What is considered an orthodontic emergency during COVID-19? Due to the current COVID19 situation, we’re available for telephone enquiries only until further notice.  In the meantime, we’ve created some guidance on how to tell if you’re suffering from an orthodontic emergency and what to do next.

Find the orthodontic problem you have in one of the three boxes below, which will outline the next steps you need to take.

Keep up-to-date with the latest information from ORTHO about COVID-19.

Non-emergency:

If you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms you can likely treat the problem at home, or talk to your usual orthodontic practice:

• Wires from braces digging in
• Discomfort from braces rubbing
• A broken bracket or tube which you are not at risk of swallowing and isn’t painful or damaging your mouth
• Lost springs or modules from fixed braces
• Loose appliances like quadhelixes or RMEs which you can’t fix at home

If you’re struggling with common orthodontic problems, read our self-help advice on looking after your braces while self-isolating.

Orthodontic emergency:

Contact a local orthodontic practice as soon as possible if you have:

• Swelling of your gum, cheek or face which is spreading. If the swelling is spreading down your neck, up to your eye or along the floor of your mouth you must make sure you mention this when you contact the practice
• Excruciating pain in your mouth which is affecting your ability to sleep or concentrate
• Broken or damaged retainers which are painful to wear, or you can’t wear
• Been following self-help advice for your problem but the pain is getting worse
• Experienced facial trauma (a blow to the mouth) which is causing pain or problems
• A loose part of your brace which you could be at risk of swallowing
• Problems following post-orthognathic surgery (please contact your local hospital team if possible)
• A broken part of your brace which is causing pain and damage to your mouth, that you haven’t been able to manage with self-help advice
• Pain or problems with TADS (mini screws/mini implants)
• Broken or ill-fitting removable aligners

These symptoms require you to contact a local practice offering phone support, so they can provide further advice. If they think you require urgent care, they can direct you to an appropriate support location.

Find your local ORTHO practice.

Accident and emergency:

Go straight to A&E if you have:

• Swallowed a piece of your brace which is causing breathing difficulties or choking
• Facial swelling affecting your vision, breathing, affecting your ability to swallow or preventing you from opening your mouth more than two fingers wide
• Trauma causing loss of consciousness, double vision or vomiting
• Rapid and uncontrollable bleeding from your mouth

These symptoms are extremely serious and could be life-threatening. Go to your local A&E department as soon as possible for immediate care.

The health, wellbeing and safety of our patients, their families and our people remain our top priority in ORTHO. We’d like to thank our patients for their understanding during the COVID-19 situation. Once it is safe for our practices to re-open we encourage you to get in touch and book an appointment.

The latest status of our practices can be found at: COVID-19 Notice.

If you are experiencing an orthodontic emergency, contact your local ORTHO practice.

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Due to the current COVID19 situation, we’re available for telephone enquiries only until further notice. Therefore, in the meantime, we’ve created some useful tips to support you with your orthodontic care.

Keep up-to-date with the latest information from ORTHO about COVID-19.

Elastics (rubber bands) for fixed braces

Continue to wear your elastic bands as prescribed until the top front teeth are about 2mm in front of the bottom teeth. Once this is achieved, wear them at night-time only to maintain the position of your teeth. Make sure you’re biting together normally on your back teeth.

If you aren’t sure whether your teeth are in the correct position, take a portrait picture on your phone and send it to your local practice. We’ll contact you to let you know what to do.

Invisalign treatment

Continue to wear your Invisalign aligners as discussed with your orthodontist. If you come to the end of your last aligner, wear your last aligner at night-time only until we can see you.

Functional appliances (twin block braces)

If you wear twin block braces, keep them in, but you should stop turning the screw until you can get a routine appointment with your dentist or orthodontist who can advise you on next steps.

Continue to wear your twin block braces for nine months from when the brace was fitted. For example, if it was fitted six months ago, carry on wearing it for another three months.

Wearing and looking after your retainers

If you’re wearing a retainer following orthodontic treatment, you must continue to wear this as directed by your orthodontist, otherwise your teeth will move back to their pre-treatment position, or even worse. Even leaving your retainer out for one or two days can result in your teeth moving.

• If you’ve finished your orthodontic treatment in the last year: Make sure you continue to wear your retainer every night. If you miss a night, make up for this by wearing them the following day.
• If you finished your orthodontic treatment over 12 months ago: You can start to reduce the amount of time you wear your retainer, once you’ve had your retainers for a year. Start by wearing them on alternate nights, but if the retainers feel tighter than usual or you feel that the position of your teeth is changing, then increase the amount of wear. We advise you wear the retainers for a minimum of every other night.
• If you wear a fixed (bonded) retainer: Continue to brush your teeth as normal and wear your removable retainers at night-time as usual.

Remember to clean your removable retainer in cold water and liquid soap, or Retainer Brite.

Broken or lost retainers

If you’ve lost or broken your retainer, or you’re worried your teeth are moving, then contact your local practice immediately.

If a fixed retainer comes off completely, continue to wear your removable retainer at night.  If it has partly come off, meaning your removable retainer doesn’t fit, contact your local practice or your own dentist immediately.

