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Emergency Orthodontist — Allen, TX

When Emergency Strikes, Call Allen Orthodontics!

At Allen Orthodontics, we’ve seen our fair share of orthodontic emergencies. Problems can occur at any moment, whether it’s loose braces or a bracket, severe soft tissue irritation, or something else. Dr. Jones and Dr. Hanson will work quickly to resolve your problem and get your daily routine back on track. The moment you notice something wrong, you’ll want to seek emergency care as soon as possible to prevent your condition from worsening or any additional damage to your braces, teeth, or gums. When you call our orthodontic office to report your problem, we’ll work as quickly as possible to schedule your appointment at the earliest convenience. Learn more about what you can do to both avoid these emergencies and treat them at home by spending some time reviewing the below information about options to treat orthodontic emergencies in Allen. Please call us if you have any other questions.

Why Choose Allen Orthodontics for Emergency Orthodontic Care?

  • Open Five Days a Week
  • Works Hard to See You ASAP
  • Dedicated Team That Cares About Your Comfort

What to Do in an Orthodontic Emergency

  • Schedule a same-day appointment: The sooner you give us a call, the more likely we’ll be able to get you seen that very same day. Our office is open five days a week for your convenience. An experienced team member will provide first-aid instructions over the phone to help you manage your situation in the meantime.
  • Have an emergency exam: When you get to our office, Dr. Jones or Dr. Hanson will perform a thorough examination to identify the cause of your orthodontic emergency. If possible, your issue will be dealt with immediately.
  • Review findings: After the examination, we’ll create a custom treatment plan to get your orthodontic treatment right back on track. Dr. Jones or Dr. Hanson will walk you through the process to ensure you know what to expect before committing to anything.
  • Get the care you need: Our team will work quickly to address the problems you’re facing. However, you may need to visit your regular dentist for additional treatment (i.e., fillings, root canal therapy, gum disease treatment)

The Most Common Orthodontic Emergencies

Orthodontic emergencies aren’t very common, but they can still occur when you least expect them to. It’s incredibly important that you seek treatment as soon as possible, especially if you’re in pain or are feeling worried. Call our office right away to schedule an emergency appointment. In the meantime, you can review the tips below on how to manage the most common orthodontic emergencies we see.

Understanding the Cost of Orthodontic Emergencies 

Person in pain with food stuck in braces

No two smiles are the same, which is why it’s impossible to say how much your orthodontic emergency will cost until you come in for an exam. Our team will need to perform a thorough examination to determine the best treatment method for your unique case. When you visit our office, we’ll explain the pricing information and your available financing options to ensure you know what to expect.

How to Prevent Orthodontic Emergencies

Closeup of patient with braces brushing teeth to avoid orthodontic emergencies

When you know you have a professional who can help when you’re dealing with an ortho emergency, it’s always better to try and take precautions to avoid the most common orthodontic injuries when possible. A few ways to do this include:

  • Start by maintaining positive oral hygiene and brushing your teeth and flossing everyday. That way, you can prevent cavities from forming and gum disease from developing.
  • Do not eat or chew on hard, crunchy, or sticky foods. These can cause decay and damage your brackets and wires.
  • Wear a protective mouthguard whenever engaging in sports or outdoor physical activities.
  • Ensure your braces are in good shape and no problems or issues are present by keeping up with regularly scheduled dental appointments.

What Are the Best Ways to Care for Braces/Retainers at Home?

Person with braces flossing

Depending on the scenarios you face, there are ways you can take care of your braces at home when a problem arises. Not all situations require an immediate visit to the emergency orthodontist, but it’s always a good idea to call and inform our team of a problem you’re unable to fix or are too concerned to handle at home.

Keep these tips in mind:

  • Be sure to floss between the wire and tooth to loosen any food that becomes stuck. This can lead to possible cavities and tooth decay.
  • When a regular toothbrush isn’t up to the task of cleaning your teeth and braces, feel free to ask us about other helpful products that do work. There are specialized toothbrushes you can buy that can benefit your smile as you wear your brackets and wires.
  • After you received your retainer, clean it using toothbrush and water. This will loosen it of any food debris. Soak it in a denture cleanser and be sure to rinse it well before placing it back into your mouth.

Orthodontic Emergency FAQs

From how to get a good night’s sleep with tooth pain to where you should turn for treatment, it’s completely normal for patients to have questions about orthodontic emergencies. After all, you want to be as prepared as possible on the off chance that you do experience one. That’s why we’ve dedicated this next section to answering commonly asked questions about orthodontic emergencies.

How should I sleep with tooth pain?

Throughout your orthodontic treatment, you may experience some tooth pain (typically following your adjustment appointments). The good news is that there are several measures you can take to alleviate your discomfort and sleep soundly. First, don’t eat anything particularly chewy or crunchy for dinner, like tortilla chips. Next, take an OTC pain reliever about 30 minutes before bed. You can also place a cold compress against the outside of your cheek for 10 minutes at a time, which will help alleviate uncomfortable inflammation.

Should I visit the emergency room first for orthodontic emergencies?

Remember, hospitals don’t typically have dental professionals on staff. Therefore, you shouldn’t head there first unless you’re experiencing potentially life-threatening symptoms, like uncontrollable bleeding, difficulty swallowing, or a fractured jaw. For “straightforward” orthodontic emergencies (i.e., broken brackets, loose wires, lost retainers), your first call should be to our Allen orthodontic office.

What does throbbing tooth pain mean?

Although some soreness is normal with braces, throbbing tooth pain is not. Typically, this is a symptom of a serious dental emergency, like a large crack or an infection. That’s why we recommend bringing any abnormal symptoms to our team’s attention early on. That way, we can determine what the cause is and what the next best steps are ASAP.

Do I need to visit for minor chips to teeth?

In short, the answer is “yes.” Even though small chips may not seem like much of an issue (and may not cause you any pain), they do warrant a visit. We need to make sure none of your other teeth were damaged and that the chipped tooth isn’t at risk of becoming infected or splitting further.

Are toothpicks safe to use?

If you have something stuck between your teeth or around a bracket, don’t use a sharp object, like a toothpick or tweezers. This can quickly result in a soft tissue injury that does require immediate attention. Instead, we recommend loosening the debris by rinsing your mouth with a mixture of warm water and salt. Then, use your toothbrush or some floss to clean the area thoroughly. If you don’t have any luck with this, then call our team to schedule an appointment.