If a bracket does come loose, don’t worry; at the next check-up, we will see what would be best in your situation; to put the bracket back or not. If you are experiencing pain because part of the bracket is poking into the cheek, it can be covered with a ball of wax. You can also try to remove the bracket. If there is a rubber band connecting the bracket to the wire, you can easily remove it and loosen the bracket. If the loose bracket is on the back molar, the wire can jab the cheek, causing discomfort (see directly below to see what to do in this case).

Loose protruding wire

When your teeth have straightened out or moved properly, a wire can become too long and it can irritate your cheek. To avoid damage to your cheek, press a ball of wax or chewed gum onto the end of the wire.

If this is not enough, you can cut off the protruding piece of wire with a pair of pliers (from the toolbox) or nail clippers. Hold the pliers still to prevent them from removing the brackets. First, clean the pliers well with soap and water. If the pain has been alleviated, a separate appointment is not necessary.

Piece of metal other than the wire

Take a toothpick and break it in half. Now use it to push any thin metal wire back in between the teeth so that it does not stick out towards your cheek.

Loose elastic

If you are bothered by it, cut the elastic with scissors. You do not need an extra appointment.

If a ring comes loose, don’t worry; please call the practice during opening hours for an emergency appointment; we will generally choose to reattach the ring. Try to keep the ring in place and continue to brush your tooth and the ring well. If you are wearing headgear in the ring, please stop wearing it temporarily. If you wear a plate in the upper jaw that rests on the rings and it is really not sitting well anymore, stop wearing the plate (we would prefer that you continue wearing the plate, if possible)!

Removable or separate braces can sometimes break. Usually, a small piece of plastic has broken off, and in most cases, this is not a problem. If the edge at the break is a little sharp, use a nail file to round it off. If wearing the braces is too uncomfortable, try to keep wearing them as much as possible. If the problem is more serious, come to the emergency drop-in or call for an extra emergency appointment during opening hours and bring the braces with you.

Sometimes, the metal holding the plate braces in place (via the rings on the upper molars) bend and can then jab the cheek or gums. Use your thumb to bend the end of the wire slightly inwards or outwards.

In the case of a Twin Block, it is important to always keep wearing the part that is not broken!

A Herbst is known as braces where high a degree of force is involved and where something can break relatively often. We therefore have our Herbst braces constructed to be extra strong.

Sometimes the socket screws come loose and you end up with two loose rods in your mouth. This can cause significant irritation. Have someone tighten the rods with the Allen key. If you have not received this from us yet, please come to the emergency drop-in.

If it is not the bars that are loose but the whole Herbst braces (band loose from molar), do not come to the Emergency drop-in but call for a separate emergency appointment.

If the orthodontic treatment was completed less than a year ago: try to come and see us within a week. Please call for an appointment during opening hours.

If the orthodontic treatment was completed more than a year ago: There is no rush, but it is a good idea to have it looked at by your orthodontist or dentist within three weeks; whichever is easier.

If the retainer feels very sharp, put a ball of wax or a piece of chewed gum on it. Only when this really doesn’t help sufficiently, then you should you cut away only the loose part, without removing the whole retainer. Then the teeth that are still attached to the retainer cannot shift out of place.