Broken bracket or poking wire

Common problems and what to do

Problem	Now	Appointment
Bracket loose but still on the wire	Leave it; wax over it if it rubs	Call, book within a week or two
Bracket came off completely	Keep it in a bag and bring it	Call, book within a week or two
Wire end poking the cheek	Push flat with a pencil eraser, cover with wax	Next available; sooner if it is cutting
Wire out of the back tube	Try to reseat gently with tweezers; otherwise wax	Within a few days
Ligature came off	Nothing; note which tooth	Next scheduled visit
Separator fell out	Nothing	Call — it may need replacing before banding
Retainer lost or broken	Wear the other one if you have a pair	Call within days, not weeks
Mouth ulcer from a bracket	Wax, salt-water rinse, topical gel	Mention at next visit

Why leaving it costs you

A bracket that is off is a tooth receiving no force. The teeth either side keep moving, and the resulting discrepancy has to be corrected before treatment can continue — so a breakage ignored for two months can cost close to three months of treatment. This is the most common reason a case runs past its estimate.

Cutting a wire at home

Only as a last resort, when a wire has slid badly and is cutting tissue and the clinic cannot be reached. Use clean nail clippers, hold the loose end with tweezers or gauze so it cannot be swallowed, and cut as close to the back bracket as possible. Then call as soon as the clinic opens.