While it can be alarming when something goes wrong with your braces, only the most severe emergencies may require immediate attention by Dr. Kaplan. For true, major orthodontic emergencies, don’t hesitate to call 770.458.5561 right away. However, the majority of common issues are easily treated at home with a follow-up appointment at our office. Remember: We are in this together!
Quick Fixes You Can Do at Home
These issues are common and easy to manage until we see you at your next appointment.
Discomfort & Soreness: It’s normal for a patient to have tenderness for a day or two after braces or retainers are adjusted.
- Solution: Encourage soft foods and rinse your mouth with warm salt water. Over-the-counter pain relievers (like Tylenol) are also an option if there are no allergies.
Irritated Lips, Cheeks, or Mouth Sores: New braces can sometimes cause minor irritation.
- Solution: Pinch off a small piece of the relief wax we provided, roll it into a ball, and place it completely over the area of the braces causing the irritation. You can also apply a topical anesthetic (like Orabase or Ora-Gel) directly to the mouth sore.
Protruding or Poking Wire: Occasionally, the end of a wire will move and irritate your cheek.
- Solution: Use a Q-tip or pencil eraser to gently push the wire so that it is flat against the tooth. If it can’t be moved, cover it with the relief wax until your appointment.
- Last Resort: In extreme cases where you can't get to us soon, you may carefully clip the wire using a pair of sharp clippers, making sure to use a folded tissue to prevent the snipped piece from being swallowed.
Food Caught Between Your Teeth: This is easily fixed!
- Solution: Use dental floss (try tying a small knot in the middle for extra leverage), an interproximal brush, or a toothpick to dislodge food caught between teeth and braces.
What to Do If Something Comes Loose (Brackets or Wires)
If any part of your braces comes loose or breaks, please call us to determine the appropriate next steps.
- Loose Brackets or Bands: If a bracket is knocked off, the parent or guardian should call us immediately. If the loose bracket is rotated and bothering you, you can attempt to slide it along the wire until it is between two teeth, gently rotate it back to the proper position, and slide it back to the center of the tooth.
- Missing or Broken Ligatures (Small Bands/Wires): If a rubber ligature (small band) comes off, you may be able to put it back in place using sterile tweezers. If a wire ligature comes loose, simply remove it with sterile tweezers, or bend it back down with a Q-tip. Please call us to let us know a ligature is missing.
- Loose Teeth: It’s a normal, although disconcerting, part of your treatment to feel as though your teeth are slightly loosened. This is a sign that your braces are doing exactly what we want them to! Once they settle into their new positions, they’ll stop feeling loose.
Kaplan Orthodontics Reviews
Dr Kaplan and the whole crew are amazing. Top notch service. I’m so glad I let them take care of my braces. I would recommend them to anyone and everyone. Don’t bother going anywhere else.
This has been by far the best 2 years. We live 1.5 hours away from here but it is worth the drive. You cannot find hospitality like this anywhere else, it truly is a family. I cannot thank the team enough for the kindness they showed me and my sister. The confidence they restored in our smiles is beyond measure! Thank you so much!!!!! We will miss our appointments.
We can’t say enough great things about Kaplan Orthodontics; I’d rate them 10 ⭐️ if I could! From the very beginning, Dr. Kaplan and the entire team have been absolutely amazing to our family. We live about 1.5 hours away, and they always made everything so convenient and easy when scheduling appointments.The staff is friendly, professional, and truly cares about their patients. Both of my daughters now have beautiful smiles, and we are beyond grateful for the kindness and care they received throughout the entire process. You can tell this office genuinely puts patients first.Highly recommend Kaplan Orthodontics to anyone looking for an orthodontist that goes above and beyond! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
They fixed my teeth
Great, excellent team, my daughter was very pleased and if my child is happy, then I will be ten times more pleased. 👏🏻🫶🏻👍🏻
723
Total Reviews
5
Star Average Rating
Swallowing an Appliance Piece (Rare)
This is rare, but if it happens, encourage the patient to remain calm. Non-aspirated pieces will pass through the digestive system uneventfully. If the patient is coughing excessively or having difficulty breathing, the piece could have been aspirated — call us and seek medical attention immediately.
We are here to help you through any little bumps in the road.
