1
Make it safe
Any wire digging into soft tissue is trimmed or tucked immediately. Sore spots are checked and, if needed, a protective coating is applied.
Same-day dentists available
Broken Braces: Loose Brackets, Poking Wires and What To Do Now
Braces break more often than people expect: a bracket pops off, a wire slides out and stabs the cheek, or a band comes loose. Most are fixable in minutes once you are in the chair.
1-855-219-4656 Are broken braces an emergency?
Rarely a true emergency, but a wire cutting into your cheek or a piece you might swallow should be seen the same day. Call 1-855-219-4656 and describe what broke. A loose bracket that is still on the wire can usually wait a few days with the steps below, but do not leave it for weeks, because your teeth stop moving and treatment time grows.
Braces problems have a habit of surfacing on a Friday night or the first day of a trip. The reassuring part is that almost every one of them can be made comfortable at home for a few days with wax and a little care, then put right properly in a short visit.
Common braces problems
- A bracket that slides along the wire or spins when you touch it
- A wire end sticking out at the back and scratching the cheek or tongue
- A sore, ulcerated patch inside the cheek where something is rubbing
- A band around a back tooth that feels loose or has come off entirely
- A lost elastic, spacer or ligature, which is minor but worth reporting
Being unable to eat, or a component that has come free and could be inhaled, moves things up the priority list. Broken braces after a blow to the face may also mean a tooth injury, which needs checking the same day.
What to do tonight, before you are seen
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Press orthodontic wax over any sharp bracket or wire end | Do not leave a poking wire uncovered. It ulcerates the cheek within hours |
| Use a clean pencil eraser to gently push a stray wire flat against the tooth | Do not cut the wire yourself unless you cannot reach a dentist and it is causing real injury |
| Keep any bracket or band that comes off and bring it to your appointment | Do not try to reattach a bracket with glue |
| Rinse with warm salt water to soothe a rubbed or cut cheek | Do not eat hard, sticky or chewy food that could break more pieces |
How the dentist fixes broken braces
2
Rebond or replace
A loose bracket is cleaned and rebonded to the tooth, or swapped for a new one. A broken archwire is replaced. This usually takes 15 to 30 minutes.
3
Check the teeth
If the breakage followed an impact, the teeth under the brackets are examined for cracks or looseness. Your orthodontist is informed so your treatment plan stays on track.
What an emergency braces visit costs
| Treatment | Without insurance |
|---|---|
| Emergency exam + X-ray | $100–$250 |
| Wire trim, bracket rebond or wire replacement | Often covered by the orthodontic contract; ask the office |
| Composite bonding for a tooth chipped under a bracket | $150–$500 |
| Temporary filling for a damaged tooth | $90–$300 |
Estimates from partner clinic fee schedules. Your dentist quotes the exact fee before treatment. See the emergency dental cost guide and the no-insurance guide.
Treatments and related guides
Treatments a dentist may use: Pediatric emergency dentist, Broken tooth repair.
Broken Braces FAQ
Need help right now? Call 1-855-219-4656, free, 24 hours a day.
Are broken braces an emergency?
Usually not, but a wire stabbing the cheek, a piece that could be swallowed, or damage after a blow to the face should be seen the same day. A loose bracket that is still attached to the wire can wait a few days if it is covered with wax.
Can I cut a poking wire myself?
Only as a last resort. If you cannot get to a dentist and the wire is injuring you, sterilize nail clippers, hold gauze behind the wire so the clipped end does not fly, and cut as close to the bracket as you can. Then cover the end with wax.
Do I have to go to my orthodontist, or can an emergency dentist help?
An emergency dentist can trim a wire, rebond a bracket and treat sore tissue, which solves the immediate problem. Your orthodontist should still be told so your treatment plan stays on schedule.
Why do brackets keep breaking?
Hard and sticky foods are the usual culprits, along with chewing pens or ice, and sports without a mouthguard. A bracket can also loosen if the bond to the tooth was weak in that spot.
Will a broken bracket set my treatment back?
A few days makes little difference. Weeks or months without the bracket means that tooth stops moving and can drift, which adds time to your treatment. Get it fixed promptly.
Medically reviewed by Dr. FULL NAME, DDS. Last reviewed . Sources: ADA MouthHealthy, Braces, ADA MouthHealthy, Dental Emergencies. Editorial policy.
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