Emergency Care
During your first week with braces, and after a routine adjustment, you may experience discomfort (comparable to an achy/sore muscle). We recommend common pain relievers (Tylenol, Advil, etc.) as a needed remedy until the soreness subsides. Most patients like to eat soft foods during this time of sensitivity.
Phone: 303-665-7333
Email: [email protected]
Caraway Orthodontics considers an orthodontic emergency to be anything causing severe pain, trauma, bleeding or swelling.
First Step: Call the office; we will get you in or direct you the the right place for help.
After Hours: call our emergency on call phone at 720-822-7906 and an assistant will guide you through steps to become more comfortable until they can meet you in the nearest office.
Wire Irritations
Irritation caused by the braces or a wire is common, and can be alleviated with wax or the “gishy-goo” you received from us at your “braces-on” appointment. For relief, try this: Place the wax or “gishy-goo” on or around any wire or bracket causing irritation. Re-apply as needed after eating and/or brushing until the area is healed. A salt water rinse may also be helpful if the cheek or gum tissue is raw and irritated. If a wire is too long and is causing pain, please call our office so we may schedule an appointment to clip the wire.
Loose Bracets or Bands
A broken bracket or band is not an emergency. If it is a weekend, it can almost always wait until the next business day. You may have to use the wax or “gishy-goo” as described above until we see you. Please call our office to schedule an appointment to have the bracket or band rebonded.
Loose or Broken Appliances
If you have an appliance (expander, space maintainer, etc) that is loose or broken, please call our office as soon as possible to schedule an appointment to have the appliance rebonded or repaired. Please be aware that these types of appointments can take up to 40 minutes and usually cannot be added on to an existing appointment time.
Lost Separators (sometimes called a Spacer)
We expect a separator to be in the mouth for 1 week or less. Losing a separator is common as teeth move apart and a space is created. If it falls out the same day it was placed, call the office right away; it likely needs to be replaced. If it has been in the mouth for several days and your appointment is in the next day or two, it is not an emergency and will not likely need replacing. You can always call our office if a separator falls out; we will tell you whether or not to come in for help.
