Now...About Your Emergencies
What to do if you damage your appliances

Even though you are careful, you may still occasionally do some damage to your appliances. If a band or a bracket comes loose from a tooth. CALL OUR OFFICE AT ONCE. While a tight band actually protects from decay, a loose band is extremely dangerous and decay under it occurs very rapidly.

• IF YOU ARE AWAY FROM THIS AREA: Have an orthodontics or dentist cut the fine wire and take off the band or bracket. Keep all parts and bring them in when you come back to our office.
• If a main archwire breaks (the one that goes all the way around the outside of your braces), call our office for an emergency appointment.
• If a small wire breaks, carefully remove it and call our office. If you are unable to take care of a sticking wire, place some wax over the irritating part. This Little Sticker Wax is provided for you by our office. Any time you need more, just ask us.
• Sometimes a sticker can be safely turned down so that is no longer causes you discomfort. Use a pencil eraser, or some other smooth object, and tuck the offending little wire back in out of the way.
• If you are involved in contact sports, a mouth guard can be fitted over your braces for added protection.

These are the most important parts of your appliances

• Bands: These are thin bands of metal carefully fitted to the tooth and then cemented in place. They carry brackets, tubes or rotating levers (in other words they become a handle on your tooth).
• Brackets: Small "handles" bonded or cemented to the tooth surface. Also fixed to bands on back teeth. These allow us to attach archwires that help move teeth.
• Rubber Bands: These provide a force that helps teeth move, usually one arch or group of teeth against another.
• Archwires: These act as a guide or track along which the teeth are to be moved. They are changed throughout the treatment.

In The Future...

• No hard candy, ice or sticky stuff.
• Be careful with hard foods - apples, carrots and such.
• Keep your fingers out of your mouth - don't pick at your braces!
• When playing sports - wear a mouth guard. We can help fit you for one!
• AND ask for help when you need it. We all want the best for you!

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