Braces are made up of brackets, wires, and bands. Today’s braces are strong, durable, and efficient, but that doesn’t mean that accidents can’t happen. What would happen if your braces bracket fell off your tooth? What can you do about a broken bracket?
Ohana Orthodontics can repair your broken brackets, broken wires, loose bands, or any other issue with your braces. That’s assuming you let us know right away. The sooner we can get your braces fixed, the better we can keep your braces treatment on track!
What Is a Bracket?
Let’s start with the basics. The bracket is the small, square piece that is bonded to the front of your tooth. They hold the archwire, which connects all of your brackets to the bands on your back molars.
The brackets apply pressure from the archwire to your teeth. That pressure moves your teeth into theri proper places while straightening them. They are an essential part of your orthodontic treatment.
Brackets are placed in precisely the right spot on each tooth to provide the most efficient pressure. We bond them to your teeth with a special, non-toxic, dental cement designed to hold them in place for years, if necessary. Though these bonds are incredibly strong, they can be broken.
Why Do I Have a Broken Braces Bracket?
A broken bracket on braces can affect your treatment time. That’s why we have rules for you to follow to ensure you don’t have any broken braces brackets. Sometimes, even the rules don’t keep loose brackets or floating brackets from happening. Contact your orthodontist if that happens.
Eating the Wrong Foods
How do you get a loose bracket on braces? The most common way to end up with a broken bracket is to eat one of the “forbidden” foods, such as something chewy, hard, or crunchy.
Chewy foods can pull at them until the bond breaks. Crunchy or hard foods can knock the bracket off. This is why we insist that you bypass several types of foods while wearing braces.
Injury During Sports
It’s not uncommon for children or teenagers to get a broken backet from injuries, often while playing sports. We’ve had children visit because a bracket fell off after they were hit by a ball or another person.
We encourage our patients to wear a sports mouthguard or some sort of protective mouthpiece during sports. Not only will it protect your braces, but it will also protect your mouth.
A ball smashing into your mouth will press the soft tissue of your lips or cheek against your braces. Your braces could cut that soft tissue, especially if the hit is hard enough to loosen a braces bracket. That’s why wearing a mouthguard during sports is very important.
Weak Bond Material
It’s rare, but there have been times when the bonding agent didn’t set properly between the braces bracket and the tooth. It may hold for several weeks or only a few minutes. We can reapply the bonding agent and place it on your tooth correctly.
When to Fix a Loose Bracket
How long can you go with a loose bracket? What if it fell off? Most of the time, they will remain attached to the archwire, even if it comes off the tooth completely. That’s because the bracket is connected to the archwire by elastic bands or a clip that covers the wire, depending on the type of braces.
Whether your bracket is slightly loose or is completely off your tooth, it’s important that you contact us right away. The lack of that bracket means that tooth isn’t getting the pressure it should to move. The longer it goes without the proper pressure, the more it could delay your braces treatment.
Call us right away, and we will find a good time to bring you in for braces repairs. Leave the bracket attached to your braces if possible. You can cover it with dental wax to keep it safe.
Don’t panic if it comes off completely or if you swallow it. Braces brackets are made from a nontoxic material. It should pass through your system normally.
How to Heal Cuts or Sores from a Broken Bracket
It’s possible to get a cut or sore because of your broken bracket. It’s even possible for a sore to develop into a canker sore or mouth ulcer because certain bacteria enters the wound. What do you do if that happens?
Most sores will heal on their own, but you can help speed the healing process. Rinse your mouth with warm salt water to reduce bacteria and inflammation (yes, it might sting a bit!).
Cover your braces in orthodontic wax where the wound is, so that your braces don’t irritate wound further. If necessary, there are over-the-counter medications for canker sores you can use.
Call us if the wound persists beyond a week. Otherwise, it should heal just fine on its own.
Broken Braces Bracket Repair in Canby, OR
Your braces brackets should stay put throughout your orthodontic treatment. We’re here to help if they don’t. If you have any problems with broken braces brackets in Canby, OR, schedule an appointment with Ohana Orthodontics. We can repair your broken brackets and have you back on track for a beautiful smile!
