When you have braces, you may find yourself in a tough spot if damage occurs. This happens to patients in some capacity pretty often, so don’t panic or be embarrassed! Innovative Orthodontics is here to tell you exactly what to do when braces break.
Breaking Down Braces
We think that a good starting point for talking about damaged braces is to explain the different parts of them. Understanding your braces’ components can help you better evaluate damage if it happens so that you can relay that information to us.
- Brackets: Square metal or ceramic pieces bonded to each tooth that hold the wire in place and helps move the teeth into alignment.
- Wire: A thin metal wire that runs through the brackets and guides the movement of the teeth according to your doctor’s plan.
- Bands: Metal rings that wrap around the molars, providing additional support to the brackets.
- Rubber Bands: For some treatment plans, we use orthodontic rubber bands to apply further pressure to targeted teeth.
Distinguishing Damage
Knowing some of the common causes of damage to braces can help you prevent it from happening. Whether you or your child have braces from Innovative Orthodontics, here are some situations to be aware of that can result in braces breaking:
- Accidents: As you can imagine, accidents can occur in strange ways. Sometimes your mouth ends up taking the brunt of the impact, and this can obviously lead to problems when braces are in the equation. The damage from an accident can be mild, moderate, or severe.
- Poor Oral Hygiene: In addition to giving you bad breath, ineffective cleaning can actually jeopardize the structure of your braces. Plaque buildup can weaken the adhesive holding the brackets to your teeth.
- Chewing Inedible Items: A lot of people have an idle habit of chewing on pens or fingernails, which might seem harmless without braces—but there’s a likelihood that this can cause damage to your wires or brackets if you aren’t careful. We recommend avoiding it altogether.
- Sports: Playing sports can be a very important part of a person’s life, especially for a student-athlete. But braces are naturally put at risk during sports like basketball, football, or hockey—and when a patient chooses to forego a mouthguard, things can get ugly.
- Missing Appointments: We schedule appointments at regular intervals for a reason! One reason is to detect signs of damage, some of which you may not even be aware of at first. Missing these early signs can cause slight damage to become severe damage.
- DIY Repairs: Even if you’ve had your braces for a while now, we want to gently remind you never to attempt to repair any breakage on your own. Remember that braces are advanced orthodontic appliances that require adjustments by professionals like Dr. Waters and Dr. Clayton. We occasionally see attempts at home repairs that worsen the damage.
Next Steps
While we know you’d rather never encounter these scenarios at all, being prepared is still unspeakably important. Knowing the steps to take in case of orthodontic damage is like required reading for orthodontic treatment.
If your braces break, consider taking action in the following ways:
- Check the Damage: Use a mirror or your phone’s camera to examine the damaged area closely and determine which part of your braces is affected.
- Contact Innovative Orthodontics: If your issue is not an urgent medical emergency, call our office as soon as you can. Please provide specific details about the damage so we can advise you on your next steps. We may also ask you to send us images.
- Intermediate Solutions: We may recommend using orthodontic wax to stabilize a loose bracket or to cover the sharp end of a broken wire until your visit. This will help minimize discomfort and prevent further damage. If you are unsure how to use orthodontic wax, we’ll provide you with instructions over the phone.
- Manage Discomfort: If you experience pain or soreness, rinse your mouth with warm salt water to reduce irritation. You can also take over-the-counter pain relievers as needed, following the instructions on the label.
- Keep Any Loose Parts: If a bracket or any other piece has fallen off, store it in a clean container or plastic bag. Bringing these parts with you to your office visit will help us reattach or repair them more easily.
- Prevent Further Damage: Avoid any hard, sticky, or chewy foods and stay away from activities that could make the damage worse until your braces are repaired. For example, you might want to sit out of football practice until we fix your braces.
The Road to Repairs
Remember that the time before you see us for a repair appointment is important. Taking proper care during this period can have a big impact on our team’s ability to fix any damage efficiently, so be sure to follow our guidance closely during this interval. If you have any further questions, please ask our team at your respective location: Savannah, Rincon, or Pooler. We’ll see you soon!