Call Us First · 615.778.1800

Emergency Care, Without the Panic

Most “emergencies” are quick fixes. Find your situation in the right column below — green you can handle, yellow needs a call within a day or two, red gets a same-day call.

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Quick Triage

How Urgent Is It?

Scan the three columns. The color tells you how fast to act — the lines below tell you what to do.

Tier 1 · You’ve Got This

Self-Fix

Take a breath. A few minutes and you’re back to normal.

Mouth sores or discomfortDab on a topical anesthetic (Orabase, Ora-Gel) with a cotton swab. Soft foods, warm salt-water rinses, ibuprofen for the underlying soreness.
Poking wirePush the wire flat with a pencil eraser or the back of a Q-tip, or cover the sharp end with orthodontic wax.
Bracket rubbing your cheek or lipDry the bracket with a paper towel, mash a ball of wax against it. Replace the wax as it wears off (usually after meals).

Tier 2 · Day or Two

Schedule a Quick Fix

Not urgent — but call us so we can reserve a short visit.

Loose bracket or bandStill attached to the wire? Leave it alone, add wax if it bothers you. Came off completely? Wrap it in a tissue and bring it in.
Loose wireTry to slide it back into the bracket with tweezers or needle-nose pliers. If you can’t, clip behind the last attached tooth with fingernail clippers.
Lost separatorSeparators sometimes pop out as teeth shift around them. Call us — we’ll tell you whether it needs to come back.

Tier 3 · Same Day

Call Right Away

These deserve a phone call as soon as you notice them.

Severe pain that won’t subsideAnything sharper than ordinary post-adjustment soreness, or pain that keeps you up at night.
Swelling or bleeding from the gumsEspecially around a specific bracket or band — could mean tissue irritation that needs a look.
Wire stuck in soft tissueIf a wire is embedded in your cheek, lip, or tongue and you can’t get it free, don’t pull. Call us.

Your Most Useful Tool

How to Use Orthodontic Wax

The single skill that solves 80% of brace irritations. Keep a sleeve in your bag, your car, your locker — and follow these four steps.

  1. Roll it. Take a small piece of wax and roll it between your fingers into a pea-sized ball. Body warmth makes it soft and pliable.
  2. Dry the bracket. Use a paper towel to dry whatever’s rubbing — wax sticks much better to a dry surface than a wet one.
  3. Press it on. Mash the ball directly onto the bracket, wire, or sharp end. It should feel smooth and cover the offending edge completely.
  4. Replace as needed. Wax wears off, usually after meals. Reapply whenever the irritation returns. Swallowed a piece by accident? Don’t worry — it’s harmless.

When in Doubt

Just Call Us

A two-minute call usually beats sitting at home worrying. We’d rather hear about a small problem on day one than a bigger one on day seven. Please don’t drive over unannounced — calling first lets us reserve time so we can get you in and out fast.

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