A bracket comes off, a wire starts poking, an aligner goes missing on a school trip. Most of these are uncomfortable rather than urgent, and almost all can be settled with one phone call. This page tells you what to do right now, and how quickly your child actually needs to be seen.
True orthodontic emergencies are rare. Severe pain, facial swelling, a blow to the mouth, or a loosened or knocked-out tooth need prompt attention. Loose brackets, poking wires, and lost aligners are uncomfortable but can usually wait for a scheduled repair. Cover anything sharp with orthodontic wax and call the office for guidance.
Very few orthodontic problems are true emergencies. Here is how the common ones sort out. If you are unsure, call us — that is what the phone is for.
The bracket often stays threaded on the wire and simply sits loose. Uncomfortable, not dangerous.
Right now: leave it in place, cover it with orthodontic wax if it rubs, and switch to soft foods. Call us and we will fit the repair into the schedule.
A wire that has shifted can rub the cheek raw within a day or two, and an ulcer takes longer to heal than the repair takes to do.
Right now: push it flat with a cotton bud if you can and cover the end with wax. Do not cut the wire at home. Call us the same day if possible.
Teeth start drifting back within days once trays stop being worn, which can add weeks to treatment.
Right now: go back to the previous tray and keep wearing it. Do not skip ahead to the next one. Call us for guidance on a replacement.
Retainers are the only thing holding a finished result in place. Teeth move fastest in the first months after treatment.
Right now: if it is broken but still wearable without sharp edges, keep wearing it. If not, call us promptly — a replacement is far cheaper than re-treatment.
Pain that is severe rather than achy, facial swelling, a blow to the mouth, or a tooth loosened or knocked out are all different from a routine appliance problem.
Right now: call us on (909) 479-6030. For a knocked-out tooth or facial trauma, see emergency dental care. For difficulty breathing or swallowing, go to an emergency room.
Find the problem, follow the path. Every route ends with a phone call, because we would rather hear about something minor than have you wait on something that was not.
Is your child in pain, or is the bracket rubbing the cheek?
Worth knowing: Do not pull a loose bracket off the wire. If it comes away completely, keep it and bring it with you.
Can you gently flatten the wire with a cotton bud?
Worth knowing: Never cut a wire at home. Cutting risks a fragment being swallowed or inhaled, and often makes the repair harder.
Do you still have the previous tray?
Worth knowing: Keep any cracked tray. It helps confirm how far treatment had progressed.
Are there sharp edges, or is it in pieces?
Worth knowing: Teeth move fastest in the months after treatment finishes. Days without a retainer matter more than most parents expect.
Is a tooth loose, knocked out, chipped, or is there bleeding that will not stop?
Worth knowing: A mouthguard made to fit over braces prevents most of these. Ask us about one at the next visit.
Some of these we can sort quickly. Others depend on which appliance your child has and who placed it — call us and we will tell you exactly where to go next.
The most common call we get. A bracket that comes away from the tooth usually stays on the wire. It rarely hurts, but treatment stalls on that tooth until it is re-bonded.
The metal ring cemented around a back molar can work loose, often after sticky food. It needs re-cementing before decay gets underneath it.
A wire that has shifted or a distal end that has worked long. Wax buys you comfort until it can be trimmed properly with the right instrument.
Going back a tray is almost always the right immediate move. What happens next depends on where in the sequence your child was.
Worth treating with more urgency than parents expect. A finished result can shift noticeably within weeks without retention.
New braces rub for the first week or two while the cheek toughens up. Wax, warm salt water rinses, and time usually settle it. Persistent sores are worth checking.
Expanders, space maintainers, and other appliances can loosen or feel wrong. See space maintainers for how those are monitored.
A knock to the mouth with fixed braces can damage the appliance and the teeth. Both need assessing — and a properly fitted mouthguard prevents most of it.
Not sure which of these you are dealing with? Call and describe it — that takes two minutes and saves guessing. Families reach us from Chino, Chino Hills, Eastvale, and Ontario.
Meet Our Doctor
Dr. Kohan has over five years of experience creating healthy, confident smiles for children in Chino. His gentle, child-focused approach makes every visit positive and stress-free.
