Emergency Orthodontist – Western Massachusetts
Professional Help Right When You Need It
Whether your child has accidentally broken a bracket while playing their favorite sport or you’ve woken up in the morning with serious oral pain that seems related to your braces, the Treehouse Orthodontics team is here to help when families need us most. We accommodate orthodontic emergencies in Western Massachusetts as quickly as possible, providing much-needed relief from discomfort. Don’t hesitate to call us for assistance at any of our eight locations, including West Springfield, Chicopee, and South Hadley.
Why Choose Treehouse Orthodontics for Orthodontic Emergencies?
- Emergency Availability 7 Days A Week
- Eight Convenient Orthodontic Office Locations
- Dedicated Orthodontists With Decades of Experience
How We Treat Orthodontic Emergencies
Acting quickly could make all the difference for getting your smile the care it needs and making sure your orthodontic treatment stays on track. Here’s how we can help during an orthodontic emergency:
- Give Our Office a Call: Step one is to call our office and let our team know about your emergency. We can give you tips for managing the issue, which might involve placing wax over part of your braces or taking an over-the-counter pain reliever for any discomfort you’re experiencing.
- Set Up an Appointment: You can resolve some orthodontic issues on your own, but if a professional’s help is truly required, we will make arrangements to see you as soon as we can. We’re available on weekends when necessary, so you don’t have to worry about waiting too long for relief.
- Get the Care You Need: When you get to our office, we’ll take whatever steps are necessary to resolve your emergency. Sometimes we can fix the problem in just one visit, but there are cases where a follow-up visit may be required (such as if we need to order a new clear aligner for you). We’ll let you know if there are any oral health issues that need to be treated by your general dentist.
The Most Common Orthodontic Emergencies
So what exactly constitutes an orthodontic emergency in the first place? Our orthodontists would be happy to enlighten you. Here are some of the most common situations we tackle for children and adults in need. Remember that you can always call us if you have any orthodontic concerns even if you aren’t sure whether your specific problem counts as an emergency.
Understanding the Cost of Emergency Orthodontics
Since there are so many different forms that an orthodontic emergency can take, the cost of treatment can vary quite a bit from case to case. Before we can figure out how much you can expect to pay, we need to examine your mouth and learn the specifics of your situation. Then we can explain what solutions are available and give you a trustworthy estimate of the cost.
Every Orthodontic Emergency is Different
There are many different kinds of orthodontic emergencies, so the cost of treating them will also vary. The only way to know how much you can expect to pay for treatment is to schedule an appointment with one of our team members. It is during this visit that we will examine your mouth and determine the severity of the injury as well as how best to address it.
Whether it’s a broken bracket, loose wire, or something much more serious, we will develop a plan that indicates how we plan to treat the problem as well as how much you can expect to pay out of pocket. This eliminates the potential for any surprises.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Orthodontic Emergencies?
In most cases, dental insurance companies will provide some form of coverage for orthodontic emergencies; however, you will need to review your existing policy to determine the details. Knowing how much they will agree to pay will make it easier for you to budget for any out-of-pocket expenses you incur.
If you need help, a member of our team will be happy to review your plan and find out how much your insurance company will agree to pay based on your available funds.
Other Options for Making Orthodontic Emergencies Affordable
At Treehouse Orthodontics, we know not everyone has dental insurance. We also know that even when a private plan is used to cut down on costs, out-of-pocket expenses can still be too high to pay upfront. This is why we offer financing options that allow you to space out the cost of your care with little-to-no interest. Ranging from six months to a year or more, we can help you better prepare your budget so that you only need to worry about making the monthly payment as opposed to coming up with all of the money from the start.
Taking Care of Your Smile Can Save You Money
Taking care of your orthodontic appliances is the best way to avoid an emergency and additional costs. While unexpected injuries can occur, many can be avoided by:
- Cleaning your teeth, gums, and braces daily using a soft-bristled toothbrush, an interdental brush, fluoride toothpaste, a water irrigator and/or floss, and antimicrobial mouthwash.
- Maintaining regular checkups and cleanings with your dentist every six months to avoid cavities and gum disease.
- Keeping follow-up appointments with your orthodontist to ensure everything is moving forward seamlessly.
- Eating appropriate foods that will not damage your appliances or cause them to become detached from your teeth.
- Giving up bad habits, like biting your fingernails, eating ice, or chewing on inanimate objects – these can cause damage to your braces and smile.
