What to do in case of emergency
Call our office during normal business hours if you break or loosen any of your appliances. Please do not come directly to the office – by calling us, you will allow us to create a time to see you. Even if you have a regular appointment scheduled, call us immediately to notify us if you need an appliance repaired.

Trauma to the Mouth
If you are hit in the mouth causing a tooth or teeth to loosen or become displaced or there has been trauma to the gums or lips that requires immediate attention, call the office. If it is after hours, you will be instructed how to reach Dr. Ritucci.

Loose brackets or bands
Call our office during normal business hours for advice if a bracket or wire is loosened. The bracket may need to be re-fitted as soon as possible. You may have a situation that requires cutting a wire or sliding a bracket off a wire at night or over the weekend. If you need to cut a wire in case of emergency, you may use fingernail clippers that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. Please call our office the next business day, so that we may schedule an appointment for you.

Wire irritations
Sometimes discomfort caused by a wire on your braces can be resolved by moving the wire away from the irritated area with a cotton swab or eraser. If the wire will not move, try covering the end of it with a small piece of cotton or a small amount of wax. If the wire is painful, you can cut it with nail clippers or scissors that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. If you cannot resolve the wire irritation, call our office for an appointment.

Lost elastomeric tie
Most patients lose a tie during their treatment. Do not worry about losing a tie, but call our office to see if it needs to be replaced.