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Emergency Orthodontist — Framingham, MA

Urgent Orthodontic Care When You Need It Most

We understand that orthodontic emergencies in Framingham can happen at the most unexpected moments. Luckily, our team at Simply Orthodontics Framingham is prepared to remedy your problem and get your oral health back on track. With early intervention, we can prevent any issues from worsening and negatively affecting your smile. Our office will work diligently to schedule your appointment at the earliest convenience. If you’d like to learn more about orthodontic emergencies, continue reading or give our office a call today!

young girl sitting in orthodontic office

Why Choose Simply Orthodontics Framingham for Emergency Orthodontic Care?

What to Do in an Orthodontic Emergency

young boy visiting emergency orthodontist in Framingham

The Most Common Orthodontic Emergencies

Like with normal dental emergencies, the sooner you give our orthodontic office a call after your orthodontic emergency, the better. In fact, you should never hesitate to reach out to us in these circumstances. We can get you on our schedule for an appointment as soon as possible, and we can provide guidance for improving your situation. Thankfully, there are things you can do before you come to our orthodontic office. Read on to learn more.

Understanding the Cost of Treating Orthodontic Emergencies

patient calculating cost of orthodontic emergencies in Framingham

Since orthodontic emergencies can vary from patient to patient, there is no set cost for emergency treatment. Some emergencies are quick and relatively inexpensive to address, while others might need more thorough care or replacement parts, which can ultimately add to your final bill. It’s impossible to provide an accurate estimate until you come in for an exam. We’ll need to properly evaluate your situation to determine the best course of action for your smile. Rest assured – our team will thoroughly explain the pricing information beforehand to ensure you know exactly what to expect. Continue reading below to learn a little more about some of the factors that determine how much you’ll end up paying to address an orthodontic emergency in Framingham.

Every Orthodontic Emergency Is Different

a patient with braces in pain

One key thing to keep in mind is that no two orthodontic emergencies are going to be exactly the same—since everyone’s teeth, orthodontic solutions, and daily circumstances differ, the possibilities that can unfold are virtually endless. Some orthodontic emergencies might seem dire but can easily be treated with quick and inexpensive solutions, whereas other problems might require more complex treatment. In any case, the very first thing we’ll do is review your situation carefully and come up with an appropriate course of action. Once this has been taken care of, we can begin providing an expected cost of care.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Orthodontic Emergencies?

a closeup of a dental insurance form

You’ll be happy to hear that the majority of dental insurance providers offer some level of coverage for orthodontic emergencies. However, since each plan differs and everyone experiences varying symptoms and circumstances, it’s always going to be in your best interest to check the details and fine print of your plan before you commit to treatment. For your convenience, our practice is thrilled to work with a wide variety of different insurance providers, and we’re also more than happy to sit down with you and review the specifics of your coverage – you should never have to worry about the cost of care when you’re suffering from an emergency!

Other Options for Making Orthodontic Emergencies Affordable

a patient visiting her orthodontist

Even if you don’t have dental insurance, you’re not entirely out of luck when it comes to lessening the financial blow of an orthodontic emergency. We’re thrilled to partner with LendingPoint, a third-party financer that allows qualifying patients to break up their total cost of care into affordable monthly installments that can fit within any budget. 

Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save Money in the Long Run

a patient with braces brushing their teeth

Of course, the best way you can save money on emergency orthodontic care is by simply avoiding the need for it entirely! While this is much easier said than done, there are still a lot of ways you can take great care of your smile at home and drastically lessen your likelihood of experiencing an orthodontic emergency. In addition to excellent oral hygiene at home, you’ll want to follow all of the instructions provided to you. For example, if you have braces, be sure to avoid problematic foods and wear your elastics as instructed. If you’re an Invisalign patient, be certain that you’re removing your aligners before eating anything. And of course, as soon as you become aware of a problem with your orthodontics, don’t hesitate to contact us promptly before a costly emergency has the chance to unfold!

How to Prevent Orthodontic Emergencies

woman brushing teeth with braces

As you can imagine, it’s much easier to prevent an orthodontic emergency than it is to deal with it when it pops up. By following a few simple precautions, you can significantly minimize your risk of experiencing an oral emergency. Some steps you can take to keep your smile safe include sticking to your treatment plan, visiting your orthodontist regularly, attending routine checkups, and practicing good oral hygiene. While life with orthodontic treatment does take a bit more effort, it’s well worth the stunning grin you’ll have at the end!

Toothaches

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Root Canal Therapy Tooth Extractions Periodontal Therapy

Loose Bracket

Broken Wire

Protruding/Poking Wire

Is a poking or protruding wire an emergency? At first, a protruding wire might not seem like a big deal; however, it actually has the potential to cut the soft tissues in your mouth, which can ultimately lead to an infection. In some cases, the irritation is relatively minor, and your mouth will adjust to the appliance. But if the wire is causing significant discomfort or appears suddenly, you should call us right away so that we can evaluate your mouth and adjust your braces if necessary.

