I just got braces put on yesterday and am experiencing pain. What can I do?

Slight tenderness and achiness is normal and will get better after the first couple of days! We recommend taking what you typically take for your average aches and pains – appropriate doses of ibuprofen or acetaminophen (Advil, Tylenol, Motrin, etc.).

One of my brackets came loose. What should I do?

If you notice a bracket is loose and you are experiencing extreme pain that cannot be tolerated until our next business day, please contact our Emergency Line at (715)828-0206. If you have a bracket loose but are not having any discomfort, we ask that you call our office during regular business hours to see if an extra appointment needs to be scheduled. If you do not have a routine appointment in the near future, we will schedule an emergency appointment for you. If you do have a routine appointment in the near future, we will make a note in your chart alerting the staff this needs to be taken care of when you come in.

Is it normal to have loose bands and brackets during treatment?

During the initial stages of treatment, particularly for the first couple of months after having braces placed, you might have a bracket or two come unglued. Typically this is due to the way some teeth hit on the brackets until they become better aligned. The likelihood of breaking brackets significantly decreases as your treatment progresses, and after the first couple of months a broken bracket or loose molar band is typically the result of chewing or biting hard/sticky foods or biting hard objects such as pen caps, pencils, ice, etc. Remember, problems with multiple broken appliances can result in additional fees and can also prolong your treatment!

I have something poking my cheek/lip. Do I need to come in?

If it feels like you have a sharp wire or hook, simply try pushing in the sharp edge with the eraser of a pencil. If you have a wire poking out and causing pain, try clipping it with a nail clipper, being extra careful not to cut your cheek! If you are still experiencing discomfort, call our office to schedule an appointment. If necessary, place a small ball of wax over the area to help reduce irritation until you can be seen.

One of those little colored things broke. Should I schedule an appointment?

If the ‘colored thing’ is a linked ‘chain’, we are probably trying to close space so this should be replaced within a couple of days in order to keep your treatment progressing. Please contact our office to discuss your individual situation and schedule an appointment if necessary.

Why is there a space between my front teeth that wasn’t there before?

Specifically in treatment involving an expander and/or a headgear, you might notice space opening up between you two front teeth. This is normal and exactly what we want to see happening. Don’t worry, we will close all of this space when the time is right!

The strap for my headgear keeps popping apart. Can that be fixed?

After a while, the attachments on your headgear’s neckstrap may weaken and unsnap. Try wrapping a household rubberband around this attachment several times to increase the tension on the clip. If this does not help, contact our office to get a new neckstrap. No appointment is needed for this. If you are having trouble with the facebow of your headgear actually popping out of your molar bands inside your mouth, try increasing the tension by advancing to the next hole on your neckstrap. If that still is not helping, contact our office, as an appointment may be necessary to adjust your headgear.

What should I do if my rubber bands keep breaking?

A rough or poking edge on a bracket or wire can easily break your rubber bands. Try pushing in the edges of wires/hooks with the eraser of a pencil. If this does not help smooth out any rough/sharp edges, contact our office for an appointment.