Vernon Hills, IL (Illinois) Paul S. Burkey, DDS, MS, PC, Orthodontics for Children & Adults

True orthodontic emergencies are very rare, but when they do occur we are available to you. As a general rule, you should call the office when you experience severe pain or when you have a painful appliance problem that you can't take care of yourself. We'll be able to schedule an appointment to resolve the problem.

You might be surprised to learn that you may be able to temporarily solve many problems yourself until you schedule an appointment with our office.

1.	Tooth Soreness
	Soreness during orthodontic treatment will occur. A warm salt water rinse (1/2 tsp. of salt in a small glass of warm water) will help. Eat soft foods for the first few days. Eating warm soup or drinking hot liquids after an adjustment will reduce tooth tenderness. Soreness will end in 3 or 4 days. Tylenol or Advil will help alleviate the tenderness.
2.	Irritated Cheeks, Lips, or Tongue
	Brackets may irritate soft tissues initially until the tissues toughen (like your feet if you start to walk barefoot). Wax can be placed over the braces until the area heals. Orabase topical anesthetic gel can be placed directly on the sore to numb it and make it feel better. Rinsing with warm salt water can help relieve some of the discomfort.
3.	Loose Band or Bracket
	Call our office for damage assessment to plan the repair. If your band or bracket comes off, keep it in a safe place and bring it with you. If you are wearing headgear or elastics attached to a loose band, stop wearing them. Please do not wait for your next appointment to let us know something is broken. Generally, a loose bracket does not require immediate reattachment, but should be repaired within several days.
4.	Broken or Poking Archwire
	If a broken wire can be removed easily, remove the broken piece. If a wire slips out of its tube, replace the wire in the tube or under the tube hook with tweezers. If the wire still pokes, slide it to the opposite side, or cover the wire with wax, a cotton ball or gauze. Call our office for an appointment before additional problems develop.
5.	Poking Tie Wire
	Tuck the poking wire under with a pencil eraser. If this is not possible, cover it with wax, cotton ball or gauze and call for an appointment.
6.	Lost Separator
	Give the office and call and we will replace it. If one comes out over the weekend, it is OK to call the office on Monday for replacement then.
7.	Loose Teeth
	Loosening is common, as teeth must loosen before they can move. They will tighten following appliance removal.
8.	Lost Tie (O-ring)
	If the untied tooth begins to change position, call us right away for an appointment to retie the tooth. Do not hook rubberbands to an untied tooth.
9.	Soft Tissue Impingement
	Call our office for an appointment to relieve the offending portion of the appliance. You may be able to pull a hook or loop out (or push it in) to relieve discomfort.
10.	Gums Bleed When Brushing
	Inadequate toothbrushing causes your gums to swell up and bleed (an infection called gingivitis). Bleeding means you need to brush more effectively and to floss as well. After the gums regain their health, they will no longer be sore or bleed.
11.	Headgear or Removable Appliance Does Not Fit
	If these appliances are not worn regularly as prescribed, they will not fit properly. Call for an appointment right away for adjustment.
12.	Staining of Clear Brackets
	Avoid coffee, tea, mustard, curry, spaghetti sauce, tobacco, smoke and dill pickle juice. The ties will be replaced at your next appointment.
13.	Trouble Turning Expander
	We should see you if you are unsure about turning or are having trouble turning your expander. We want to make sure that you are turning it correctly and that the appliance is working properly. Please call us.
14.	Traumatic Accidents
	Use ice immediately to reduce swelling. If the teeth are displaced and don't fit together properly, archwires are bent, or soft tissue is impaled on the braces, schedule an appointment immediately in our office, with your general dentist, or oral surgeon.