Discomfort

Placement of orthodontic appliances and braces as well as Invisalign® aligners may cause some initial discomfort. Although this discomfort is temporary, it may last anywhere from 3-5 days after the inital placement and several days after adjustments. This tenderness might be felt while biting into foods and with general eating.  It is like having a sore muscle.   The more you use the teeth the faster you will feel relief.  If needed you can also use Tylenol or Ibuprofen, or whatever you would use for a headache, to help alleviate the discomfort.  Orthodontic wax is given and may be used to cover a sore spot or poking wire until the office can be contacted. Wax should not be worn consistently as the teeth, cheeks and gums need to callus and get used to the new appliances and will not be able to adapt if wax is worn continously.  We are available Monday thru Thursday 8am-5pm to address your questions and concerns.

Emergencies

True orthodontic emergencies are actually quite rare but they do occur and we would like to reassure you that we will be available to you.  As a general rule you should call the office any time you experience severe pain or discomfort.  Some discomfort is normal as you are adjusting to the appliances and adjustments that have been made during your visit.  If you are unable to take care of the issue yourself we will schedule an appointment to resolve the issue.

You might be suprised that you might be able to fix the problem temporarily until you can schedule an appointment. While in treatment it is important that you learn the names of the parts of your appliances so you can identify what is broken or out of place.  After alleviating the discomfort to the best of your ability it is still very important that you call the office and schedule an appointment to have the problem repaired, not doing so could result in delay of treatment.