Having braces is a little bit like wearing shoes. Sometimes, you trip over things and stumble a bit, other times you may fall over fully. But you learn from these experiences, and Ollins Orthodontics will help you get your balance back. Let’s go over what to do if your braces break.
Making Things Clear
We want to start by explaining some of the common misconceptions that make broken braces so difficult for patients to handle. Knowing the truth behind these points will help guide you in the right direction until you can see Dr. Gabriel or Dr. Bruce in person.
- Myth 1: You Can Fix Braces at Home
- Reality: DIY repairs often make the situation worse. Always contact Ollins Orthodontics for professional advice instead of attempting to fix braces yourself—no matter how simple a repair may seem in your own home!
- Myth 2: Braces Are Impossible to Break
- Reality: Braces are designed to be durable, but they’re not invincible. Improper care or unexpected trauma—like biting into hard candy—can damage brackets or wires. Proper precautions go a long way in preventing issues.
- Myth 3: All Braces Damage Requires an Immediate Visit
- Reality: Not every issue needs urgent care. Minor problems can often be managed at home using the help of tools like orthodontic wax. Contact us for guidance before deciding whether an emergency visit is necessary.
- Myth 4: If It Doesn’t Hurt, It’s Not Serious
- Reality: Damage isn’t always painful, but it can still be very problematic. A loose bracket or wire might not cause much pain at all—but it can still cause teeth to shift or prolong treatment if we don’t get it under control right away.
- Myth 5: Only Sports Can Cause Major Damage
- Reality: Sports are a frequent culprit, but everyday habits like chewing on pens or biting your nails can also harm braces. Avoid behaviors that put undue pressure on your teeth and brackets.
Assessing the Damage
If your braces sustain damage, you’ll need to take a look to get a better idea of what has been broken. When you call our office, we’ll be able to advise you on the best next steps, whether that involves a short-term solution or a repair appointment. Here are some examples of incidents and how you might describe them to us over the phone:
- Broken or Protruding Wire: “I think a piece of my wire is broken—it’s poking into my left cheek and it hurts pretty badly. There’s a little bit of blood.”
- Advice: In this scenario, we’ll tell you to avoid trying to trim the wire yourself—this never helps! Orthodontic wax can come in handy to help smooth over the sharp edge of the wire until we can repair it.
- Loose Bracket: “The bracket on my right front tooth just broke off when I was eating an apple! It’s still hanging onto the wire…”
- Advice: Again, orthodontic wax can be used as a temporary adhesive for keeping your bracket in place until we can address it in our office.
- Loose Band: “Something has come loose on the back of my lower right molar, and I have the piece in my hand. I’m not sure what to do.”
- Advice: In situations where a component comes off completely and you still have it, try to keep it in a plastic baggie or somewhere safe and bring it to your appointment. We might be able to reattach it.
Urgent Conditions
Knowing when a situation requires emergency care is also helpful, especially for parents of young patients.
- Inhaled or Swallowed Braces Part: If you or your child believe a piece has been inhaled or swallowed, stay calm and contact our office immediately. Inhaling a component of your braces is considered a serious emergency. Do not attempt to get it out by yourself.
- Trauma to the Mouth: If you have sustained serious trauma to your mouth through a sports injury, car accident, or other incident, it can result in teeth being loosened or cracked, which is considered an emergency.
- Severely Damaged Wire: If a wire has seriously punctured your cheek, gums, or tongue, avoid attempting to remove it from the tissue yourself. Contact us for an emergency appointment so we can safely extract it.
Tried and True Troubleshooting
The spectrum of damage that can happen to braces is wide. Minor or severe, it can still be shocking, especially if it’s never happened before. A big part of our job is helping patients through these incidents and determining the correct course of action. So have no fear, and remember that communication is your most valuable tool. You can reach our Nutley office for questions.
