Emergency Info

What is an orthodontic emergency?

There are a few non-emergency mishaps that require patients to come in sooner than expected, but true dental and orthodontic emergencies are rare. You should only need to seek treatment immediately in a few limited situations like these:

• Trauma that includes injury to the mouth or face
• Unmanageable oral pain, whether you know the cause or not
• Infections or swelling in the mouth, including the gums, or elsewhere in the face

Unless you’re experiencing one of the three situations above, the problem might be one that requires attention soon, but it is not an emergency, and you can probably schedule a regular appointment to take care of it. Situations that fit these criteria include:

• Loose brackets
• Minor discomfort
• Minor tooth loosening
• Misplaced or poking archwires

In these cases, there might be minor adjustments to be made, but they aren’t producing a situation that requires immediate diagnosis and intervention.

What to do about orthodontic emergencies

In an actual emergency, you need to contact your dentist or orthodontist right away. If the event you’re involved in hurts you in any way where you require medical attention, always attend to these issues first.

Making an appointment for non-urgent issues

If you are experiencing minor problems with your braces, contact us and make an appointment with our staff. We’re here to help you get seen when you need someone to check out your braces in Marlborough, Northborough, Newton Centre & Worcester and make sure everything is ok.