How strong are my braces?

Most types of braces are very strong, they are built to apply continuous pressure to the teeth, as well as withstand the daily wear of chewing and biting, so they have to be made of durable materials. However, that doesn’t mean they are completely indestructible, you should maintain a good oral hygiene routine whilst wearing your braces, and don’t put them under any undue strain, as they could still break. Occasionally, you might encounter breakages even when treating you braces with care, and you should be aware of the condition of your dental appliances at all times, so that you can take action if you notice any parts that aren’t performing as they should.

How come I have broken my braces?

As mentioned above, it’s not always a case of you having done something to break your braces – but chewing hard sweets or participating in contact sports will tend to put your teeth more at risk, in many cases it’s just a matter of regular wear and tear, particularly if your orthodontic treatment is over an extended period of time. The more traditional ‘train track’ braces, and some modern devices too, are made up of lots of small parts, which are all capable of coming loose or breaking away, let’s look at some of the ways your braces can become damaged.

Broken wires or brackets – This is fairly common among patients who have to wear metal braces, mainly because they are used to deal with extreme orthodontic problems, therefore they are typically worn for longer than some other appliances, giving them more time to break under the strain of daily wear. Protruding wires can be quite painful, sticking into the gums or cheeks, so it’s not likely that this will go unnoticed, but don’t try to perform any kind of complicated orthodontic treatment on yourself, this will invariably end in disaster. The best thing you can do is try to gently bend the wire so that it isn’t digging into the softer areas of your mouth, don’t cut it or pull it out, this could damage the brackets, and small pieces of wire are easily inhaled. If you can still feel the wire scratching your cheeks, use some of the wax that your dentist should have provided you with; soften it between your fingers first, then press it over the end of the wire to stop the sharp edge catching on your skin – this might still be uncomfortable, but should be less painful.

If broken wires or brackets have caused a sore to form on your cheeks, you could try rinsing your mouth out with salt water; this will cleanse the area and ease the pain. If this doesn’t work, rub some numbing gel on the sore parts – teething gel used for babies is suitable for this, it dulls the pain and contains antiseptic to prevent infection.

Loose brackets – Metal or ceramic brackets should be firmly attached to both the teeth and the wire connecting them; otherwise they are not going to perform correctly. Sometimes, if the enamel has not been properly prepared, or the adhesive material has not bonded completely with the brackets, they can come loose or even break under the pressure being put on them by the strong wire. It’s also possible to break a bracket by chewing something hard or sticky, like a toffee, especially if this is a regular habit – over time, the bonding material becomes weaker or cracks, then the bracket starts to move away from the enamel. Loose brackets aren’t usually as painful as stray wires, but they can cause the teeth to become sore, as the changes in pressure start to push and pull them at the wrong angles – this is more uncomfortable if the breakage occurs during the first few days of the braces being fitted, because the teeth are still getting used to the new pressure distribution. If the bracket does rub painfully on your gums, you can use the wax provided to stop the metal irritating your mouth or poking into the soft tissue, but don’t use any home glues to try and fix your braces, you could seriously damage your teeth.

Loose spacers or bands – Not everyone who requires braces will have to be fitted with orthodontic tools like spacers and bands, they are used to create room between the teeth to fit dental appliances in place. Spacers are rings used to move teeth apart so that metal bands can be fixed around them – usually one or more of the back molars; they are normally made of rubber, but can also be made from metal. Once the spacer has made enough room, the metal bands can be fitted permanently over the teeth using dental cement. Sometimes these devices can slip off – spacers, in particular, as they are only used for a week or two anyway – or move into the wrong position, if this happens, you need to make an appointment with your orthodontist, and make sure you save the rings if they fall out.

What can my dentist do about my broken braces?

During the first few weeks of your treatment, it’s possible that you will need to return to the surgery to have some adjustments made or to have breakages repaired; your surgeon should be used to this type of occurrence, and experienced in dealing with any problems. It might be the case that all your braces need is a little extra bonding material to hold them in place, but if a component is bent or broken, your dentist may have to remove certain sections of your appliance and replace them with new ones. If you’re not in any severe discomfort, your surgeon might tell you to wait until your next appointment, as long as the performance of the dental appliance is not hindered in the interim – you should have regular follow-up appointments scheduled as part of your on-going treatment. For a consultation regarding braces or other dental procedures, speak to a member of staff at the Pearl Dental Clinic, they will be able to book an appointment for you and give you advice on costs as well.