Urgent Orthodontic Care in Iowa City

If one of your brackets or wires becomes loose, please contact our office to let us know so that we can plan to address it at your next visit or at an earlier visit if necessary. If the loose bracket is irritating your lip or cheek, you can place orthodontic wax on the loose band to minimize discomfort. If you need to cut the wire yourself, use clean nail clippers to do so.

Discomfort caused by wires on your braces can often be resolved by simply moving the wire away using a cotton swab or eraser. If the wire is painful and won't move, you may cut it using clean nail clippers or scissors. You can also use the wax provided by our office to cover any irritating areas. If the problem still persists, contact our office and we will schedule a repair appointment for you.

If you lose a separator at some point during your orthodontic treatment, don't worry and just call our office for further instructions.

Getting used to wearing braces takes time, and many patients feel discomfort during the first week or two after the braces are placed. To cope with soreness and discomfort, take the non-aspirin pain reliever that you prefer for a headache, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

There are two types of ligatures that may be used to attach the arch wire to the brackets. They may be tiny rubber bands or small, thin wires.

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If a rubber band ligature comes off, it may be possible to put it back in place using clean tweezers.

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If a wire ligature comes off, it can be removed with clean tweezers. If it is poking the mouth but is not loose, it may be possible to bend it back down away from the tissues with a Q-tip or clean pencil eraser. Let our office know about the problem so that we can decide if we need to see you before your next scheduled appointment.

Dental floss can be used for removing food that gets caught between teeth or wires. Sometimes tying a knot in the dental floss before threading it through the brackets can help to catch and remove the food.

Rinsing with warm salt-water several times a day can help to heal sores in the mouth.