Fixed braces are designed to be durable, but it is not unusual for a part to come loose or break at some point during treatment.
There is no need to stress. Breakages happen, and in most cases they are straightforward for us to repair. Knowing what to do if your orthodontic brace breaks means you can stay comfortable until we see you.
Loose or broken brackets and wires
The most common issues we see are a bracket or tube coming unstuck from a tooth, or a wire that has broken or shifted. If any part of your brace becomes loose, broken or lost, please give us a call so we can arrange to have it repaired. It helps to let us know what has happened so we can book the right amount of time for your appointment.
A wire poking your cheek
A wire poking into your cheek is another common one. If this happens, you can use the orthodontic wax we provided as a temporary fix to ease the irritation, then call us to arrange a time to have the wire trimmed. The wax is a short-term comfort measure, not a permanent solution, so it is still important to book in.
Running out of elastics
If you run out of elastics, get in touch, and we will send more out to you. Wearing your elastics as directed keeps your treatment moving, so please do not wait until your next scheduled visit to replace them.
A quick summary of what to do:
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Loose or broken bracket, tube, or wire? Call us to arrange a repair.
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Wire digging into your cheek: apply wax for relief, then call us.
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Run out of elastics: contact us, and we will post more to you.
Looking after your appliance helps prevent breakages in the first place. We offer different types of braces, and each has its own strengths and weaknesses. Some, like traditional fixed braces, are bonded to your teeth and require a little more care to avoid putting them under excessive pressure. Others, like Invisalign® clear aligners, are removable and so break less often, though they rely more on patient compliance to stay on track.
Invisalign, the Invisalign logo, and iTero, among others, are trademarks and/or service marks of Align Technology, Inc. or one of its subsidiaries or affiliated companies and may be registered in the U.S. and/or other countries.
Four habits that protect your braces
Soft food after appointments
Pasta, soup, eggs, yoghurt and smoothies for the first few days.
Cut food into small pieces
Apples, carrots and crusty bread should be sliced rather than bitten into.
Chew gently on your back teeth
Front teeth and brackets take the most force when you bite directly.
Avoid sticky and hard food
Toffee, chewing gum, nuts, ice and hard lollies are the usual causes of breakages.
