Emergencies
In case of a true orthodontic emergency, Dr. Chetlin is only a phone call away. If you cannot reach him at the office, please call him at (412) 576-4489 (Please only use this number for emergencies!). If your emergency involves a trauma to the mouth such as being hit in the mouth - please get to your closest emergency facility and contact your general dentist. Your general dentist is your first line of contact with a trauma.
Fortunately, most problems with orthodontics are not emergencies, but rather nuisances. Things like broken wires or loose brackets need attention, but they are not considered emergencies unless the patient is in pain.
We hope these tips will help to make orthodontics a little easier and will cut down on trips to the office.
First, let's define some terms for what is in the mouth and some normal problems with each that may occur:
- Bands - these are the metal rings that go around a tooth - usually in the back of the mouth. Usually present if the patient has an expander or wears headgear. If one of these comes loose it means that the seal on the cement has given loose and we will need to re-cement it at your earliest convenience. If the patient has a headgear - they should quit wearing it until we get that band back on.
- Brackets - these are the small steel or ceramic "braces" that are glued to the surface of the teeth. Usually the problems that occur with these are that the cement seal is broken and the bracket dislodges from the tooth making it possible to move it on the wire. Again this is nothing that you should be alarmed about, but we can fix it at your earliest convenience. The only thing holding the bracket to the wire is the little colored tie that we put on - you can take a pair of tweezers or a toothpick and remove the tie - the bracket will fall off. You can also just place some wax on the bracket if it is rubbing on the lip.
- Hooks - these are extensions on the brackets that we use to "hook" elastics to when we are correcting the bite. Sometimes these can break off and need to be re1placed in order to wear your rubber bands. Please call us if you need these fixed. Stop wearing the elastics until you have them fixed.
- Archwires - these are the wires that we put through the brackets - they are the most important item in your mouth because they do all the work. Some wires are round, some are rectangular and yet others are activated by heat and cold. If an archwire becomes long you can do a couple of things. You can place wax over it to prevent it from "stabbing" you until you can get in to have it cut, you can try and trim it yourself with a nail clipper or a pair of wire cutters, or you can take the eraser from a pencil and try to bend it out of the way. If a wire breaks or becomes loose - we need to fix it as soon as you can get in to the office.
The best way to avoid emergencies or problems with your braces is to watch what you eat. Hard and sticky foods will break the brackets and pull the bands off the teeth. Do not put your fingers in your mouth to play with the appliances. Biting finger nails or pens is also to be avoided. And remember to always wear a mouth protection when playing sports.
Retainer issues
Lost or broken retainers
If you break or lose a retainer it is very important that you have it replaced as soon as possible.
Teeth can move quickly and we should get retainers back into the patients mouth before that happens. There is a cost involved in
retainer replacement and someone can answer your questions concerning that at the time you call for the appointment.
How long do I need to wear retainers?
When you first get your braces off you need to wear them all the time except eating and
brushing. During this first six month period, it is no important to build stability with the teeth. After 6 months, most patients
can go to wearing the retainers only in the evening and sleeping (12 hours is recommended). Up until the time a decision is made
on wisdom teeth, retainers should continue to be worn. Once wisdom teeth are not an issue - we still recommend you wear the retainers
periodically to maintain the smile we created. The rule of thumb is if they are tight when you put them on then your teeth are moving
and you should wear the retainer more. If they go in and out easily and you don't feel any pressure they are probably staying where
we put them - but keep checking.
How do I keep my retainers clean?
First and foremost, do daily care with brushing with water and rinsing well. Second, when a
residue begins to form use Retainer Brite that we provided you and which can be ordered from the company. Don't let debris build up
and then expect to get it off. Keep them clean and clear from the beginning. If you would like to have new ones made - please inquire
at the office.