Question 1

My fixed brace is broken

Accepted Answer

If it is NOT painful, eat soft food and eat on a side, away from the breakage to prevent any further damage to the brace. We may wish for you to come in sooner than your next appointment.

If it is PAINFUL, we are happy to see you urgently. The offending part could be covered with orthodontic wax, Babybel wax or chewing gum temporarily.

At the weekend or if you are on holiday, please carry out any emergency treatment necessary to make you more comfortable - through an emergency dentist or DIY using nail clippers to cut long wires if possible.

If there has been an accidental injury to your mouth or face, resulting in a severe breakage or a knock to your teeth, you may need to go straight away to a hospital A&E. Don't worry about the brace itself, we will fix it as necessary.

Question 2

My fixed brace is digging into my lips or cheek

Accepted Answer

Try to use orthodontic wax, Babybel wax or chewing gum to cover the offending part - dry the area first.

If the wire is long at the back because it has popped out of the last tube, you can try to re-insert it with tweezers or try to tuck it out of the away under the bracket. If the last metal bracket has broken, the long wire will protrude into the cheek. It can be cut in an emergency or the broken bracket can be re-fixed on the tooth by us. You can try using nail clippers to cut the thinner flexible wires placed in the early stages of treatment.

You may need an emergency appointment with us or an emergency dentist. Your brace can be fixed by us at any time after the event.

Question 3

My brace is causing me ulcers

Accepted Answer

If your brace is rubbing against your lips and cheeks sometimes ulcers can appear. It is important to cover the trouble areas in wax in order to let them heal. Try to use orthodontic wax, Babybel wax or chewing gum to cover the offending part - dry the area first.

To reduce any swelling caused by the brace, use 1 teaspoon of salt in hot water (as hot as you can bare it). Use this solution to rinse your mouth with 3-4 times a day. Simple, but it works!

Question 4

My teeth are wobbly

Accepted Answer

This is normal when teeth are asked to move by braces however in some cases the wobbliness can be excessive. If you have any concerns about this, it would be best to contact us even for reassurance.

Question 5

My fixed retainer is broken

Accepted Answer

If you can bear with it, please call us and give us an opportunity to fix it.

If it is uncomfortably loose and causing you immediate problems, wear your removable retainer on top during the day if that helps, and call us urgently.

If you cannot bear with it, pull it off with tweezers or cut it with sharp nail clippers.
Make sure you wear your removable retainers at least every night to stop your teeth moving and ask us for advice.

Question 6

I have lost my aligners

Accepted Answer

If you have lost an aligner, please contact us for advice or move on to your next aligner if you have it, OR your previous aligner if you don’t have your next.

If you don’t have any aligners to wear, this is a big problem because your teeth will move out of line very quickly. We will need to order you some more or get you back in for a new scan.

Question 7

My aligner doesn’t fit properly

Accepted Answer

If your aligner isn’t fitting like a ‘glove’ and there is space between your aligner and your teeth, please take a photo and e-mail it to us. We will probably ask you to go back to your previous aligner because your teeth may not be moving well, or you may not have worn your aligners correctly.

Question 8

My aligner is causing me ulcers

Accepted Answer

Sometimes aligners can cause sores to the tongue, especially the lower aligner behind the lower incisors. If you are experiencing this, the aligner may need smoothing down with an emery board to stop catching your tongue. You may also have picked up a habit of ‘playing’ with the aligner that you will need to change. It may be that the aligner doesn’t fit properly.

Question 9

My removable retainers are not fitting

Accepted Answer

Call us urgently as soon as you notice. If we are not available, wear your retainers full time if they are fitting reasonably.

If you have not been wearing your retainers for any reason, your teeth may have moved. There may be a chance of recovering the situation by forcing the retainers onto your teeth, wearing them full time for 48h+ to try to move the teeth back into alignment.
The teeth may become painful as they move, take your normal painkillers regularly to help during this difficult period. Make sure you check your progress with us as soon as you can.

If your teeth are moving despite wearing retainers as advised, please wear them full time and call us as soon as possible. Growth of the wisdom teeth can cause sudden changes and make it difficult to wear your retainers.

If they don't fit at all, it may be too late to retrieve the situation easily. Call us to see how we can help.

Question 10

I have lost my removable retainers

Accepted Answer

You will need to contact us as soon as possible before anything moves. We will need to take new moulds and make you a new set. If you cannot get to us, we may use your last scan to make a 3D-printed set for you. We will need to triage you first in order to give you the best option. Alternatively, if you are not in the local area, we can contact an orthodontist local to you and arrange for new retainers.

BRACE PROBLEMS