What to do in case of emergency
If you break or loosen any of your appliances, call our office at (619) 21-ORTHO / (619) 216-7846 as soon as possible. Please do not come directly to the office – by calling us, you give us time to create a time a spot for your visit. Even if you have a regular appointment scheduled, call us immediately to notify us if you need an appliance repaired.
Office Hours:
Monday: emergencies only
Tuesday & Thursday: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Wednesday: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Friday: 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Loose brackets or bands
Call our office immediately for advice if a bracket or wire is loosened. The bracket may need to be re-fitted as soon as possible. You may have a situation that requires cutting a wire or sliding a bracket off a wire at night or over the weekend. If you need to cut a wire in case of emergency, you may use fingernail clippers that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. Please call our office the next business day, so that we may schedule an appointment for you.
Wire irritations
Sometimes discomfort caused by a wire on your braces can be resolved by moving the wire away from the irritated area with a cotton swab or eraser. If the wire will not move, try covering the end of it with a small piece of cotton or a small amount of wax. If the wire is painful, you can cut it with nail clippers or scissors that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. If you cannot resolve the wire irritation, call our office for an appointment.
Lost separators
Most patients lose a separator during their treatment. Do not worry about losing a separator, but call our office to see if it needs to be replaced.
Discomfort with orthodontic treatment
During the first week after your braces are in place and routine adjustments are complete, you will likely feel some pain, soreness or discomfort. You may take acetaminophen or other non-aspirin pain relievers while you adjust to your new braces. A warm wash cloth or heating pad may reduce the soreness in your jaws.
If you need emergency assistance with your braces or you need to see one of our orthodontists after regular office hours, please call our emergency service at (619) 395-5265. Both of our offices are
conveniently located near San Diego.