You’re well on your way to that perfect smile, diligently wearing your braces in Centurion, following all the instructions. Then, suddenly, you feel something loose, or perhaps you bite into something and hear a little “snap”. You look in the mirror and confirm your fears: a bracket has broken or come loose!
It can be a little unsettling, but don’t panic! While a broken bracket isn’t usually a severe dental emergency requiring an immediate rush to the ER, it’s definitely something you need to address promptly. Ignoring it can have significant consequences for your orthodontic treatment and your beautiful new smile.
Here’s what you need to know about a broken bracket:
1. Don’t Delay: Contact PretoriaSmile Immediately!
The very first thing you should do if you suspect or confirm a broken bracket is to contact our practice at Pretoria Smile as soon as possible. Even if it’s just dangling or seems slightly loose, it needs attention.
- During Office Hours: Give us a call, explain what happened, and we’ll advise you on the next steps and schedule an appointment to get it repaired.
- After Hours/Weekend: If it’s outside of our regular hours and the bracket isn’t causing severe pain or irritation, you can often wait until the next business day. However, if a wire is poking you or it’s causing significant discomfort, please refer to the emergency contact information provided by our office or your orthodontist.
What NOT to do:
- Don’t try to remove the bracket yourself.
- Don’t try to reattach it with glue or other adhesives.
- Don’t ignore it, hoping it will fix itself.
2. The Risk of Tooth Relapse
Each bracket on your braces is meticulously placed to apply precise pressure to a specific tooth, guiding it into its correct position. When a bracket breaks or detaches, that tooth is no longer under the controlled influence of your orthodontic appliance.
This can lead to tooth relapse, meaning the tooth might start to drift back towards its original, incorrect position. If this happens, it can undo some of the progress you’ve already made in your treatment.
3. Increased Treatment Time
If a broken bracket isn’t repaired promptly, the tooth it’s supposed to be moving will likely stop progressing or even move in the wrong direction. This means that when you eventually come in for your repair, your orthodontist might have to spend extra time correcting the new position of that tooth.
Ultimately, this can lead to an increase in your overall orthodontic treatment time. What might have been a 12-month treatment could stretch to 14 or 16 months, all due to an unrepaired bracket. You’ve invested time and effort into your smile journey – don’t let a broken bracket slow you down!
4. Extra Costs
While some minor repairs might be included in your initial treatment plan, frequent or repeated broken brackets due to negligence (e.g., eating hard, sticky foods) may incur additional costs. Each repair takes time and materials, and these extra appointments can add up. Prevention is always better (and often cheaper!) than a cure.
5. Prevention is Key!
The best way to avoid the hassle, potential relapse, and extra costs of a broken bracket is to prevent it from happening in the first place!
- Be Mindful of Your Food Choices: This is the most common culprit! Avoid hard, crunchy, or sticky foods that can pull on or snap brackets. This includes:
- Hard sweets (lollipops, hard candies)
- Chewy sweets (caramels, toffees)
- Popcorn (unpopped kernels)
- Nuts (almonds, peanuts)
- Ice (no chewing!)
- Hard bread/crusts
- Biting into whole apples or carrots (cut them into small pieces instead)
- Corn on the cob (cut the kernels off)
- Avoid Chewing on Non-Food Items: Don’t chew on pens, pencils, or your fingernails.
- Wear a Mouthguard: If you play contact sports, always wear a custom-fitted mouthguard to protect your braces and teeth.
In Case of an Emergency: Watch Our Video!
Sometimes, a broken bracket might also involve a poking wire, causing discomfort. For quick tips on how to handle minor orthodontic discomforts at home until you can see us, please watch our helpful emergency video:
At PretoriaSmile, we’re here to support you throughout your entire orthodontic journey. If you break a bracket, don’t hesitate – give us a call right away so we can get you back on track to that perfect smile!
