Braces are relatively strong. Nonetheless, it is not uncommon for them to break during your treatment. Broken bracket braces can cause discomfort to say the least, so you should get them fixed as soon as possible. This is what you should do:
1. Identify the Problem
A broken bracket can look different depending on the situation. Sometimes the bracket detaches from your tooth completely, while other times it still might be held in place by the archwire.
You may also experience issues like a loose bracket, bent archwire or even sharp wire ends poking the inside of your mouth. Knowing the problem helps you explain it clearly to your orthodontist.
2. Manage Discomfort
You can manage the discomfort while waiting to see your dentist. Applying dental wax on the broken wire or popped-off bracket can prevent it from irritating your gums and cheeks. This reduces the friction from the brackets against your cheeks.
You should also watch what you eat. Stick to a soft diet and remember to rinse with a mild mouth rinse after eating.
3. Avoid Making It Worse
Do not attempt to reattach or pull at the broken bracket braces yourself. Avoid hard or sticky foods that can further damage your braces, such as nuts, popcorn or chewing gum.
Good oral hygiene with braces is essential—use a floss threader, orthodontic toothbrush, or even a water flosser to keep the area clean without straining your brackets.
4. Call Your Orthodontist
A broken bracket brace should be treated as soon as possible. While it might not always be painful, it can interfere with your treatment progress. Contact your dental clinic and schedule an orthodontic follow-up appointment.
Your orthodontist may use bonding adhesive to re-cement the bracket, adjust the archwire or replace missing elastic ligatures.
5. Know the Cost and Coverage
Depending on your treatment plan, there may be additional fees for repairing broken bracket braces. If you have braces insurance coverage, check if it includes accidental damage. This helps you plan ahead in case of recurring issues.
Signs of Broken Bracket Braces
- Loose Bracket: A bracket that feels wobbly or shifts slightly when touched is a clear sign it has come loose from the tooth surface. While it may still be attached to the archwire, it is no longer applying the intended pressure to move your teeth.This will turn into a detached bracket if left unattended.
- Detached Bracket: Feeling a wire poking out of your cheek or tongue may mean that a bracket has detached from the tooth. It might still be hanging on the archwire, rendered useless without being secured in place.This can be followed by feelings of discomfort as the loose bracket moves along the soft tissue in your mouth.
- Bent or Protruding Wire: If you notice a wire sticking out or bending in an unusual way, it often indicates a problem with one of your brackets. A bent wire can change how force is distributed across your teeth.A protruding end on the other hand, can poke into your cheeks or gums, causing irritation.
- Missing Ligatures: Elastic ligatures hold the wire securely in place on each bracket. If one snaps or goes missing, the affected bracket will not function as intended.This can cause uneven pressure across your teeth and slow down your orthodontic progress.
- Persistent Soreness or Irritation: While some soreness is normal when wearing braces, persistent pain in one spot may be a warning sign. A broken bracket or sharp wire end could be rubbing against your mouth.If left unchecked, this can lead to cuts, sores or even infections in the affected area.
How Do Broken Bracket Braces Usually Occur?
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- Food: Eating the wrong foods can potentially damage your brackets. Hard foods like nuts, popcorn, bagels and even ice can put pressure on the bracket and cause them to snap.Sticky snacks such as caramel or chewing gum can also pull on the elastic ligatures or even dislodge a bracket from the tooth. It is recommended to cut your foods in manageable pieces and avoid biting directly into hard food like apples or corn.
- Accidents: A sudden impact to the mouth can easily result in a broken bracket or bent archwire. This often happens during contact sports or from a fall. Even minor knocks, like accidentally hitting your braces with a cup or utensil, can loosen a bracket.Wearing a mouthguard when playing sports is one of the best ways to protect your orthodontic braces from accidental damage.
- Biting and Oral Habits: Chewing on pens, biting fingernails or using your teeth to tear open packages can put unnecessary pressure on your brackets and wires. Over time, this can weaken the bond of the bracket or cause the wire to shift out of place.Similarly, brushing your teeth and flossing too hard can also put unnecessary pressure on your braces. Consider using a soft-bristled toothbrush or a water flosser to clean around and between your brackets more gently.
- Normal Wear and Tear: Even with proper care, brackets and wires are not indestructible. Over time, the bonding adhesive that holds the bracket in place can weaken, especially during long treatment periods.This may cause a loose bracket or a shifted archwire even if you have been careful with your diet and oral habits.
How Bad Can Broken Bracket Braces Get?
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A broken bracket might seem like a small issue at first, but it can have a bigger impact on your treatment than you think. For starters, it can slow down your progress and even extend the overall time you need to wear orthodontic braces.
This is due to the lack of pressure on the tooth when a bracket is no longer attached. Over time, this can cause your teeth to shift unevenly, delaying results. It might even require more orthodontic adjustments to correct.
On top of that, a bent archewire or sharp wire end from a broken bracket can irritate your gums, cheeks and lips. This can make eating and speaking uncomfortable especially if sores and infections start to develop.
In more severe cases, multiple loose brackets can throw off your treatment completely. This means your orthodontist may need to spend extra time resetting your progress. It could also lead to additional repair costs, especially if breakages happen frequently.
The Bottom Line
Braces are strong but they are not indestructible. While broken bracket braces do occur, it is important to take immediate action to avoid complications. So keep a look out for the signs and remember to set an appointment with your orthodontist as soon as possible.
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