Emergency Orthodontist — Oklahoma City, OK

Repair & Relief for Your Crooked Grin

A teen with braces facing a severe toothache

If all goes well with treatment, you’ll only see Dr. Ishani for routine adjustments. Such visits take place every few weeks or so. Still, there’s a slight chance you might have an orthodontic emergency. You’d need to visit our office if you face one, as it’d harm your oral appliance and your grin. Dr. Ishani and his team could then make repairs and get your smile back on track. As for the details, find out more by calling our office or booking a same-day visit.

Why Choose Us for Emergency Orthodontic Care?

  • Same-Day Appointments Available
  • Advanced Orthodontic Technology
  • No-Cost Orthodontic Consultations

How We Treat Orthodontic Emergencies

A woman being treated for an orthodontic emergency by an orthodontist

Maybe you don’t know how urgent orthodontic care works. Well, there’s no need to panic; our team will gladly walk you through the process. To that end, expect these three things from your emergency visit:

  • A Quick Phone Call – In reality, most orthodontic emergencies aren’t that bad. A quick call to our office may well fix the problem. Over the phone, one of our team members will walk you through how to handle the situation. They may suggest things like dental wax, saltwater rinses, pain relievers, etc.
  • A Same-Day Appointment – If the issue can’t be fixed over the phone, we’ll book you for an appointment. This visit may occur the same day you call, at the next available time, or during a routine check-in. The timing will depend on your emergency’s severity.
  • The Care You Need – In general, our practice quickly, easily, and affordably solves orthodontic emergencies. However, you may need a follow-up visit if new parts must be ordered. If the emergency stems from a prior health issue or tooth damage, we may refer you to your local dentist. In contrast, go to your local ER directly if your jaw has been broken or dislocated.

The Most Common Orthodontic Emergencies

When taken as a whole, orthodontic emergencies aren’t that common. That said, certain types of them do occur more often than others. You should thus seek our help when or if you have one. Even if you can manage at home, it’s still a good idea to visit with Dr. Ishani. Wearing damaged braces or aligners will harm your treatment progress. So, see us quickly if you face one (or more) of the following:

Understanding the Cost of Orthodontic Emergencies 

A patient calculating the cost of their orthodontic emergency

Of course, you may worry that an orthodontic emergency is too costly to fix up. It wouldn’t make sense to trade your smile problem for a financial one. Even so, the cost of orthodontic emergencies varies by patient. You’ll need to see Dr. Ishani if you want a truly precise estimate. When you do, he’ll assess your smile to learn about your issue and its related expenses. Our team can then find ways to make your urgent care more affordable.

How to Prevent Orthodontic Emergencies

A cheerful woman with braces seeing her dentist for a checkup

Orthodontics is often tricky to get through, but the right tips and tricks can help you avoid mishaps. Consider the healthy habits below:

  • Practice Good Oral Hygiene – Brush twice daily, floss once daily, and rinse with fluoridated mouthwash often.
  • Avoid Certain Foods – Hard, gooey, and sticky foods could break a bracket or wire. (Popcorn, nuts, hard candies, etc.)
  • Attend Follow-Up Visits – These sessions let us monitor your braces and oral health.
  • Give Up Bad Oral Habits – Ice-chewing and nail-biting can break braces and aligners.

Toothache

Is a Toothache an Emergency?

Some level of discomfort is normal when you get orthodontic treatment. This is because pressure is being placed on your teeth in order to shift them. Soreness is especially common after your braces have been tightened. However, sometimes a toothache can indicate a more serious problem, so you should have it looked at if the discomfort isn’t going away, is worsening, or you feel sharp pain when biting down.

How You Should Handle Toothaches:

If your toothache hasn’t gone away after several days, call us to explain what’s going on. We will see you as soon as we can so we can address the problem. In the meantime, over-the-counter pain relievers and ice packs can help to ease swelling and discomfort. Rinsing with salt water can also help by killing bacteria from a potential infection.

Loose Bracket or Wire

Is a Loose Bracket or Wire an Emergency?

This type of issue doesn’t generally cause pain, so it isn’t extremely urgent. However, you should still have this fixed at your earliest convenience so that you don’t fall behind in your treatment. Give us a call if this happens to you.

How You Should Handle a Loose Bracket or Wire:

If the bracket or wire is completely detached, bring it with you to your appointment. If it’s still partially in place, use orthodontic wax to keep it stable. Most of the time, we can easily reattach and restabilize your braces before sending you on your way.

Broken Bracket or Wire

Is a Broken Bracket or Wire an Emergency?

This type of situation is more urgent than a loose bracket or wire because it can poke at your soft tissues and hurt them. You shouldn’t attempt to repair this on your own because you could end up causing further damage to the braces or accidentally injuring yourself.

How You Should Handle a Broken Bracket or Wire:

Collect any broken pieces and bring them to your appointment. If there are any sharp or pointy areas in your mouth, cover them with orthodontic wax until you see us.

Poking Wire

Mouth Sores

Broken Ligature

Soft Tissue Cuts

Something Stuck Between the Teeth

Broken or Lost Retainer

Loose Teeth