Wires from braces digging in

If wires from your braces are digging in, it might be possible for you or a family member to use tweezers to replace the wire in the tube/band or use a nail clipper or scissors to shorten the long end.

• For thin wires: It may be that a thin wire is the correct size but may have rotated around the teeth so that it’s short on one side and long on the other. Using tweezers, a pencil with a rubber on the end or a teaspoon, it may be possible to push the wire back round to prevent the long end digging in.

• For thick wires: If the wire is very thick and stiff it may not be possible to cut the wire with home instruments. If this is the case, it may be necessary to cover the wire to prevent it from digging in. The best thing to use is orthodontic wax, which you can buy online, or we can send to you if necessary. Failing that, using a wax covering from hard cheese such as a Babybel, using Blu-Tack or even chewing gum may help.

Looking after your oral hygiene and diet

We can’t overemphasise the importance of thoroughly brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste and being careful with what you eat, especially for brace wearers. Try to avoid:

• Sweets, sugary and acidic drinks: This includes diet drinks, fizzy water, squash, flavoured water and smoothies which all contain acid. These drinks can cause permanent marks or decay on the teeth.

• Hard sticky foods: Stay away from hard and sticky foods like sweets and toffees which increase the risk of broken braces, which might not be able to be repaired for some time.

It’s important to stick to these tips as your orthodontist is currently unable to supervise your treatment.

The health, wellbeing and safety of our patients, their families and our people remain our top priority in ORTHO. We’d like to thank our patients for their understanding during the COVID-19 situation.

Once it is safe for our practices to re-open we encourage you to get in touch and book an appointment. The latest status of our practices can be found at: COVID-19 Notice. If you are experiencing an orthodontic emergency, contact your local ORTHO practice.

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Did you know ORTHO Dublin offer free consultations*† on all orthodontic treatments?*

From Invisalign to fixed braces, you can explore your options free of charge and without any obligation. To book your free consultation with ORTHO Dublin email dublin@ortho.ie or call (01) 269 55 66.

*Terms and conditions:
1. Free initial orthodontic consultation available to private patients at ORTHO Dublin only.
2.  A consultation is free of professional charges but a COVID-19 safety tariff will apply.
3. Offer is subject to appointment availability.
4. One free consultation per patient.
5. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.
6. No cash alternative to this offer is available.
7. ORTHO Dublin reserves the right to amend these rules at any time.
†1.  Free consultations are to discuss options and suitability for treatment. Subsequent clinical examinations and diagnostic tests required and any associated costs will be discussed prior to treatment commencing.

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Due to upcoming redevelopment in Donnybrook, its time for us to leave our current home at 3 The Crescent, Donnybrook.  On the 16^th of September, we will be moving to 11 Bath Avenue in Ballsbridge where a practice share has been arranged with Smiles Dental.  From this date, the practice will be referred to as ORTHO Dublin. The new premises is less than a 2km walk from our current location and is also easily accessible by bus, train or DART. Click here for a full breakdown of directions.

The entire support team will be joining our expert clinicians: Dr John O’Mahony, Dr Jaqueline Harnett & Professor Eduardo Tapia Vidal at our new premises. Aside from a change in address, our service, prices and most importantly our patient care will remain the same.

If you have any queries on the above, please don’t hesitate to call us on our usual number: (01) 269 5566 or by email at: donnybrook@ortho.ie.

We look forward to welcoming you to our new home at Bath Avenue in the near future.

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For anyone considering starting Invisalign treatment, Ortho Donnybrook have the event for you!

Free Consultation & €500 Off*

We’re hosting a fantastic Open Week from Tuesday 2nd to Friday 5th July 2019 at our stunning D4 clinic.

We’re offering a massive €500 OFF Invisalign treatment*, with extras including:

*Free consultation*

*Free iTero scan*

With this discount, you can avail of full Invisalign treatment for just €3,400, one of the most competitive prices in Ireland!

This amazing offer is only available to those who attend the Open Week from 2nd to 5th July 2019. There are limited appointments available so pre-booking is essential. Email donnybrook@ortho.ie or call (01) 269 55 66 to book your FREE consultation!

Give yourself the gift of the perfect smile this year!

*Terms and conditions:

1. Offer only available to private paying patients at Ortho Donnybrook.
2.  Free consultations only available between 02.07.2019 and 05.07.2019 and are subject to availability. Patients will be required to attend additional appointments in order to complete the Invisalign treatment.
3. To qualify for the €500 discount, patients must attend a free consultation at Ortho Donnybrook between 02.07.2019 and 05.07.2019 and confirm their Invisalign treatment plan with a non-refundable €1400 deposit before 31.08.2019.
4. €500 discount is made to the full price of full Invisalign treatment offered at Ortho Donnybrook only. Promotional discount and free consultation is not available on one arch Invisalign treatments.
5. Appointments and treatments subject to availability.
6. Prior to treatment commencing, patients will need a dental examination to confirm suitability for treatment (to be determined in the sole discretion of Ortho Donnybrook).
7. One €500 discount per eligible patient.
8. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer.
9. Smiles Dental reserves the right to withdraw or amend this offer and conditions at any time.