While braces are firmly attached to the teeth at the time they are installed, they aren’t indestructible.
In fact, it isn’t uncommon for a part of your braces to break, come loose, or fall off completely.
However, knowing why one’s braces might become damaged and what to do about it is important. Whether you are getting braces soon, currently have braces, or know someone with or who will get braces soon, this article will be informative.
Why do braces become loose or break?
Wires and brackets can fall off or break at times. Generally, this is caused by eating sticky or hard foods. This is why dental professionals recommend patients with braces to refrain from consuming jawbreakers, taffy, caramel apples, and the like.
Common issues with braces compose of loose or snapped wires and/or broken brackets.
What should you do when wire pops out of your braces?
It is advisable to address the problem immediately. We at Hawaii Family Dental open our lines for dental emergencies. Our emergency dentist will help address your issue as soon as possible to relieve you from pain and save you from more complicated procedures, as well as, more expensive treatments.
Although there are cases when the patient may be able to fix the issue themselves until their next dental visit, the most advisable thing to do when braces break or become loose is to call the orthodontist. At Hawaii Family Dental, our orthodontist will decide the best treatment or method of repair for your braces.
What if I cannot visit the dentist immediately?
In case it is not possible for you to visit the orthodontist at once, it is advisable to perform a temporary fix to relieve the discomfort and prevent more complications.
In the case you have a loose bracket, use sterile tweezers to slide the brace along the wire until it is back in its original spot. As for a broken wire, remove any broken or loose pieces with sterile scissors. If possible, place orthodontic wax on the end of the wire to prevent it from scratching or poking your cheek or gums.
Take note that this is merely a temporary fix to give you relief until you visit the orthodontist, which must be as soon as possible.
Even if you think you only need to perform an at-home remedy for your broken braces, you may shift or loosen something in the process. In turn, your braces treatment may not be as effective if you go without professional repair. Thus, you may end up having to wear your braces longer, costing you more money in the long-run.
When to Visit the Dentist
Meanwhile, for cases of injury, it is crucial to seek help immediately. In cases of injury, seeking help is vital as a minor cut in the mouth from a broken bracket or wire can easily cause infection.
In addition, loose bands, wires or broken brackets take some to time to fix. At times, the orthodontist will reattach, reposition, or adjust the existing brackets or wires. On the other hand, there are times when the orthodontist will decide to replace the wires or brackets.
If the patient does not really suffer from any discomfort, and the issue won’t interfere with the treatment, the orthodontist may decide to postpone repairs until the patient’s next appointment.
In case the patient experiences trauma to the mouth and face or she or he feels that emergency care is especially needed, there is no other way but to seek emergency dental care. Call the orthodontist right away, or go directly to the dental office.
On the other hand, if minor issues are encountered, the patient can just simply call the dental office and ask what specific course of action to take. It is best to have the dental office’s contact information on hand at all times.
Hawaii Family Dental has been providing dental services to the state of Hawaii since 1986.
