Treatment
Orthodontic emergencies
Most orthodontic problems are uncomfortable or inconvenient, but they are not dangerous. A loose bracket, poking wire, broken appliance, or lost aligner usually does not require an emergency room visit. However, it is important to contact your orthodontist so the problem can be evaluated and you can be told whether it needs attention now or can safely wait until your next scheduled appointment.
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends contacting your orthodontist when brackets, wires, aligners, retainers, or other appliances become loose, broken, painful, or no longer fit properly.
A true medical or dental emergency is different. Heavy or uncontrolled bleeding, difficulty breathing or swallowing, major facial trauma, a suspected broken or dislocated jaw, or a permanent tooth that has been knocked out or severely displaced requires urgent professional care. Sudden severe pain accompanied by facial swelling, fever, or other signs of infection also needs prompt evaluation.
When we are open
| Monday | 09:00-18:00 |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 11:00-19:00 |
| Wednesday | 09:00-18:00 |
| Thursday | 09:00-18:00 |
| Friday | 09:00-16:00 |
| Saturday | 10:00-15:00 |
| Sunday | Closed |
When should I call about a problem?
Call or text Luminary Orthodontics if you notice:
- A bracket that has become loose or detached.
- A wire that has broken, shifted, or is poking your cheek, lip, tongue, or gum.
- A loose band, expander, or other orthodontic appliance.
- An aligner that is lost, cracked, distorted, or no longer fits properly.
- A retainer that is lost, damaged, or no longer fits.
- Significant or unusual soreness that does not improve as expected.
- A mouth sore or area of irritation that is getting worse rather than better.
- A blow or injury to the teeth, mouth, or face that may have affected your braces, aligners, teeth, or bite.
- Anything about your appliance or treatment that suddenly feels different or does not seem right.
You do not need to decide whether something is "serious enough" before contacting us. Tell us what happened, and we will help determine the appropriate next step.
What happens when I contact you?
Here is what you can expect when you contact Luminary about an orthodontic problem.
Tell us what happened.
Call or text our office and briefly describe the problem. If the office is closed, follow the after-hours instructions provided by the practice.
We assess what you need.
Our team will help determine whether the problem can be managed temporarily at home, should be evaluated at an earlier orthodontic visit, or requires care from a dentist, physician, or emergency service.
We help you stay comfortable.
When appropriate, we may suggest temporary comfort measures such as orthodontic wax, soft foods, or a warm salt-water rinse until the appliance can be evaluated. The AAO recommends several simple home measures for minor orthodontic discomfort.
We arrange a visit when needed.
If an in-office repair is necessary, we will help arrange the appropriate appointment based on the nature and urgency of the problem.
We check your treatment.
When you are seen, we do more than repair what broke. We also evaluate whether the problem affected your teeth, appliance, or treatment progress.
How soon can a problem be put right?
That depends on what happened.
Some orthodontic problems can be made comfortable at home until a scheduled appointment. Others should be evaluated sooner because a broken appliance could interfere with treatment or cause continued irritation.
Repairs such as securing a loose bracket or addressing a wire are often relatively short appointments, but the exact treatment depends on the situation.
A lost or damaged aligner or retainer may need to be replaced. Until then, contact us before deciding whether to wear a previous aligner, move to the next aligner, or stop wearing the appliance.
We will tell you what we recommend based on your individual situation.
If the problem involves significant trauma, uncontrolled bleeding, breathing or swallowing difficulty, or another medical or dental emergency, do not wait for an orthodontic repair appointment.
What is it like to be treated at Luminary?
At Luminary Orthodontics, we want you to know what to do when something unexpected happens.
You should never feel that you have to guess whether a problem matters or wait until your next appointment because you are unsure.
Our team will help you understand:
- What happened.
- Whether it affects your treatment.
- What you can safely do at home.
- Whether you need to be seen.
- What happens next.
Orthodontic problems are easier to manage when we know about them early.
Our goal is to keep you comfortable, protect your teeth and appliances, and keep treatment moving safely and appropriately.
What can I do at home for common problems?
These steps may help temporarily while you wait for guidance from our office.
Loose bracket
If the bracket is still attached to the wire, leave it in place unless we tell you otherwise.
If it is rubbing your cheek or lip, cover it with orthodontic wax.
Avoid hard, sticky, or chewy foods until it can be evaluated.
If a bracket or other piece comes completely off, keep it and bring it with you if we ask you to come in.
Poking wire
If a wire is irritating your cheek or lip, place orthodontic wax over the end to create a smoother surface.
The AAO also notes that a clean pencil eraser or cotton swab may sometimes be used to gently move a wire toward the tooth if this can be done comfortably. Do not force the wire or manipulate anything that causes pain.
Then contact us for further instructions.
Loose band or appliance
Do not pull, twist, or repeatedly move a loose appliance.
If something comes completely out, keep it in a clean container and contact us.
Lost or cracked aligner
Contact us before deciding which aligner to wear.
Depending on where you are in treatment, we may advise you to temporarily wear your previous aligner, continue with another tray, or arrange a replacement.
Do not wear an aligner that is badly distorted, sharp, or painful.
Broken or lost retainer
Contact us promptly.
