Orthodontic Emergencies – Beyond Smiles Orthodontics

If you or your child is currently straightening your smile with braces, clear aligners, or any of our other treatments, you’ll be pleased to hear that orthodontic emergencies are relatively uncommon. All the same, it’s important to know what types of situations require urgent attention and what to do should you find yourself facing one. For fast orthodontic care when you need it most, you can count on our experienced team. We treat orthodontic emergencies and the surrounding communities as quickly as possible, so don’t wait to give us a call!

Why Choose Beyond Smiles Orthodontics for Emergency Orthodontic Care?

01 What to Do in an Orthodontic Emergency

No matter how big or small your orthodontic emergency is, all you need to do is follow these easy steps:

Step 1: Call our office. We do everything to see emergency patients as quickly as possible, so call us right away so we can make room for you in our schedule. One of our experienced team members will guide you over the phone on how to handle your emergency until you can reach us.
Step 2: See Dr. Isaak Yelizar. Your emergency orthodontist Dr. Yelizar will see you right away when you arrive. After carefully evaluating your situation and gathering any necessary data, such as X-ray images, he will explain his findings to you.
Step 3: Get the care you need! In many cases, Dr. Yelizar will be able to handle your orthodontic emergency right away. In some cases, such as you need a replacement piece for your orthodontics, we may need to schedule you for a follow-up appointment before you go.

02 The Most Common Orthodontic Emergencies

Are you in significant pain? Are your braces broken? Are you concerned about a new symptom you’ve noticed during your treatment? Orthodontic emergencies come in all shapes and sizes, from small inconveniences to major issues. Even if you aren’t sure if your situation qualifies as an emergency, we encourage you to give us a call anyway. We will help you assess your symptoms over the phone and walk you through the next steps you should take. Below, you’ll find some of the most common orthodontic emergencies we treat.

Toothaches

Loose Bracket

Broken Wire

Poking Wire

Mouth Sores

Broken Ligature

Soft Tissue Cuts

Something Stuck Between Teeth

Broken or Lost Retainer

Loose Teeth

03 Understanding the Cost of Orthodontic Emergencies

Since orthodontic emergencies tend to vary from patient to patient, there’s no actual “set cost” for emergency treatment. Some emergencies are quick and relatively inexpensive to treat, while others may require complex care, replacement parts, or other things that can be tacked on to the total price. This means that until you’ve come in to see us for an emergency examination, we can’t give you an accurate cost estimate. Keep reading below for some more useful information about the different factors that often play into the cost of treating orthodontic emergencies.

Every Orthodontic Emergency Is Different

Keep in mind that since every person’s smile and orthodontic treatment differ, no two orthodontic emergencies truly look the same. But this isn’t a reason to worry; even the direst circumstances can be treated, and most of the time, these situations aren’t too severe to begin with. In any case, the first thing we’ll do once you arrive is quickly and carefully examine your situation, to determine the extent of the damage and what will be required to treat you.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Orthodontic Emergencies?

You’ll be happy to hear that most dental insurance providers offer some degree of coverage for orthodontic emergencies, but this coverage varies from plan to plan. This is why it’s always going to be in your best interest to familiarize yourself with the details of your policy, ideally before committing to orthodontic treatment. If your plan doesn’t provide any orthodontic benefits, it’s also possible to purchase supplementary orthodontic insurance. Our team is more than happy to review the specifics of your plan with you to ensure that you’re making the most of your benefits whenever possible!

Other Options for Making Orthodontic Emergencies Affordable

Lacking dental insurance should never be a roadblock that prevents you from receiving necessary orthodontic care. That’s why our practice is proud to offer means of making your treatment more affordable, including our “Interest-Free In-House” option, which lets us work out a low down payment and no-interest monthly payments that fit within your individual budget. We’re also excited to provide a “Sibling Discount,” which offers discounted rates for siblings or any other family members wanting to begin treatment with us. We also work with LendingPoint, a third-party financer that helps qualifying patients break up their total cost of care into manageable installments.

Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save You Money

In all honesty, the best way you can save money on orthodontic care, including emergency treatment, is by simply taking great care of your smile – patients in good oral health are far less likely to encounter dental or orthodontic emergencies! But in addition to maintaining excellent oral hygiene, you also need to make smart choices. For example, if you have metal braces, you should avoid problematic foods and wear your elastics as instructed. Likewise, if you’re an Invisalign patient, be sure to remove your aligners before eating. In the long run, taking great care of your smile will save you money, since you’re unlikely to suffer unexpected, expensive setbacks.

