Broken Wires and Braces

The components of braces used to straighten crooked and poorly-spaced teeth are slightly fallible, meaning they will not last forever.  If your braces or those of your child break or become otherwise compromised, don’t panic.  Remain calm, think clearly and ask our dentist, John E. Sullivan DDS, for assistance.  You can reach our Carol Stream, IL dental practice by phone at (630) 665-7350 to schedule prompt service. 

Though a broken braces wire does not qualify as a dental emergency, we are more than willing to prioritize your need for new wires or other components, helping you resume your daily activities without worrying about whether your braces are working as intended.  However, if the broken wire is causing significant discomfort, it qualifies as a dental emergency, meaning we will do everything in our power to rectify the matter as quickly as possible. 

The bottom line is a broken braces wire has the potential to scrape along the interior of the mouth or the gums, causing abrasions, cuts and/or harsh pain.  You can perform a little DIY maintenance on your own at home by bending the braces’ wires with tweezers to help move them away from the gums and surfaces of teeth.  It might also help to add a small amount of wax to the wire ends until they can be replaced or repaired.  However, professional assistance from our dentist in Carol Stream will be necessary to repair the braces’ wires and restore functionality, setting the stage for teeth-straightening in a timely manner. 

Our dentist will carefully repair your compromised braces’ wires with sterilized instruments, fortifying them to withstand subsequent pressure, ultimately reducing the chances of another break in the days, weeks and months that follow.  We also address loose spacers, broken rubber bands, rubber bands that have loosened and protruding wires.