Poking Wire

Poking wires are the most common complaint for people with braces. There are two main reasons for why this happens:

If a wire is bothering you, call our office and place some orthodontic wax over the area to temporarily minimize irritation. When you come in, if the wire has come out of the back bracket, it will either be moved back into position or the wire will be replaced with one that is more rigid. If the wire extends beyond the farthest bracket from tooth movement, the extra wire will be cut.

Loose Bracket

Unlike crowns or other dental restorations, the bond between orthodontic tie brackets and teeth is meant to be temporary. A lower bond strength allows them to be removed without discomfort at the completion of treatment. Because the bond strength is not extremely strong, a bracket may become detached. The probability of this occurring can be greatly reduced by avoiding very hard or sticky foods. For example – if you bite hard on a Jolly Rancher or Gobstopper, you are probably putting on more pressure than you would like us to use when removing your brackets.

If a bracket does come loose, call us and we will set up an appointment to replace it. Generally speaking, loose brackets slide a little along the wire but do not hurt. If it is irritating, we will get you in right away to make sure you are comfortable, then may reschedule a repair appointment.

Trauma

If any trauma occurs to the teeth or jaw (sports injuries, accidents, etc, we’ve seen it all), please let us know. Depending on the severity, we can advise you how to follow-up. For any significant trauma to the teeth, you should place a call to your general dentist as well.

When in Doubt

Call us. That ‘s why we’re here.

Office Phone/Fax

Phone: (864) 855-6360

Fax: (864) 855-6361

Address

838 Powdersville Road, Suite E

Easley, SC 29642