Improve Your Smile With Cosmetic Dentistry

Improve Your Smile With Cosmetic Dentistry

What To Do If Your Braces Break

by Christy Long

Braces are made to stay in place over the course of several months, but they aren't impervious to damage. The network of delicate wires and carefully placed brackets can break. Usually this isn't a big deal and your orthodontist can get the braces fixed at your earliest convenience, while at other times a break may actually necessitate an emergency visit. The following guide can help you decide the best course of action if you suffer a break.

Rubber Bands

The small rubber bands on your braces are called wire ligature, and their main duty is to hold or pull the wires taut so the braces are aligning your teeth. These do occasionally break or fall off. When this occurs, you an try to replace the bands on the brackets they belong to, using a small pair of sterilized tweezers. If you can't, don't worry. You can call your orthodontist and they will schedule you in to replace them, but there isn't usually a rush.

Loose Brackets

The brackets are the portion of your braces that are bonded to your teeth to hold the system of wires in place. These generally only come loose if you eat a hard or crunchy food, which is generally advised against, or if you take a hit to the mouth, such as when playing a sport without a mouth guard. You can use a pair of tweezers to adjust the bracket back into the correct orientation so it doesn't irritate your mouth, but you will also need to call your orthodontist for an appointment. A loose bracket isn't usually considered an emergency unless is is causing pain, but it does require professional replacement.

Broken Wires

The wires connect to the brackets via small channels and they are one of the key things applying the pressure to your teeth to help align them. Occasionally a wire will break or come loose. You may be able to slide it back into the bracket channel with the help of tweezers. If not, try to push it flush against your tooth with a cotton swab, and then cover the end of the wire with dental wax so it doesn't irritate your gums. Call your orthodontist and schedule an emergency appointment so they can fix or replace the wire before it causes injury. You will need to make an appointment, even if the wire isn't causing discomfort, to also make sure that the braces are still performing their job properly after the breakage.


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About Me

Improve Your Smile With Cosmetic Dentistry

I was very unhappy with the way that my front teeth looked. They were crooked and stained with an ugly yellow tint. I asked my dentist if there was anything that could be done to improve them. After discussing the options with my dentist, I decided to have crowns put on my front teeth. The procedure was painless and I wish that I had done it sooner. My name is Constance Graham and I am writing this blog to inform others about cosmetic dentistry. If you don’t like the way your teeth look, speak to your dentist about improving your smile. There are various cosmetic procedures that you can have done such as veneers, crowns, teeth whitening, and dental implants. I hope you use the information in this blog to learn more about cosmetic dentistry and how it can help you.