Teeth can begin to shift when retention is interrupted, especially soon after active orthodontic treatment.
We will determine whether the retainer should be replaced and whether your teeth need to be evaluated first.
Sore teeth after an adjustment
Mild tenderness after braces are placed, an adjustment is made, or a new aligner is started is common and usually improves within a few days.
Soft foods and a warm salt-water rinse may help.
If medically appropriate for you, over-the-counter pain medication may be used according to the product directions or the advice of your healthcare provider.
Persistent, worsening, or severe pain is not considered routine orthodontic soreness and should be reported to us.
When should I go to the emergency room or call 911?
Some situations go beyond an orthodontic problem and require immediate medical or dental attention.
Call 911 or seek emergency medical care immediately if you have:
- Difficulty breathing.
- Difficulty swallowing associated with significant swelling or another acute problem.
- Heavy or uncontrolled bleeding.
- Major facial trauma.
- A suspected broken or dislocated jaw.
Seek urgent dental or medical care if you have:
- A permanent tooth that has been knocked out.
- A permanent tooth that has been pushed significantly out of position.
- Sudden severe dental or facial pain with swelling, fever, drainage, or other signs of infection.
- Trauma involving the teeth or supporting tissues that requires immediate evaluation.
The AAO identifies uncontrolled bleeding, breathing or swallowing difficulty, suspected jaw fracture, knocked-out or severely displaced permanent teeth, and severe pain with facial swelling or fever as situations requiring urgent professional care.
Once the immediate medical or dental problem has been addressed, contact Luminary Orthodontics so we can evaluate any braces, aligners, retainers, or other appliances affected by the event.
What if a permanent tooth is knocked out?
A knocked-out permanent tooth is a dental emergency.
Contact a dentist or emergency dental provider immediately. Time matters when attempting to save a permanent tooth.
If there is significant facial trauma, uncontrolled bleeding, difficulty breathing, a suspected jaw injury, or another serious medical concern, seek emergency medical care first.
After the dental or medical emergency has been addressed, contact Luminary so we can evaluate any orthodontic appliances and determine what needs to happen with your treatment.
What should I keep in an orthodontic kit?
A small orthodontic care kit can make unexpected problems easier to manage at home, school, work, or while traveling.
Consider keeping:
- Orthodontic wax.
- A small mirror.
- Dental floss or floss threaders.
- An interdental brush.
- A travel toothbrush.
- Clean tweezers.
- Your aligner or retainer case.
- Any over-the-counter pain medication you normally use and can safely take.
The AAO recommends keeping simple orthodontic supplies available to help manage minor problems between appointments.
Common questions
Is a loose bracket an emergency?
Usually not.
A loose bracket is generally an urgent orthodontic problem rather than a medical emergency, but we still want to know about it.
If the bracket is rubbing, cover it with orthodontic wax. Avoid foods that could move or damage it further, and contact us so we can determine when it should be repaired.
A loose bracket can sometimes interfere with treatment even when it does not hurt.
What if something happens when you are closed?
Follow the after-hours instructions provided by Luminary Orthodontics and leave the information requested so we can determine the appropriate next step.
Do not wait for our office if you are experiencing a true medical emergency.
For difficulty breathing or swallowing, uncontrolled bleeding, major facial trauma, or a suspected broken jaw, call 911 or seek emergency medical care.
For a knocked-out permanent tooth or significant dental trauma, seek urgent dental care.
Should I keep wearing my aligners if one cracks?
Contact us first.
A small crack does not always mean the same thing as a badly distorted or broken aligner.
Depending on the damage and where you are in your treatment sequence, we may recommend continuing with the tray, returning temporarily to the previous one, moving to another aligner, or arranging a replacement.
Do not continue wearing an aligner that is sharp, severely distorted, painful, or no longer fits correctly.
Can I cut a poking wire myself?
Contact us first whenever possible.
Many poking wires can be made temporarily more comfortable with orthodontic wax or by gently moving the wire toward the tooth with a clean cotton swab or pencil eraser if it moves easily.
Please do not cut a wire yourself without guidance from our team.
What if my braces are damaged during sports?
Contact us, even if you feel comfortable.
If there was an impact to the mouth or face, the teeth themselves also need to be considered, not just the braces.
If a tooth has been knocked out or significantly displaced, seek urgent dental care.
For major facial trauma, uncontrolled bleeding, breathing difficulty, or suspected jaw injury, seek emergency medical care immediately.
How do I know if soreness is normal?
Mild tenderness after braces are placed, after certain adjustments, or when beginning a new aligner is common.
It should gradually improve over the following days.
Pain that is severe, sudden, worsening, associated with swelling or fever, or not improving after several days should be reported.
Should I wait until my next appointment if something breaks but does not hurt?
No. Let us know.
A broken appliance may not be painful but can still affect how treatment is progressing.
Once we know what happened, we can determine whether it can safely wait until your next scheduled visit or should be addressed sooner.
Sources
- What is an Orthodontic Emergency?American Association of Orthodontists. Read September 30, 2026.
Your next step
The simplest way to find out what is right for you is a complimentary Smile Analysis. Reserve a time online, or call or text us and we will be glad to help.