teeth before bands are put on. If one of these pops off, do not panic.

What to Do at Home:

1. Bands: If a band comes loose, try to save it and call our office to schedule a quick visit to have it re-cemented.
2. Spacers: Spacers are sometimes meant to fall out when enough room has been created. If one falls out and you are close to your next appointment, it might be okay. If you lose more than one or if your appointment is far away, give us a call to see if they need to be replaced.

Common Invisalign Issues and Simple Home Fixes

Invisalign aligners are removable, which makes life easier; however, they can sometimes be misplaced or damaged.

1. Lost Aligners

The biggest risk with clear aligners is forgetting where you put them! Remember, aligners should only be taken out to eat, drink anything besides water, or to brush your teeth.

What to Do at Home:

1. Search Carefully: First, retrace your steps. Check your pockets, your backpack, and especially the napkin where you last set them down. Never wrap your aligners in a napkin, as they are easily mistaken for trash!
2. Wear the Previous Set: If you cannot find your current set, quickly put in the aligners you wore before your current set. Wearing the previous aligner will keep your teeth from shifting back and hold the progress you have already made until a replacement can be ordered.
3. Call the Office: Call Kahan Orthodontics right away. We will tell you if we need to order a new aligner or if you are close enough to your switch date that you can safely move forward to the next set. Do not move to the next set without checking with us first.

2. Broken or Cracked Aligners

A small crack is not the end of the world, but a heavily damaged aligner can hurt your mouth and your treatment progress.

What to Do at Home:

1. Small Crack: If the crack is small and the aligner still fits over your teeth without hurting, you may continue to wear it until your replacement arrives. Be extra careful when removing it so that the crack does not worsen.
2. Significant Break: If the aligner is sharp or split, remove it immediately and switch back to the previous set of aligners you were wearing. Avoid using sharp or split trays because they can cut your mouth.
3. Sharp Edges: If a slight edge of the plastic tray is bothering your gums, you can use a clean nail file to gently smooth out the rough spot.

How to Stay Safe and Prevent Problems

The best way to handle an emergency is to prevent it from happening in the first place!

1. Use Your Case: Always keep your aligners in their designated case when they are out of your mouth.
2. Eat Smart: With braces, stick to soft foods, and be sure to slice hard foods like apples or carrots before eating them. Avoid hard and sticky candies that can break a bracket. With Invisalign®, remove them before you eat anything.
3. Wear a Mouthguard: If you play sports in Tarzana or Encino, always wear a mouthguard to protect your mouth, face, and orthodontic appliances from injury or trauma.

By being prepared and knowing these quick fixes, you can ensure your treatment stays comfortable and on track. If you are ever unsure about a problem, remember that the team at Kahan Orthodontics is always here to help. Do not hesitate to call our Tarzana/Encino office for guidance!