Genuine emergencies are rare. Severe pain, facial swelling, a blow to the mouth, or a tooth loosened or knocked out need prompt attention. Loose brackets, poking wires, and lost aligners are common and uncomfortable, but they are scheduling problems rather than emergencies.
Leave it on the wire, cover it with orthodontic wax if it rubs, and switch to soft foods. Call us to arrange a repair. Do not pull it off — if it detaches on its own, keep it and bring it in.
Usually not comfortably. A wire rubbing the cheek causes an ulcer within a day or two, and that takes longer to heal than the repair takes to do. Cover it with wax and call the same day if you can.
Go back to the previous tray and wear it full time, then call us. Do not jump ahead to the next tray — it will not seat properly and can be painful.
If it has sharp edges, yes, stop and revert to the previous tray. If the crack is minor and it still fits comfortably, keep wearing it until we advise otherwise. Keep the broken tray either way.
Yes, but stick to soft foods until it is repaired. Hard, crunchy, and sticky foods risk pulling it off completely or bending the wire.
Call us promptly. Retainers are the only thing holding a finished result in place, and teeth shift fastest in the months after treatment. A replacement retainer costs far less than repeating treatment.
Most do not. What matters is getting advice quickly so you know whether to wait or come in. Call us and we will tell you how soon your child needs to be seen and where.
It varies. Some plans include repairs within the orthodontic benefit, others treat replacement appliances separately. Our front desk can check your specific coverage.
Severe pain rather than aching, swelling of the face or gum, a knocked-out or badly loosened tooth, uncontrolled bleeding, or anything a child has swallowed or inhaled. For difficulty breathing or swallowing, go to an emergency room rather than calling us. For dental trauma, see emergency dental care.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Joshua Kohan, DMD — Say Cheese Kids Dental & Orthodontics, Chino, CA. Orthodontic treatment is provided in coordination with our partner orthodontists.
Last reviewed: 5 August 2026. This page is general guidance and is not a substitute for being seen. If you are unsure, call the office.
Very clean office the staff was amazing. So many neat video games. I would refer Say Cheese Dental to my friends and family.
Priscilla marie VargasThe dentist was very kind and knowledgeable and polite! The staff took the time needed for my 3 boys to feel comfortable and relaxed. We will be here in the next 6.months for there followup and braces!
Brigette NavarroMe encanto el trato del personal todos incluyendo al doctor
Lurdes UrtisMuy amable todo el personal y atentos, respondieron todas mis dudas. Fue una buena opción venir aquí.
Monica MendozaThis was my first visit to Say Cheese Dental, and I was really impressed. The place is super clean, organized, and has a relaxing atmosphere. The staff is kind, patient, and very friendly — they made me feel comfortable from the moment I walked in. I’m happy I chose this office!
LOURDES HERRERAThe staff are Great and explain everything perfectly, they are willing to work on monthly payments with you and they are patiently with you 🙂 would recommend coming by and check them out 🙂
Ivette LopezGreat consultation! The staff was friendly, the orthodontist was knowledgeable and took the time to explain everything clearly. I felt comfortable and confident with the treatment plan. Highly recommend! I will definitely be back!
Natasha HarrisFirst time coming to this kids dental and we had a great experience. Everything was explained so well , will be coming back!
Karen RomeroWe loved it, all very friendly, very professional. The place is very nice, very cozy, tidy and clean, there is parking and easy to get to.
Paulina Maldonado
A first dental visit should not be a financial decision. We accept Medi-Cal (Denti-Cal) and most major PPO plans, and our front desk verifies your coverage before you come in, so you know what is covered ahead of the appointment.
12413 Central Ave, Chino, CA 91710
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Monday to Thursday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday, 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Saturday and Sunday, closed
We are on Central Avenue in Chino, a short drive from most of the surrounding communities. Siblings can usually be booked back to back, which saves a second trip.
Describe what has happened and we will tell you whether it can wait, what to do in the meantime, and when your child should be seen. Calling costs you two minutes and usually settles it.
