Emergency Care

Instructions for Braces Pain, Irritation and After-Hours Needs

In orthodontics, there are few emergencies, and most can be remedied at home. Below are suggestions for common problems with braces. If you are unable to resolve a situation on your own, please call us and we will fit you into our schedule as soon as possible.

Sore Teeth

After an office visit, you may experience some soreness while you adjust to your braces. You can get some relief by taking acetaminophen or other non-aspirin pain relievers. Children under 18 need parental consent before taking any medication. Eat soft, easy to chew foods until soreness improves. Warm saltwater rinses may also reduce soreness.

Wire Irritation

If you find your braces are irritating, try pushing down on the wire at the irritated spot with the eraser end of a pencil to move it out of the way. If the wire will not move, you can cover it with wax to avoid irritation.

Loose Band or Bracket

In the event that a main wire or bracket comes loose, please do not attempt to rebond your band or bracket. You will need to contact our office as soon as possible to schedule a repair appointment. In the meantime, you can put wax over the bracket if it is still attached to the wire and rubbing up against your lips.

Loose Archwire

Sometimes the wire comes out of the back bracket due to the chewing forces. If this happens, it may be possible to take a pair of tweezers, grab the archwire, and slide it back into the bracket.

Lost Separator

Some patients may lose a separator during treatment. If one of your separators comes out, please contact our office to see if it needs to be replaced.

Ulcer

If you have an ulcer on your cheeks or gums we recommend using Orabase-B. Also, place wax on the bracket or wire causing the irritation. Ulcers will generally take 7-10 days to heal. Warm saltwater rinses may also aid healing. Please be sure to call our office if a lesion lasts more than 2 weeks.

If these helpful solutions don’t work or you feel more comfortable having one of our staff members handle your emergency, please contact our office at your convenience.

For emergencies that occur after business hours, call (352) 304-3658.

"I highly recommend anyone needing orthodontics - young or old- to check out Dr. Montini. He is professional, friendly, and all about his patients having a good experience. Their facility is beautiful and very kid & adult-friendly!"

— Deb H.

"We could not be more pleased with the work that was done by Dr. Montini on my daughter's teeth. I HIGHLY recommend anyone looking for an orthodontist to look no further than Dr. Montini. He and his staff are wonderful."

— Ardis B.

"Dr. Montini and his staff are simply the best! Look no further if you are searching for a wonderful orthodontist. I couldn't be happier with how my kids are treated and how great the results have been."

— Angela B.

"Absolutely amazing, professional, and fast service. I love how passionate everyone is about helping out the people they see."

— Bobby T.

"Dr. Reid Montini has built a practice that actually makes orthodontist visits 'fun'. From superhero drawings and a video game room, your kids will actually enjoy a doctor's visit. All fun aside, Dr. Montini has true passion in making your entire family's smiles picture perfect. It is a change that will last a lifetime."

— John M.

"Dr. Montini is a warm, personable, highly trained and skilled orthodontist. I have seen truly phenomenal changes he has made in restoring proper bite in even the most difficult of cases. He not only restores the smile nature intended, but improves eating (chewing) and thus digestion, nutritional uptake, and overall health. Dr. Montini is great with kids, too!"

— Amy G.