Broken brace or sharp wire: what to do

• A loose bracket or band.
• A wire that has moved, is sharp or is digging into the cheek, lip or tongue.
• A broken removable appliance or retainer.
• A detached small component in the mouth.
• Damaged headgear or a facebow problem.
• Soreness, ulcers or soft-tissue injury from the appliance.

1. 1Contact your orthodontist or treating dental practice for advice.
2. 2Place orthodontic wax over a sharp fixed component if it is rubbing and the part is still attached.
3. 3If a removable appliance or retainer is fractured, leave it out until you receive advice.
4. 4If headgear is damaged, do not wear it and arrange orthodontic review.
5. 5Avoid hard or sticky foods while waiting for advice.
6. 6If you cannot access your orthodontic provider and symptoms are causing urgent pain or injury, seek urgent dental advice.

• Do not keep bending, pulling or manipulating a loose wire or bracket.
• Do not deliberately swallow loose components.
• Do not use household glue or non-dental adhesive.
• Do not attempt complex repairs to brackets, wires, retainers or headgear.
• Do not wear damaged headgear.
• Do not cut wire at home unless your orthodontic provider has given you specific advice for your appliance.

Your own orthodontic provider should normally advise on appliance problems. Urgent dental care may be needed if you cannot reach them and the appliance is causing pain, injury or risk from loose parts.

• A wire or bracket is cutting the cheek, lip or tongue and wax does not control it.
• A fixed component is loose and may detach unexpectedly.
• A removable appliance has fractured and cannot be worn safely.
• A retainer or appliance is causing ulcers, bleeding or significant pain.
• The problem followed facial or dental trauma.

If you cannot access your orthodontic provider or own dentist and need urgent help, use NHS 111 or 111 online. NHS 111 can advise the next step but does not guarantee an appointment.

• Choking or breathing difficulty.
• Concern a wire, bracket or large appliance component was inhaled.
• A large fractured component is stuck in the throat or affecting the airway.
• Serious face or jaw injury.
• Heavy bleeding from the mouth that will not stop.

The orthodontic provider may assess the appliance, remove or secure loose parts, trim or reposition a wire, repair or replace components, and review treatment progress.

The right action depends on the type of appliance, where it has broken, whether soft tissues are injured, and the stage of orthodontic treatment.