What To Do When Your Braces Break: Real Talk on Ortho Emergencies
Look, no one plans for an emergency orthodontic situation . One minute you’re munching on popcorn at the cinema, next thing you know, something sharp is poking your cheek and your wire’s hanging out like it’s trying to escape. I’ve been there — and it’s not fun. But it doesn’t have to be a disaster either. Whether you’ve got braces, a retainer, or something fancy like lingual brackets, stuff happens. Wires snap, brackets come loose, and retainers get bent. And when they do, knowing what to do next makes all the difference. So, here’s a no-nonsense guide based on what I’ve learned — sometimes the hard way — about dealing with orthodontic emergencies without spiralling into full panic mode. Recognising a Real Orthodontic Emergency Let’s start with the obvious — not every issue is a full-blown emergency. Some things can wait a day or two, others need sorting straight away. Here’s a rough breakdown of what qualifies as an actual emergency orthodontic situation: - A poki...