It's not unusual to sometimes break a wire or bracket when you have braces. There's nothing to panic about, but you should take action to get your broken braces fixed. Damaged braces can cause discomfort, cuts and abrasions inside the mouth and, if left unfixed, make your treatment less effective.
How Long Can You Go with a Broken Bracket? If you have a broken bracket and it does not make you feel uncomfortable, there is no pressing need to get it mended immediately. In most cases, you can safely postpone having it repaired for several days or weeks without experiencing any adverse effects.
It's not an emergency and your doctor can easily get you back on track. Broken brackets can actually delay your treatment, but usually, a broken bracket is no big deal. We'll talk about how broken braces affect treatment time, what can cause a broken bracket, and what you should do when it happens.
Do my braces still work? The short answer: Yes. One missing bracket doesn't mean your treatment isn't working any more! The long answer: When a bracket is broken, that means an individual tooth is no longer attached to the active wire.
Broken brackets are not a big deal and they are not an orthodontic emergency. Almost every orthodontic patient has at least one broken bracket during treatment and orthodontists are used to fixing brackets for their patients….
As for the fees for broken brackets, wires, plates or lost aligners, most orthodontic practices won't charge you a fee for the first few broken brackets. However, some may start to charge after several breakages. It is important that you check with your orthodontist as to what is included in your treatment fees.
Just in case something happens, the glue has to be able to give a little. Unfortunately, that means that brackets can sometimes become loose or break during normal, day-to-day activities. Playing contact sports, eating chewy, hard, or sticky foods, and placing foreign items in your mouth (pencils, fingernails, etc.)
Wearing orthodontic appliances requires lifestyle changes, particularly with what you eat and how you brush your teeth. Hard or sticky foods can knock a bracket loose. Improper flossing, using toothpicks, and even brushing your teeth a little too vigorously can cause a bracket to come loose.
When a braces bracket has fallen off, do not panic! If it is only loose, call your dentist and have them re-adhere it. If it has fallen off the tooth, then you will have to go straight away to get it removed, otherwise it can damage your soft tissues.
Once the bracket has become loose, it poses a choking hazard, particularly while you are sleeping or if you play sports. If the break is severe and the rubber band has come off in addition to the bracket, you should try to take it off yourself to prevent this from happening.
Total 32 brackets, one on each tooth, are bonded using the bonding cement. This is how the foundation of braces in established. Make sure your dentist is using the right bonding cement and right brackets as this will be super important for your treatment.
Eating hard, sticky foods that may have the force to pull the bracket off of the tooth. Common examples of foods that cause this include nuts, popcorn kernels, caramel candies, etc. Sustaining a mouth injury. Brushing your teeth using too much force.
Unfortunately, you can't glue a bracket back on yourself. But here are a few things you can do to relieve discomfort and hopefully make it easier for your orthodontist to fix the problem. If you have a loose bracket: Brackets are metal or ceramic pieces that are attached to each tooth.
The “glue” that holds the braces on your teeth is similar to the material we use to fill teeth. It is strong, but it takes up to 48 hours to set completely. Softer foods will be easier to eat while also allowing the braces to set.
Remain calm. Luckily, when a bracket comes off it is not a true dental emergency and can happen to anyone with braces from time to time. Make sure you do not swallow the bracket if it has come off of the wire, and if it has, put it in a small baggie to bring into the office.
Cost of Braces Emergencies
Emergency visits may also be covered by insurance. The cost of the orthodontic emergency depends on the treatment required to correct the issue. Here are the price ranges of some common orthodontic emergencies: Broken Bracket: $25-$50.
The best way to avoid the falling off of brackets is to adhere to your orthodontist's directions strictly. Stand in front of your mirror while brushing your teeth and check the condition of your braces carefully. This way you can appreciate minor changes in position instantly.
However, a general rule of thumb is your kids should look at getting braces between the ages of 9 and 14. Usually, this is before they've gone through puberty. If they've already gone through it, this means it'll be harder to adjust their jaw and/or teeth, as they've already settled into their post-puberty positions.
It's common to remove teeth and use braces to allow for more space for your teeth to erupt the gums. This is typically effective in children younger than 16 before their jawbone hardens too much and can't be manipulated.
Orthodontists aim at pulling the least number of teeth, usually one to four, to meet orthodontic treatment goals. Extraction of an odd number of teeth is not uncommon. A doctor may find it necessary to pull only one or three teeth to fit the objectives of the treatment.
Despite the benefits, many orthodontists will still ask their patients to avoid chewing gum altogether while they're in treatment. It has a high tendency to stick inside of the metal hardware and can damage brackets or pull wires out of place. This delays your treatment and causes you to go in for extra repairs.
Can you eat pizza with braces? Yes! You certainly can, as long as you avoid crusts and toppings that are too tough and hard, sticky, or stringy, and eat in small, careful bites. Of course, it's also essential to clean your teeth and the metal wires after eating for optimum dental health.
While dentists do not have the same training in orthodontia that orthodontists do, they can usually repair an orthodontic bracket or make a quick fix to help you get through to your appointment with your orthodontist.