04 Keys to Preventing Orthodontic Emergencies

While you can count on our team to be here for you should you ever experience an orthodontic emergency, we’d prefer it if you never ran into one of these scary situations in the first place! Avoiding an orthodontic emergency is an easy task if you practice a few healthy habits and simple precautions. Practicing good oral hygiene, following your treatment plan, and visiting us for regular checkups will all go a long way in keeping your smile safe and your treatment on track!

Prioritize Your Check-In Visits

Throughout your teeth-straightening journey, you’ll come into our office periodically. If you have traditional braces, then we’ll use these visits to adjust your brackets and wires and assess the condition of each. In short, these routine visits help prevent orthodontic emergencies like broken wires and loose attachments.

Maintain Good Oral Hygiene At Home

Remember, orthodontic emergencies can extend beyond broken brackets and loose wires. To keep your teeth and gums healthy throughout your teeth-straightening journey, it’s of the utmost importance that you consistently brush, floss, and rinse with mouthwash. If you’ve fallen off-track because you’re having trouble cleaning around your braces, try using special oral hygiene products, like an interproximal toothbrush.

Abide by the Dietary Restrictions

One of the top reasons patients end up at our office due to an orthodontic emergency is because they did something that caused a bracket, wire, or attachment to snap. So, don’t eat chewy, crunchy, and sticky foods during your teeth-straightening journey (i.e., caramel candies, tortilla chips, raw nuts). It’s also important to limit your intake of foods and drinks with added sugar since they can result in a cavity or two developing.

Wear a Mouthguard During Sports

All too often, patients wear protective gear – like kneepads and helmets – but completely forget to protect their teeth (and braces) from harm. We recommend having a custom mouthguard made for that very reason: to protect your smile from accidental bumps, rogue balls, and bad falls. Important note: You should wear a mouthguard even if you participate in a non-contact sport like skateboarding or surfing.

Quit Unhealthy Dental Habits

In short, even habits that seem harmless can increase your risk of experiencing an orthodontic emergency. That’s why we encourage our patients to avoid habits like biting their nails, chewing on ice cubes, or using their teeth as tools to open things.

05 Orthodontic Emergency FAQs

How Should I Sleep with Tooth Pain?

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From time to time, it’s normal to experience some soreness and pressure from your braces. The good news is that there are several things you can do to alleviate it, like eating only soft foods, sipping on cool water, and using a cold compress for 10 minutes at a time. If the discomfort you’re experiencing is stemming from a sharp bracket or wire, then cover it with some dental wax as well. If all else fails, you can also take OTC pain medication about 30 minutes before bed (just make sure to follow the directions on the label!).

Is It Safe to Use A Toothpick?

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If you have something stuck in your brackets or lodged between your teeth, you might be tempted to reach for a toothpick. However, this often results in the debris getting pushed further into position. Plus, swallowing a toothpick can be deadly, so we don’t recommend using them.

Tip: Rinse your mouth with warm saltwater! This should help loosen the debris. Then, you can use your floss of choice to gently remove it. If that doesn’t work, call our dental team instead of reaching for something sharp.

What Does Chronic Bad Breath Mean?

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Chronic bad breath often stems from one of two things: diet or oral hygiene. For that reason, we recommend first eliminating pungent foods from your diet (i.e., pickles, onions, fish) as well as prioritizing your at-home dental care regimen. If that doesn’t seem to do the trick, then don’t hesitate to bring it to our attention at your next check-in visit. That way, we can take a look at your teeth and gums to determine if an untreated oral health problem is the culprit.

Should I Worry About a Chipped Tooth If It Doesn’t Hurt?

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Although a same-day visit to your dentist’s office may not be necessary, it is a good idea to give them a call and share what happened. From there, they can determine the urgency of the situation and schedule an appointment with that information in mind. Remember, even if you aren’t experiencing any pain, the tooth could develop an infection or break further. In other words, scheduling an appointment now could save you from a painful dental injury later.

Should I Visit the Emergency Room First for Orthodontic Emergencies?

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Hospitals don’t usually have dentists or orthodontists on-staff. That’s why we don’t recommend going to the ER if you have a broken bracket, a loose wire, or a damaged retainer. Of course, if you are experiencing any potentially life-threatening symptoms, like uncontrollable bleeding, then that certainly warrants a call to 911 or a visit to the ER. After you get the medical attention you need, give us a call so we can address any damage to your braces and get your orthodontic treatment back on track.

Orthodontic Emergencies — Syosset, NY

Fast Orthodontic Care When You Need It Most

Why Choose Beyond Smiles Orthodontics for Emergency Orthodontic Care?

01

What to Do in an Orthodontic Emergency

02

The Most Common Orthodontic Emergencies