Orthodontic Emergencies
Quick help for common orthodontic issues in Ardmore, OK
Don't Panic—We're Here to Help
While orthodontic emergencies are rare, minor issues with braces, wires, or aligners can happen. Most problems can be temporarily resolved at home until you can visit our office. Below you’ll find helpful guidance for the most common orthodontic concerns.
Remember: True orthodontic emergencies are very uncommon. Most issues are simply inconveniences that can be easily fixed.
Call Immediately
Severe pain, swelling, breathing issues, or signs of infection
Call During Office Hours
Broken brackets, poking wires, loose bands—uncomfortable but manageable
Mention at Next Visit
Minor soreness, lost elastic ties, normal discomfort
Common Orthodontic Issues
Click on any item below for detailed instructions on what to do
Severe Pain or Swelling
Call Immediately
Signs & Symptoms
- •
Intense pain that doesn't respond to over-the-counter pain medication - •
Significant swelling of the face, gums, or mouth - •
Difficulty breathing or swallowing - •
Signs of infection (fever, pus, severe redness)
What You Can Do at Home
- 1.
Take over-the-counter pain medication as directed (ibuprofen or acetaminophen) - 2.
Apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek for 15 minutes - 3.
Rinse your mouth with warm salt water - 4.
Call our office immediately
When to Call Us
Call our office immediately. If swelling affects breathing or swallowing, go to the emergency room.
Broken or Lost Bracket
Call During Office Hours
Signs & Symptoms
- •
Bracket has come loose or fallen off completely - •
Bracket is still attached to the wire but moving freely - •
You have the loose bracket
What You Can Do at Home
- 1.
If the bracket is still attached to the wire, leave it in place - 2.
If it's causing irritation, cover it with orthodontic wax - 3.
If the bracket came off completely, save it and bring it to your appointment - 4.
Don't try to reattach it yourself
When to Call Us
Call during office hours to schedule a repair appointment. This is not usually urgent unless it's causing pain or significant irritation.
Poking Wire
Call During Office Hours
Signs & Symptoms
- •
Wire is sticking out and poking your cheek, tongue, or gums - •
Discomfort or irritation from the wire - •
Small sores developing from the poking
What You Can Do at Home
- 1.
Try using the eraser end of a pencil to gently push the wire back into place - 2.
Cover the poking wire with orthodontic wax - 3.
If the wire is very long, you can carefully clip it with clean nail clippers (disinfect first) - 4.
Apply orthodontic wax over the cut end
When to Call Us
Call during office hours if you can't manage the discomfort with wax. We can often fit you in quickly for a wire adjustment.
Lost or Broken Elastic Tie
Usually Can Wait
Signs & Symptoms
- •
Small colored rubber band around bracket is missing - •
Elastic tie has snapped or fallen off - •
Wire seems loose without the tie
What You Can Do at Home
- 1.
This is very common and not urgent - 2.
The wire will likely stay in place until your next appointment - 3.
If the wire seems loose, you can use wax to keep it in place - 4.
Continue wearing your elastics as directed (if applicable)
When to Call Us
Mention it at your next scheduled appointment. No need for an emergency visit unless the wire has come completely out of the bracket.
Loose or Lost Elastic (Rubber Band)
Usually Can Wait
Signs & Symptoms
- •
The rubber bands you wear between upper and lower teeth broke - •
You ran out of elastics - •
You forgot to bring elastics on a trip
What You Can Do at Home
- 1.
Replace with a new elastic from your supply - 2.
If you're out of elastics, call the office - 3.
We can usually provide more without an appointment - 4.
Continue treatment as normal with remaining supplies
When to Call Us
Call during office hours to arrange for more elastics. We can often leave them at the front desk for pickup, or mail them to you.
Loose Band or Spacer
Call During Office Hours
Signs & Symptoms
- •
Metal band around back tooth feels loose - •
Spacer (small rubber ring) has fallen out - •
Band is still on but moves when touched
What You Can Do at Home
- 1.
If a spacer falls out, don't worry—this sometimes means your teeth are ready for the next step - 2.
If a band is loose, try not to pull it off - 3.
Avoid chewing on that side if possible - 4.
Save the band or spacer if it comes out completely
When to Call Us
Call during office hours to schedule a repair appointment. We'll need to re-cement the band or evaluate if your spacers have done their job.
Soreness After Adjustment
Usually Can Wait
Signs & Symptoms
- •
Teeth feel sore or tender after an appointment - •
Difficulty chewing hard or crunchy foods - •
General achiness in teeth and jaw - •
Sensitivity that started after getting braces tightened
What You Can Do at Home
- 1.
This is completely normal and expected - 2.
Take over-the-counter pain medication as directed - 3.
Eat soft foods for a few days (yogurt, soup, mashed potatoes, smoothies) - 4.
