At the UNLV Orthodontic Clinic, we want our patients to feel prepared both inside and outside of our office. Patient health and happiness is very important to us and emergency care is part of that. With Spring in full swing and summer just around the corner, we know a lot of patients will be traveling. Although true orthodontic emergencies are far and few between, we don't want you to feel panicked if something unplanned happens with your treatment while you're away, so our residents have put together a few tips for traveling with braces:
Bring an Orthodontic "Emergency Kit" With You
It's always a good idea to have certain items with you when you have braces, in case of any problems, but it's even more important when a quick run to the store is difficult due to travel. So what should your kit include? Orthodontic wax, nail clippers, tweezers, a pencil with an eraser, and of course our phone number-just in case you need help. While a few of these items are pretty straightforward, others are not, which leads us to our next tip…
Normal Household Items Are Often All You'll Need
Now for those items you wouldn't think of as "orthodontic emergency kit" necessities. If a wire is protruding and seems to be poking into your cheek or irritating you, an eraser at the end of a pencil can be used to push it back into a better position. If that doesn't do the trick, a pair of disinfected nail clippers can be used to cut off the end of that wire. If a bracket pops off your tooth, you can also use that pair of disinfected tweezers to remove the problematic parts.
Reach an Orthodontist in Case of a True Emergency
If a true emergency happens while you are on vacation and you don't think you'll be able to wait until you get back home to visit us, we recommend contacting the local dental society for an orthodontist referral or doing a search for "orthodontist near me" in Google. Most orthodontists have an emergency contact number and will be able to help an out-of-town patient with a problem that needs immediate attention.
Contact Our Las Vegas Orthodontic Clinic for Help
Whether you are preparing for a trip or are already traveling and have a question, please give us a call. We hope you enjoy any and all travels this summer and look forward to hearing about it when you come to your next appointment!