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Orthodontic emergencies

A true orthodontic emergency is very rare. As a general rule, you should call one of our clinics when you experience severe discomfort or when you have an uncomfortable appliance problem that you cannot take care of yourself. We will then schedule an appointment to resolve the problem.

In most cases you will be able to temporarily solve the problem yourself until you schedule an appointment with us. Common problems and possible solutions are described below.

Loose bracket

If your bracket is loose and moving about but still attached to the wire, leave it in place and put wax on it. Call our friendly Customer Service staff to make an appointment to have your bracket repaired.

Broken bracket

If your bracket is broken and/or missing, please call the Customer Service staff to book the appropriate appointment to have this repaired. 

Loose or distorted wire

If possible, place the wire back into its original position, or tuck it underneath a nearby bracket to stabilise it. If necessary place wax over the wire end and use Brace Relief. Then call us for an appointment.

Headgear

Sometimes headgear discomfort is caused by not wearing the headgear as instructed by your orthodontist. Please refer to the instructions provided by your orthodontist. If the facebow is distorted or not fitting correctly, please call our office for assistance.

Loose appliance

If your appliance has come loose, is broken, lost or not fitting, please call the Customer Service staff at your nearest clinic and we will make the appropriate appointment for you.

Broken or split retainer

If you are able, continue to wear your retainer as instructed; however, call us to book an appointment to have your retainer checked.

Lost retainer

If you have lost or misplaced your retainer, have a very thorough search for it before calling one of our clinics. If it is not found, call and make an appointment for as soon as possible so that a replacement retainer can be made for you. This will involve coming in to have a new impression taken. It is important that you contact us within a week because without your retainers, your teeth may relapse and require treatment again.

Lost aligners

If you lose an Invisalign aligner during treatment, please give us a call so that we can advise on the best course of action. Depending on your case and how many days in you were, this will usually involve moving to the next aligner if possible, or if not, moving back to the previous aligner. For this reason, we suggest that you keep your old aligners in a safe place.