At Creekwood Orthodontics, our mission is to provide the highest possible quality orthodontic care in a friendly, easy-going environment. Dr. John Dorsch and our team of highly trained orthodontic assistants will work with you to design and implement a customized treatment plan that will perfectly fit your orthodontic needs. We are committed to customer service, and no matter what issue you may experience; we’re here to help.
While there are few true orthodontic emergencies, we’re here no matter what happens. If you have a broken appliance or are in serious pain, please call us as soon as possible or contact us through our webchat available by clicking on the quotation at the bottom right hand side of our site and we’ll schedule you an appointment right away. Even if you already have an appointment scheduled, if you’ve broken an appliance, be sure to call us first – this will help us prepare to fix things up as quickly as possible.
Thankfully, most orthodontic malfunctions are minor and can often be fixed at home. Refer to these guidelines for information on what to do during a few common situations, and remember – even if you stop the pain from a broken appliance, you’ll still need a repair appointment.
Losing a spacer during treatment is extremely common – don’t stress over it, but be sure to call us to see if it needs to be replaced.
Often, patients experience soreness or discomfort after an adjustment appointment or after first getting braces. This is completely normal and all part of the process – it’s a sign that your orthodontics are working and moving your teeth to their correct positions! If you do experience pain, you can take acetaminophen or any other non-aspirin pain reliever during your adjustment phase. You can also try gargling lukewarm saltwater (one teaspoon of salt for every eight ounces of water), or use a warm washcloth or heating pad to combat soreness. The pain should go away in a few days, but if it continues to persist, call us to make sure everything is all right.
If possible, it is best if the loose bracket stays on the wire. If the patient is uncomfortable with the bracket hanging from the wire, it can be removed with a toothpick and the patient can bring it with them to their appointment. If the bracket does come off completely, please bring it with you to the patient appointment. Either way, call our office to schedule an emergency appointment to have it replaced or let us know so we can adjust your regularly scheduled appointment time as necessary to allow for more time for that appointment type.
If a loose wire is bothering you, try covering the wire with dental wax. If the wire is severely uncomfortable, cut it behind the last bracket it’s secured in with sterilized nail clippers and call us as soon as possible.
Have more questions? We’re here to help! Feel free to reach out to us at our contact page, or use our easy online form to schedule an appointment at our Kansas City, MO office. We can’t wait to hear from you!