If our office is not open, and you are not in pain, you may wait until the next business day to contact our office for repair

Self-help directions for clipping, repositioning and removing long or dislodged wires. These guidelines are not meant as a substitute for professional care and are offered solely as self-help information when an office visit is not available. These techniques are designed as suggestions for a parent, guardian or other responsible adult. The first choice in care is an appointed office visit. In the absence of that, please try to cover the troublesome area with dental wax. Failing those circumstances, most long and dislodged archwires can safely be cut following the outlined procedures below. Any breakage or alteration of the braces should be reported to our office. Examples of wires that have distorted or moved A wire that has come out of it's bracket or tube. Typically, the result of the inappropriate chewing of large or chewy pieces of food. This wire is poking out of the last brace. The teeth may have moved or the wire has slid out of position.
Guidelines for self-help remedies to correct distorted or moved archwires Tools Needed Cutting Long Wires Removing Long Pieces Repositioning bent, moved, or distorted archwires
Tools Needed Small diagonal cutters that have been cleaned with soap and water then wiped with alcohol Cotton Tweezers (optional) The images to the right are examples of "diagonal cutters" that can be obtained from a hardware store.
Cutting Long Wires Step 1 If possible cover the wire by placing a small piece of cotton around and under the wire end. This will help trap the fragment that is clipped off. Step 2 Grasp the wire for cutting in a location that is easily accessible and as near to the problem as possible. These are valid positions. However, the far left placement is preferred. Step 3 ~ Removing Long Pieces Once the wire is cut, it can be removed with the cutter or a tweezers. Grasp and slide the wire forward out of the brackets or remove the small piece cut from the back. Repositioning a wire that has slid or bent out of its tube Step 1 Grasp the wire with tweezers Step 2 Slide the wire back into the brace or tube Step 3 Sometimes the wire cannot be slid back. So grasp the wire as shown by deflecting it and direct the loose end back into the brace tube. Loose Wires/Wire Out Of Tube When you first get your braces on, it is very common for the wires to come out of the tubes due to the fact that we start with a very flexible, thin wire for initial movement of the teeth. Try to place the wire back into the tube with tweezers. If you are unsuccessful, place wax on the area if it is uncomfortable. Contact our office as soon as possible to schedule an appointment. Wire Out Of Tube Place Wire Back In Tube   Poking Wires Occasionally through the course of your treatment you may also experience a poking wire on one of your brackets or bands. If this occurs, bend the wire back with a spoon or pencil eraser. If unsuccessful, cover the area with wax and call for an appointment. Use an Eraser to Push The Wire Back Place Wax On The Area If Unsuccessful As your braces come into alignment, there may be occasions where the wire will become long in back and start to poke. If this occurs, please contact our office as soon as possible for an appointment. You may use wax or wet cotton on the poking area until your emergency appointment if needed. Wire Poking Out In Back If these procedures are not sufficient, there are over the counter temporary dental packing or filling materials that can be used as wax substitutes. These temporary filling materials adhere well to irregularities and protect the surrounding tissues from irritation. Examples of these materials are Dentemp O.S. and Temparin. They do not need mixing procedures and are typically available at Walgreens or other pharmacies. Dental wax is also available at the pharmacy. It is important to use enough material (at least the size of a large pea) and to apply any wax or packing materials in liberal quantities. David Allen, DDS, MS Wheaton Orthodontic Center 116 W. Willow Street Wheaton, IL 60187 Phone: 630-668-0197 Fax: 630-668-0548 home | meet dr allen | meet the staff | meet the staff | hours/directions | first visit | office tour | contests | office policies | dental forms hippa | privacy | about damon braces | expander | mambo | herbst® TM | elastics | fixed retainers | removable retainers | essix retainers proper brushing | proper diet | 2 phase ortho | types of bites | tooth development | faq | loose brace | wire emergencies | lost hook/tie | loose psa | turning psa | retainers photo gallery | saltropine | fluoride | cold sores | contact | links ©2003 - 2008 Wheaton Orthodontic Center legal disclaimer