Emergency Care

Accidents happen...We've got you covered!

WE ARE ALWAYS AVAILABLE

If you are experiencing severe pain or have a problem that you cannot resolve yourself, do not come to the office, instead, please contact the following numbers:

Emergency Numbers:

During Normal Office Hours:

• Wilk & Wilk Cambridge: 519.624.9455

Outside Normal Office Hours:

• Wilk & Wilk Cambridge: 519.716.8866

Guidelines for simple orthodontic problems:

Loose Brackets & Poking Wire First Aid

Tooth Tenderness

During the first week following the placement of your braces or after the first Invisalign® aligner is inserted, you will likely feel some pressure and/or discomfort. You may also experience this infrequently following routine adjustments of the braces and inserting new Invisalign® aligners. This will disappear quickly. We recommend patients eat soft foods during this initial adjustment period and use an over-the-counter pain reliever if necessary. We generally recommend acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (e.g. Advil®, Motrin®), only if there are no known allergies to these medications. If you have an open sore, you can rinse with warm salt water to soothe the area.

Loose Teeth

During your orthodontic treatment, it is natural for your teeth to become loose as the bone around the teeth softens. This is a natural occurrence and will not lead to any long-term problems. The bone will solidify once the teeth have been moved into their ideal positions.

Sore Lips and cheeks

During the first week following the placement of your braces, you may develop small sores on your lips and cheeks. This will disappear quickly. If at any time during treatment you notice a particular area of your braces that is aggravating the inside of your mouth, place a small piece of wax on the part of your braces that is causing the irritation. A topical anesthetic such as Orabase® or Orajel® can be used for immediate relief.

Poking wire

Sometimes a wire can slide and start poking. To resolve the discomfort, push the wire away from the affected area using the eraser end of a pencil or a cotton swab. If the wire cannot be tucked away, cover the end of the wire with a small piece of wax or a cotton ball. As a last resort, if the wire is poking your cheek and wax does not help, you can cover the end with a small piece of cotton, then cut it close to the back of the last brace with nail clippers that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. If you cannot resolve the wire irritation, please call our office for an appointment.

SHARP EDGE OF A CLEAR (INVISALIGN®) ALIGNER

If an aligner has a sharp edge, carefully file it down with an emery board. If you still find soreness, please contact our office.

Loose or missing elastic tie

Occasionally during your orthodontic treatment with braces, an elastic tie may fall off an orthodontic bracket. There is no need to come to the office for an appointment because the wire will remain in place and continue to work. The elastic tie can be fixed or replaced at your next appointment.

Loose brackets or bands

Occasionally during your orthodontic treatment with braces, a bracket or band may become loose. In most cases, the bracket or band remains connected to the orthodontic wire and can be left as-is and repaired at your next visit. If there are any sharp edges, cover them with orthodontic wax or a cotton swab. Please call us at your earliest convenience so that we can change your next appointment to allow time to repair the broken bracket/band.

Loose or broken appliance

LOST SEPARATORS (RUBBER DONUTS BETWEEN THE TEETH)

Separators create a tiny space between adjacent teeth usually in preparation for the placement of an orthodontic appliance. As space is created, it is possible for them to fall out. Do not worry about losing a separator, but call our office to see if it needs to be replaced.

RUNNING OUT OF ELASTICS

If Dr. Wilk has recommended elastic wear to detail your bite and you are running out and need more, please contact our office so we can make arrangements to provide you with more.

ACCIDENTS TO THE MOUTH

If you experience trauma to the mouth and your teeth have been hit or hurt, please call our office right away.