Rinse with warm salt water to soothe gums - 5.
The soreness typically subsides within 3-5 days
When to Call Us
This is normal and doesn't require a call unless the pain is severe or lasts more than a week.
Irritation or Sores in Mouth
Usually Can Wait
Signs & Symptoms
- •
Sore spots on cheeks, lips, or tongue from braces rubbing - •
Small ulcers or canker sores - •
Redness or irritation where braces touch
What You Can Do at Home
- 1.
Apply orthodontic wax to the bracket or wire causing irritation - 2.
Rinse with warm salt water 3-4 times daily - 3.
Use over-the-counter oral pain gel if needed - 4.
Your mouth will toughen up over time as it adjusts to braces - 5.
Avoid acidic or spicy foods that may irritate sores
When to Call Us
This is very common when you first get braces. Call if sores don't improve after a week or if they become infected.
Swallowed or Aspirated Orthodontic Part
Call Immediately
Signs & Symptoms
- •
You swallowed a bracket, wire, or other orthodontic piece - •
Difficulty breathing after swallowing - •
Choking or coughing - •
Feeling like something is stuck in throat
What You Can Do at Home
- 1.
Stay calm - swallowing small orthodontic parts is usually not dangerous - 2.
Most small parts will pass through your system naturally - 3.
If you're having any trouble breathing, call 911 immediately - 4.
Monitor your symptoms - 5.
Contact our office to let us know what happened
When to Call Us
Call immediately if you're having any breathing difficulties. Otherwise, call during office hours to inform us and schedule a repair if needed.
Lost or Broken Retainer
Call During Office Hours
Signs & Symptoms
- •
Retainer is cracked or broken - •
Retainer no longer fits properly - •
You lost your retainer - •
Dog chewed your retainer (it happens!)
What You Can Do at Home
- 1.
Stop wearing a broken retainer - it could damage your teeth - 2.
Call us as soon as possible to order a replacement - 3.
If you recently finished treatment, your teeth may shift quickly without a retainer - 4.
Try to find the retainer if it's lost—sometimes we can determine if it's still usable
When to Call Us
Call during office hours right away. The sooner we can get you a new retainer, the less likely your teeth will shift.
Loose or Uncomfortable Invisalign Aligner
Usually Can Wait
Signs & Symptoms
- •
Aligner feels loose or doesn't fit snugly - •
Aligner is cracked or damaged - •
You lost your current aligner - •
Attachments have fallen off
What You Can Do at Home
- 1.
If an aligner is loose near the end of your wear time, move to the next aligner - 2.
If you just started wearing it, continue and it should fit better in a day or two - 3.
If you lost your current aligner, wear your previous set until we can advise - 4.
For a cracked aligner, continue wearing if possible and contact us
When to Call Us
Call during office hours for guidance. We can often advise over the phone about whether to move forward or go back to a previous aligner.
Your Orthodontic Emergency Kit
Keep these items on hand to handle minor issues at home
Essential Items
Helpful to Have
We Provide Emergency Kits
When you get your braces, we’ll give you a starter kit with orthodontic wax and instructions. If you need more supplies, just ask at your next appointment or call the office.
When It's NOT an Emergency
These situations are completely normal and expected
✓ Soreness after adjustments
Your teeth will be sore for 2-5 days after appointments. This means your treatment is working!
✓ Slight irritation from braces
Your mouth needs time to adjust. Use wax and it will get better within 1-2 weeks.
✓ Loose tooth feeling
Teeth need to loosen slightly to move. This is normal and your teeth will stabilize after treatment.
✓ Small gaps appearing
Gaps may appear temporarily as teeth move. Trust the process—we’re working toward your final result.
✓ Pressure from aligners
Invisalign aligners should feel tight at first. This pressure is moving your teeth as planned.
✓ Minor mouth sores
Small sores from braces rubbing are common. Use wax and rinse with salt water for relief.
What If I Have an Issue After Hours?
The vast majority of orthodontic issues are not true emergencies and can wait until our office opens. Use the guidance above to manage discomfort at home, and call us first thing in the morning.
If you experience severe swelling that affects breathing, uncontrolled bleeding, signs of serious infection (high fever, severe facial swelling), or facial trauma, go to your nearest emergency room or call 911. These are medical emergencies that require immediate medical attention beyond orthodontic care.
For broken brackets, poking wires, or other orthodontic issues that occur over the weekend, use temporary measures (wax, over-the-counter pain relief) and call our office when we open on Monday. We’ll get you in quickly to fix the problem.
Preventing Orthodontic Emergencies
Most problems can be avoided with proper care
❌ Avoid These Foods
✓ Best Practices
When in Doubt, Call Us
We’re here to help and always happy to answer your questions. If you’re unsure whether something needs attention, give us a call during office hours. We’d rather you check with us than worry!