Braces are the tried-and-true method for straightening smiles because they have a long history of effectively fixing even the most severe misalignments, regardless of a patient’s age. It consists of metal brackets cemented to the enamel, which are threaded with an archwire that can be adjusted to exert the right amount of pressure to pull your child’s pearly whites into their ideal positions.
However, your kid must care for their orthodontics carefully to avoid injuring them, which can interrupt their treatment timeline. Continue reading to learn about 3 steps you can take if your child breaks their braces!
Step #1: Assess the Damage
Traditional braces utilize metal brackets and wires to place enough force against your child’s teeth to shift them. If their dental work is damaged or becomes loose or dislodged and isn’t addressed quickly enough, the sudden change in pressure can cause their chompers to revert to their previous places. Not only that, but it can leave them feeling extra sore or sensitive, especially if sharp corners jab the tender tissues inside their mouth.
Before contacting their pediatric dentist, it’s a good idea to assess exactly what’s happened. Try to pinpoint whether they’re coping with a snapped wire or an issue with one of the brackets. That way, you can ease their discomfort more effectively and accurately communicate the problem to their provider.
Step #2: Address Discomfort
Braces can be injured in several ways. For instance, eating something overly hard or sticky can push or pull them out of place. However, it’s also possible that physical trauma knocked a bracket loose or harmed the archwire. Whatever the reason, it’s likely causing some aches and inflammation that can leave your child feeling distressed.
Usually, it’s safe to give them over-the-counter medications, like children’s Tylenol or ibuprofen, to reduce their discomfort. If sharp metal edges are digging into their flesh, you can also help by covering it with a small amount of orthodontic wax to safeguard their smile.
Step #3: Make an Appointment
If you haven’t already done so, be sure to contact your child’s provider to let them know what happened. You might worry that they’ll admonish you or your little one for the damage to their orthodontics, but rest assured, your kid isn’t the first to break their braces, and they won’t be the last. Usually, their pediatric dentist is more concerned with getting them back on track than judging them for the injury.
They’ll book an appropriate appointment time based on your child’s circumstances and may provide special care instructions over the phone for you to follow until you arrive. Then, they’ll work with you to fix or replace the damaged bracket or wire so your kid’s treatment can continue.
Although broken braces aren’t ideal, addressing the problem right away can prevent your child’s teeth from reverting to their previous places!
About the Practice
At Main Street Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics of Danville, your children aged 0 to 18 benefit from a team of experts eager to help them build and maintain their healthiest, most beautiful smiles. They have completed extensive specialized training to offer a comprehensive array of services to still-developing teeth, including traditional orthodontics. They take the time to get to know their patients so they can tailor treatment plans to meet even the most unique needs. Then, they utilize state-of-the-art technology to improve patient comfort while delivering accurate results intended to last. If your kid broke their braces, you can request an appointment on the website or call (925) 575- 8878.