Miller Orthodontic Specialists in Keene, Rindge, NH and Brattleboro, VT

Smiles by Dr. Miller

Emergency Care

Occasionally, some patients will experience an injury to the mouth during treatment. Dental emergencies while wearing braces or other orthodontic appliances generally fall into two categories.

EMERGENCIES RELATED TO ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCES

Sometimes, appliances might be broken or bent during your orthodontic care. If there are any disturbances, such as loose bands, loose brackets, broken or poking wires, please call our office for an appointment during patient hours. For your convenience and the convenience of scheduled patients, it is not possible to handle emergencies on a walk in basis. In the meantime, here are some helpful hints to remedy some of the problems you may encounter until our office can see you.

  • If a tie wire is irritating your mouth, cover it with bees wax or tuck it under the arch wire with a blunt object like a pencil eraser or Q-tip.
  • A loose band or bracket can generally be left in place until seen in our office. Call Miller Orthodontic Specialists, during patient hours, when you notice a loose band or bracket. We will schedule you to reattach the loose appliance, if indicated.
  • A broken or poking archwire can often be bent in with a pencil erasure or cut with nail clippers. Call our office, during patient hours, if you do not feel the problem has been resolved properly.
  • Watch this video on YouTube that explains how to handle an orthodontic emergency.

DIRECT INJURIES TO THE MOUTH AND TEETH

Following a direct injury to your mouth or teeth, whether undergoing orthodontic care or not, immediately ice the injured area and you should contact your regular dentist as soon as possible. Usually an x-ray of the involved tooth or teeth is needed to determine the extent of injury. If a tooth has been displaced, knocked out, or fractured, it is best to contact your family dentist first, since we may not have the necessary materials or anesthesia required to treat these injuries. If the appliances are dislodged or displaced, we will need to replace or adjust the appliances as soon as possible, after you have seen your general dentist, depending upon the comfort level of the patient.

After Office Hours

If an orthodontic emergency arises where the patient is in pain after hours, please contact our office.  Information is available regarding who to contact for further assistance.

Lauren Moody
Lauren Moody
1695686607
Absolutely love Dr Miller and his team. They are so fast and friendly, they always do their best to... get us in quick when we have a problem, and the kids love the ice cream (I do too!) 100% recommend them for any and all Orthodontic needs!read more
Collin Watkins
Collin Watkins
1691895696
As a person who goes here regularly with my braces, I can tell you that this place is amazing! The... orthodontists and Dr. Miller treat me with awesome respect. They will tell you if you need to be doing better and the energy that everyone gives off is great! It is very easy to set up follow-up appointments. 5 Stars right off the bat.read more
EJ Dorta-Duque
EJ Dorta-Duque
1688823858
Clean, extremely efficient, staff is awesome - Very friendly. It’s nice not to dread going to the... orthodontist.read more
js_loader