Broken or disturbed appliances are likely to occur from time to time during your orthodontic care. If there are any disturbances, such as loose bands, broken or poking wires, call our office as soon as possible so we can evaluate the urgency of the problem and schedule you to be seen accordingly. In the interim, the following are helpful hints to remedy some of the problems you may encounter until you can be seen in our office.

• If a wire is irritating your mouth, cover it with wax or tuck it under the archwire using a blunt object like a pencil eraser or a Q-tip.
  
  
• A loose band or bracket can generally be left in place until seen in our office. Call the office as soon as you notice a loose band or bracket so we can schedule you to be seen to reattach the loose appliance.
  
  
• A broken archwire, or one that is irritating the gum or cheek tissue, needs to be seen as soon as practical for replacement or adjustment.
  
  
• A bent headgear facebow, or removable appliance that is not fitting well, should not be worn until it can be properly adjusted in our office. Call the office as soon as possible to schedule an appointment to have the facebow or removable appliance adjusted.