Ask Dr. Scott: How do I know when I have an emergency?

Dr. Gregory Scott will tell you true orthodontic emergencies are very rare, but they do occur - especially during the summer when patients are out and about more frequently. When they do happen, we want you to know our dedicated staff at Scott Orthodontic Associates are always available to you. As a general rule, you should call our office when you experience severe pain or when you have a painful appliance problem that you can't take care of yourself. We'll be able to schedule an appointment to resolve the problem.

Here are some early warning signs indicating it’s time to check in with Dr. Scott and staff:

1. Early or late loss of baby teeth
2. Difficulty of chewing or biting
3. Mouth breathing
4. Finger sucking or other oral habits
5. Crowding, misplaced or blocked-out teeth
6. Jaws that shift, make sounds, protrude or retrude
7. Speech difficulty
8. Biting the cheek or biting into the roof of the mouth
9. Protruding teeth
10. Teeth that meet in an abnormal way or don’t meet at all
11. Facial imbalance or asymmetry
12. Grinding or clenching of teeth

Do any of these warning signs fit you? If so, please give us a call as soon as possible! We hope you're having a GREAT summer so far!