My life. My smile. Handling Orthodontic Emergencies in the School Clinic

Handling Orthodontic Emergencies Most will be fairly simple for you to treat.

Tools and supplies

Non-medicated orthodontic relief wax Dental floss Sterile tweezers Small, sharp clipper Q-tips Salt Interproximal brush Toothpicks Topical anesthetic

Parts of Braces

Emergencies

Emergency: Food Caught Between Teeth  More of an embarrassment than an emergency  Easily resolved

Emergency: Ligature Comes Off  If a rubber ligature should come off, you may be able to put it back in place using sterile tweezers.

Emergency: Discomfort Discomfort is normal after an adjustment.

Emergency: Mouth Sores  Not an emergency, but may be very uncomfortable for the student.

Emergency: Irritation of Lips or Cheeks

Flatten the ball – place over area of braces causing irritation.

Emergency: Protruding Wire End of wire occasionally works itself out of place.

Emergency: Protruding Wire Reduce the possibility of the student swallowing the clipped wire.

Emergency: Loose Brackets, Wires or Bands

Bracket is off-center.

Emergency: Loose Brackets, Wires or Bands Use sterile tweezers to slide bracket into position.

My life. My smile. Handling Orthodontic Emergencies in the School Clinic