Two questions come up in our office, why do the braces break off of the teeth and
what should I do if a part of your
appliance or braces breaks or is uncomfortable.
The first thing you should know is that everyone in braces will break an
occasional bracket. It happens even to the most careful patients. If the bracket comes off within the first 24
hours of placement it usually means there was a bad bond of the cement to the
tooth. Although we use the highest quality orthodontic cements available (3M Unitek)
any saliva that gets onto the tooth while bonding will disrupt/weaken the bond
of the cement to the tooth. However, if
the bracket comes off after 24 hours of bonding then it usually is due to biting
or chewing. This is due to either the
bracket being in the "way of the bite" or patients biting into
something too hard which can put a lot of force onto the bracket an knock it off of the tooth.
The second question we get is" what should I do about a
broken bracket or appliance"? Rarely ever is this an "emergency"
that needs to be treated immediately, unless there is something that is hurting
or preventing you from being able to eat or talk. If the wire or appliance is not bothering you
then you should make an appointment to come back in to get the bracket re-cemented.
If you are in the first 6-8 months of your treatment you should come back in
within 1-2 weeks. If your teeth shift back a little at this stage we can
recover from this very quickly with no increase in overall treatment time. But if you are in the later part of your
treatment (12-20 months) you should come back in within a week so the teeth
don't shift too much.
There are a few easy ways to manage discomfort or broken
appliances on the go. Many orthodontic discomforts can be relieved by the use
of over-the-counter analgesics like acetaminophen or ibuprofen or with the use
of relief wax. For minor tooth discomfort, use whatever pain reliever works
best for you when you have a headache. If a wire or bracket is causing your
cheeks or gums discomfort, relief wax can be found at our office or at major
chains and just needs to be applied to the area to make the uncomfortable
appliance smooth to the touch. If a wire is too long, you can often use new
nail clippers to clip the wire until you can make it into our office.
This is a very helpful article for anyone undergoing orthodontic treatment. Broken braces can be frustrating and uncomfortable, but understanding the common causes—such as hard foods, sports injuries, or accidental damage—can help patients avoid unnecessary setbacks. Knowing what to do when a bracket or wire breaks is also important to keep treatment progressing as planned. Educational posts like this help patients feel more confident and prepared throughout their orthodontic journey. If you're considering orthodontic treatment or need ongoing dental care, visiting a trusted dentist in Sherwood Park can help you maintain a healthy smile and receive professional guidance when issues arise.
ReplyDeleteThis is an incredibly helpful guide on how to handle broken brackets and wires, as dealing with a sudden orthodontic mishap can be highly stressful for both parents and patients. When a sharp wire shifts or a bracket breaks away from the enamel, knowing how to manage it immediately prevents painful irritation to the cheeks and gums. While minor issues can often be managed temporarily with dental wax, experiencing a severe structural break or sudden oral injury might require reaching out for an immediate emergency dental service to stabilize the appliances and get out of pain fast. To prevent these frustrating issues from happening in the first place, working closely with the best orthodontist sherwood park has to offer ensures your treatment plan is precisely monitored and adjusted with high-quality materials. Maintaining excellent oral hygiene around your appliances with regular preventive & restorative services also keeps the underlying enamel strong and healthy throughout your alignment journey. For adults who might need to address more complex structural corrections or require extraction of impacted teeth before or during alignment, relying on specialized dental surgery services in sherwood park guarantees a safe procedure, while utilizing gentle iv sedation dentistry keeps the entire clinical experience completely relaxed and anxiety-free.
ReplyDeleteThis is an incredibly practical and reassuring guide explaining exactly why orthodontic hardware can fail and how to safely handle a broken bracket or wire before reaching the clinic. Managing hardware unexpectedness calmly is crucial for keeping treatment on track, a priority that aligns seamlessly with our advanced clinical options: providing specialized adjustments through our best orthodontist sherwood park, diagnosing jaw stresses impacting the temporomandibular joint tmj, and restoring structurally compromised teeth with the best root canal treatment in sherwood park. Prioritizing timely clinical interventions and expert adjustments is the absolute best way to protect your bite alignment and keep your smile transformation moving forward smoothly!
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