When calling after hours for assistance, leave a message regarding your issue on the voicemail of our 4S Ranch office location at 858-756-6878 and a team member will return your call as soon as we return to the office (M-F).
If it is a true emergency (extreme pain, swelling or bleeding) that cannot be corrected at home please call our Emergency line at 508-556-7846.
If you are in need of changing or canceling an appointment, please leave a voicemail on the regular office line or email us so that we can reply back to you when we return to the office.
Please note: A loose bracket, loose appliance or poking wire is not an emergency, but please contact the office to let us know so that we can schedule you accordingly.
Broken Brackets
- Broken brackets are most frequently due to inappropriate foods or a bad bite. However, if it does happen do not worry. Please keep all broken brackets so that we can replace them as needed. Broken brackets on the back teeth can be clipped at our office or at home with clean nail clippers and will be re-glued at your next scheduled appointment. Broken brackets on the front teeth will be re-glued within a week or two of breaking. Please call our office at 858-756-6878 to see if and when we will need to reglue a bracket back on.
Poking Wires
- If your wire is poking your cheeks give our office a call to we can schedule you to come get them clipped. This is a normal and means that your teeth are moving and space is closing, which is why we refer to them as “progress pokes”. If this happens over the weekend or when you are out of town you can always trim the wires yourself with clean nail clippers or wire cutters or place wax on the area. For wax to stick the area must be dry and the wax must be molded around the area of interest.
Poking Metal Ties
- While in braces you may have metal ties tied around your brackets. The ends of these metal ties are tucked towards your tooth and away from your tongue or lips. However, sometimes while eating the end of the tie may turn and poke at you. To alleviate a poking metal tie simply use your finger or pencil erasure to turn the tie towards your tooth again. As long at is is along the wire it will not poke.
Loose Expander
- If your child’s expander no longer turns and spins where you normally turn this means that you’ve reached capacity of expansion. Direct your child to not spin it or play with it with his or her tongue. If your expander is broken or loose, please call our office so that we can add more glue to it and avoid all sticky food that tend to lift it up and move it around.
Please do your best to always call the office and make appointments for things you or your child may need between regularly scheduled visits. We are open Monday-Friday from 8am-5pm, our office phone number is 858-756-6878