If one or more of your braces have become loose, call your orthodontist or dentist right away. If you are due for an archwire change within a few days of the bracket becoming loose, your orthodontist may suggest you wait until your scheduled appointment.
If your bracket becomes loose within 1-2 days of it being placed, then it is likely due to bond failure or an interference with the bite. If it has been more than 2 days since it was place, the cause is usually excessive force on the bracket from eating, bad habits, or the bite.
Generally speaking a broken bracket doesn't hurt. It might feel a bit annoying as it slides around on the wire, but usually there's not too much discomfort with it. If one of the brackets on the back teeth breaks, it may expose the end of the archwire.
Loose brackets may be discarded, or rotated back into a more comfortable position on the wire (tweezers can be helpful) until an appointment can be arranged. Wax can also be placed over the loose bracket if it is irritating. If it is the last bracket in the back, you can remove the bracket.
In most cases, you can safely postpone having it repaired for several days or weeks without experiencing any adverse effects. You need to get in touch with the orthodontic clinic if the bracket is giving you any discomfort or if you are worried about it.
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.
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.
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.
Sometimes the tooth will not be as clean as it appears therefore allowing the bracket to eventually fall off. There are also some cements that might not be as strong and saliva and water can eventually loosen the bracket. Some Orthodontists will fiddle around with the bracket trying to get it in just the right place.
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.
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.
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.
A simple loose bracket with minor damage may cost around $50 to repair, while a complex one with severe damage may cost up to a few hundred dollars.
All hard foods should be avoided until your braces have been fixed. If the broken brace causes any discomfort, you can use over-the-counter pain relievers to make you feel more comfortable.
The honest answer is that braces do not hurt at all when they are applied to the teeth, so there is no reason to be anxious about the placement appointment. There will be mild soreness or discomfort after the orthodontic wire is engaged into the newly placed brackets, which may last for a few days to a week.
Some clinics may steam sterilize discarded appliances, but since many dental appliances are not reusable or recyclable anyway, most dentists and orthodontists dispose of them with contaminated medical waste like used gloves and other items that contact body fluids.
A missing wire, rubber band, or broken bracket can delay treatment time, so we ask that you please give us a call right away to report any issues rather than waiting until your next visit.
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.
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.
Because your bite is being propped open, your back teeth may not fully touch. This is normal and expected. Start with softer foods that are easier to chew and work your way up to more solid foods. Cutting your food into smaller pieces on your plate first will also help.
To keep brackets from loosening due to force, avoid eating hard, sticky, and chewy foods. If a braces bracket does become loose, then don't panic. Instead, place orthodontic wax on and around it if needed to keep the bracket from scraping against the inside of your cheek.
However, in general, the cost of getting braces again will be lower than it was the first time around. This is because you will likely only need to wear them for a shorter period of time, and your teeth will have already been straightened to some extent.
If you haven't had the chance to get braces when you were younger, perhaps because of financial issues, it's never too late to get braces as an adult. Likewise, if you had braces before and the results did not last, you can get orthodontic treatment again.
When you are getting braces once again, it's likely that less tooth movements need to take place. This means that treatment time may be shorter than your first round of orthodontic treatment.