Are you on vacation right now, did you accidentally bite down on something hard, and is one of your braces loose?

Has your braces wire bent and is it poking you? Are your brackets rubbing against the inside of your mouth? Or have you lost an aligner tray?

As frustrating as these incidents may be, they can happen—but fortunately, they’re no big deal. In this article, we’ll show you the best steps to take in case of braces emergencies while on vacation. First things first: If you’re unsure, we’re available to our patients right here.

Is a bracket loose or has it come off?

Unfortunately, some people who wear braces are familiar with this problem: You unexpectedly bite into something hard, and before you know it, a bracket comes loose from your tooth. While it may seem like a big deal at first glance, it’s annoying but not actually that serious. Depending on where you’re vacationing, it’s best to quickly make an appointment at a local orthodontist’s office, dentist’s office, or dental clinic to have the bracket removed.

Under normal circumstances, you’ll be able to continue your vacation without any restrictions. It’s best to schedule an appointment with our team right away so we can repair your braces as soon as you return.

Does the braces wire poke?

Just like at home, the best thing to do here is to press a small piece of wax onto the sharp end of the wire on your braces. So please make sure you get enough wax before you leave on vacation—just ask for some at our front desk!

If you still run out of wax while on vacation, your best bet is to go to the nearest pharmacy or dentist—you’re sure to get some new wax there, and a dentist can also trim the protruding brace wire for you.

In this case as well, please schedule an appointment with us as soon as possible so that we can adjust your braces right after your vacation.

Do braces rub against the inside of your mouth?

The same applies here as with a protruding wire: it’s best to use small pieces of wax and press them firmly against the brackets that are causing irritation. If you schedule a quick appointment after your vacation, we’ll be happy to take a look so that your orthodontic treatment can be as comfortable as it was before.

Have you lost or forgotten an Invisalign aligner?

That can happen, but don’t worry—your treatment will continue to go well. In cases like this, we recommend that you always keep your last pair of aligners and take them with you on vacation. So if you lose your current Invisalign aligners, you can simply continue wearing the previous pair. This will “preserve” your tooth alignment until you have new aligners. If the switch to a new pair of aligners—as agreed upon with Prof. Jonke—is already due, it may also be advisable to start using the next pair right away. Please be sure to contact us about this—together we’ll find a solution and make sure your treatment is delayed as little as possible.

If you’re unsure about something and don’t know what to do, please feel free to contact us—we’re always happy to help our patients.