If you have braces in our Lafayette or Opelousas locations, you may be wondering what to do if you notice a poking wire or broken bracket. We’re here to offer helpful advice!
I’VE GOT A POKING WIRE – WHAT SHOULD I DO ABOUT IT?
Sometimes as your teeth shift, you may notice a poking wire. There are a few solutions you can try to manage this at home:
● Use orthodontic wax for comfort – Placing a small piece of orthodontic wax over the area usually solves the problem. Replace the wax as necessary until you can come for your next visit at Camellia Orthodontics.
● Try to place the wire back into the proper position – Using your fingers or a cotton swab, you may be able to tuck the wire back or into the proper position to prevent it from poking. If the wire has slipped out of a bracket, you may try using clean tweezers to reinsert it into the tube of the bracket.
● Clip the wire – If you can easily see the poking wire, you may try to carefully snip off the very end of the wire using a pair of clean nail clippers. If you are not able to see the poking end, please use wax over the area instead.
Of course, you can always call our orthodontist in Lafayette and Opelousas for a comfort visit and we will take care of it!
HOW DO I HANDLE A BROKEN BRACKET?
Brackets are placed on your teeth with dental composite, which is a strong material that can withstand normal chewing forces. However, eating certain hard foods or engaging in certain habits, like biting pen caps, etc. may cause broken brackets. On the day you get your braces placed, we make sure to give you thorough instructions about how to avoid broken brackets, since repeated breakage can delay your treatment.
You may notice you have a broken bracket if it slides on your wire. However, sometimes a broken bracket will come off of the wire. In this case, put the bracket in an envelope or plastic baggie and bring it to your next appointment. Please let us know you have a broken bracket so we can schedule extra time for the repair at your upcoming visit.
If you have any questions or need to schedule a visit, give us a call at (337) 291-9141 (Lafayette) or (337) 948-3491 (Opelousas) and our team at Camellia Orthodontics will be happy to help!