With October brings National Orthodontic Health Month and Halloween, the scariest time of year for many orthodontists and a nightmare for kids that wear metal braces and have to tell their parents (who may have invested thousands) that they broke a wire, bent a bracket, or worse.
Every Halloween, orthodontists see a significant increase in the number of emergency visits from patients who don’t heed their advice to avoid forbidden treats.
In a recent survey of orthodontists, 78 percent reported an increase of at least 10 percent more emergency visits on Halloween and the days following. Another 20 percent reported a 25 percent increase in emergency visits.