Keys to Preventing Orthodontic Emergencies
If you want to minimize your chances of suffering from an orthodontic emergency, you should carefully follow the instructions that our team gives you. For example, if you have traditional braces, there will be certain foods that you should avoid; clear aligners give you more freedom regarding your diet, but they should still be removed before meals. It can take effort to adhere to the rules of your treatment, but it will be worth it in the long run.
Keep Up with Your Orthodontic Checkups
No matter how seamlessly your treatment seems to be going, don’t skip out on your regular orthodontic checkups. These visits allow our team to carefully review your progress and make any necessary adjustments. Finding an issue (i.e., dental decay, gum disease, damage to appliances, etc.) early on will lower the chances of experiencing a delay in treatment, which means you’ll avoid having to spend additional time wearing your metal braces or clear aligners. It also ensures that your braces remain in optimal shape.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene at Home
Staying on top of your brushing, flossing, and rinsing routine at home will give you the best chance to maintain better oral health and problem-free braces. If you are wearing clear aligners, regular dental care at home will ensure they don’t develop an odor. If it’s metal braces you’re wearing, daily brushing and flossing can remove food particles that may be stuck between brackets and wires. You can inquire about specialized oral hygiene instruments, like a Waterpik or specialized mouthwash to help keep your smile in the best shape.
Watch What You Eat
Biting down on hard or chewy food can damage your metal braces. A broken bracket or loose wire can be the result of consuming corn on the cob, ice, caramel, potato chips, and more. With clear aligners, eating anything while wearing your trays can lead to significant damage. These aligners are never meant to remain inside the mouth while consuming food or beverages. Instead, they must be removed to avoid harm and/or staining.
Wear a Protective Mouthguard
Wearing a high-quality, custom-made, orthodontic-specific mouthguard can protect your appliances and smile from damage while playing sports. Although you might assume it will not be comfortable, the reality is these devices are crafted to fit your mouth snugly yet effectively. You’ll be able to breathe freely and have greater peace of mind knowing that your hefty investment is well protected while on the court, track, or field.
Use Tools, Not Teeth to Open Packaging
It’s always best to find the right tool to open a package or container, not your teeth. Although durable and capable of withstanding daily wear and tear, they’re not meant to be used as tools. This is especially true when wearing braces. Trying to open something with your teeth can cause excessive pressure to be placed on your appliances, resulting in a broken bracket, a broken archwire, or damage to your soft oral tissues (i.e., cheeks, lips, tongue, or gums).
Orthodontic Emergency FAQs
Should I Visit an ER for Orthodontic Emergencies?
While it may seem like a wise move choice, you shouldn’t visit an ER for an orthodontic emergency. An emergency room wouldn’t be able to help you.
You see, most ERs aren’t equipped to address orthodontic (or dental) emergencies. Their staff lack the training, knowledge, and skills to treat such conditions. At most, they could help with oral problems like serious mouth cuts or infections that affect your breathing. They’d also be able to fix a sudden jaw fracture or dislocation.
In an orthodontic emergency, you really ought to visit an orthodontist. They have the tools and experience necessary to treat your problem.
Are Toothpicks Safe to Use?
When food gets caught in your braces, a toothpick may sound like an effective solution. However, this particular tool isn’t a safe one for you to use.
The truth is that a toothpick can easily harm your oral health. If it pierces sensitive areas, you’ll suffer damage to your enamel, gum tissue, and other soft spots. There’s also the chance the toothpick will splinter and break off inside your mouth. Adding insult to injury, the tool could even push food debris further between your teeth or under the gum line.
Ultimately, a toothpick should be a last resort. It’s better to use dental floss, flossers, and similar devices to dislodge food debris and stuck objects.
How Should I Sleep with Tooth Pain?
As unpleasant as it feels, sleeping with tooth pain is possible. You just need to stick to the right tips and tricks.
Most crucially, you’ll need to keep your head elevated. Doing so keeps blood from rushing to your head and worsening the ache. That way, you don’t have to endure worse pain than what you already feel.
You can also take steps to dull the pain before you sleep. For example, taking some over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen should help. A cold compress could also work by numbing the nerves involved in your aches.
Can I Use Super Glue to Repair My Braces?
Super glue can fix plenty of things, but traditional braces aren’t among them. Using it on your metal brackets and wires is a very bad idea.
Although it’s a powerful adhesive, superglue contains various toxins that aren’t safe to ingest. Using it to adhere your braces to your teeth puts your health at significant risk. Plus, removing it later when your braces need to come off would prove challenging.
The safer approach to take is to schedule an appointment with our office. Next, store the broken pieces of your braces in a small container while you wait for care.