How you should handle a poking or protruding wire: There are a few things you can do to protect your mouth from further discomfort while you’re waiting for your appointment. You can use a Q-tip or cotton swab to guide the wire back into place, but if it isn’t working, don’t force it and instead leave it to us. You might also consider covering the sharp edge with some dental wax or sugarless gum to prevent further irritation.

Mouth Sores or Irritation

Are mouth sores or irritation an emergency? Even though modern braces are designed to be as comfortable as possible, the brackets and wires can still rub up against your soft mouth tissues and cause irritation or sores. This is completely expected and normal and happens to the majority of patients with braces. That said, unless the sores aren’t healing, they generally aren’t considered an orthodontic emergency.

How you should handle mouth sores or irritation: You can help your mouth with the healing process by incorporating a few simple practices, including rinsing with warm salt water, using dental wax to cover any sharp areas of your braces, and following a solid oral hygiene routine at home.If the pain is quite severe, you might also consider using a cold compress on the outside of your cheek in addition to taking over-the-counter pain relievers.

Broken Ligature

Is a broken ligature an emergency? Ligatures, commonly referred to as rubber bands, are quite important since they help to keep the archwire in place. This means that as soon as you notice a broken ligature, you should bring it to our attention. While the issue can usually be addressed at your next upcoming checkup appointment, if several ligatures have broken or fallen off, there might be an underlying issue that needs to be addressed immediately.

How you should handle a broken ligature: If one or more of your ligatures have become compromised, do not panic. Instead, you might be able to use a pair of tweezers to reattach it. If the ligature has snapped entirely, you should get in touch with us so we can replace it promptly. You should also pay close attention to your brushing habits and chewing tendencies, in order to realize if there’s something you’re doing that’s disrupting your ligatures.

Cut Lips, Cheeks, or Tongue

Is a cut lip, cheek, or tongue an emergency? Since soft tissue injuries in the mouth tend to bleed a lot, it’s not unreasonable to assume that these situations are considered emergencies. Fortunately, they don’t often require emergency attention. That said, if you cannot control the bleeding within 10 minutes, you should seek emergency care promptly.

How you should handle a cut lip, cheek, or tongue: The first thing you should do is rinse your mouth out with plain water or salt water, to help clean the injured tissues. You can then apply gentle pressure to the area with a piece of gauze or wet washcloth until the bleeding ceases. If there’s swelling, a cold compress can be applied to the outside of the cheek.

Something Stuck Between the Teeth

Is Having Something Stuck Between the Teeth an Emergency? Although having something stuck between your teeth can be quite uncomfortable, it typically doesn’t require a same-day visit to our office. Of course, if you’ve tried your best to dislodge the debris but your efforts remain unsuccessful, then give us a call so we can help.

How You Should Handle Something Stuck Between the Teeth First, rinse your mouth with warm water. In many cases, this is all that’s needed to remove the debris. Even if it doesn’t work, however, it can help dissolve it, making it easier to dislodge. Next, use a piece of floss to gently clean between your teeth. Do not, under any circumstance, use a sharp object, like a toothpick or tweezers. This can result in a cut to your tongue, lips, or the inside of your cheeks, which can require medical attention if the bleeding lasts longer than 10 minutes.

Broken or Lost Retainer

Is a Broken/Lost Aligner or Retainer an Emergency? If you misplace or break your aligners or retainer, you should contact our Framingham orthodontic office right away. That way, we can intervene and get you back on track with your treatment plan right away.

How You Should Handle a Broken or Lost Aligner/Retainer If you’ve broken one of your aligners, then contact our team. After taking a look at your treatment plan, we can determine if you should wear your previous trays, move onto the next ones, or get a replacement one made. As for a broken retainer, give us a call so we can see if repairing it is an option or if we need to get to work on making you a new one. In both cases, you should not attempt to repair them on your own with super glue or any other adhesives you have at home since they contain toxins that are not safe to ingest.

Loose Teeth

Are Loose Teeth an Emergency? Although loose teeth may be alarming at first, it’s actually completely normal during orthodontic treatment. Naturally, there are some exceptions. For example, if your teeth feel like they are about to fall out or you’re experiencing symptoms of gum disease (like red, inflamed, and sensitive gums), then loose teeth absolutely require immediate care.

How You Should Handle Loose Teeth If your teeth are slightly loose from the pressure of your braces, then we recommend taking proactive measures not to exacerbate the issue. To start, do not chew hard and crunchy foods, like whole apples, popcorn, and raw nuts. Instead, opt for vegetable soup, yogurt, oatmeal, and the like. Of course, if you’re concerned that what you are experiencing isn’t normal, then give our team a call right away. Our Framingham orthodontist can conduct an oral exam and take X-rays when you come in to determine if the tooth or teeth in question need further care.

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