From: Management of orthodontic emergencies during 2019-NCOV
Removable appliances | Functional | If it is broken or does not fit, send photos to the orthodontist and suspend the use | |
Aligners | Remain on the current/go on with treatment following clinician’s indications/if broken or lost get back to the previous and ask the clinician | ||
Retainers | If broken or lost, ask to the dentist to evaluate buying hot customable preforms on e-commerce sites | ||
Fixed appliances | Non-removable appliances (e.g., straightwire appliance) | Loose bracket | Send a photo to the dentist, eventually remove it with tweezers |
Poking distal wire | Send a photo to the dentist, use wax, eventually cut with disinfected nail clipper/hardware cutter | ||
Poking ligature | Send a photo to the dentist, use wax, eventually push it back with eraser of a pencil | ||
Periodontal abscess around molar band | Send a photo to the dentist, symptomatic therapy with FANS/paracetamol, eventually prescription of antibiotic | ||
Non-removable appliances activated by the patient (e.g., face masks, headgears or lip bumpers, palatal expanders) | Must be suspended a priori to avoid future emergencies | ||
Pre-activated, non-removable appliances (e.g., Pendulum, Forsus, Distal Jet appliance, transpalatal bar) | Take a picture every 20–40 days; if the patient feels pain or swelling, see as an emergency in the dental office and eventually remove the appliance |